Welcome to Church Road

Pioneering the Hawke’s Bay wine industry.

One of the oldest wineries in New Zealand, our journey started with a young Tom McDonald whose passion for wine saw him forge both a remarkable legacy and enviable future for Hawke’s Bay winemaking and Church Road Winery.   Today, our current Chief Winemaker Chris Scott continues this dedication to creating exceptional wines, combining traditional winemaking practices coupled with innovative techniques.

Masterful Craftsmanship to achieve exceptional quality. 

Winemakers have to be artists, scientists and craftspeople - artists in developing a clear vision of what it is they want to create, scientists in figuring out what processes have to take place in the wine, and craftspeople in applying the lessons from tradition and experience to make it happen.  The Church Road winemaking team have all honed these skills at the winery, with the results showing through in every bottle.

One of the World's Twelve Great Wine Capitals. 

Thanks to its unique selection of soils and microclimates, the Hawke's Bay region is known for producing excellent wines from a wide range of varietals, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.  The accolade reflects the quality of the wine in Hawke's Bay and the experience on offer to visitors, whether that be long vineyard lunches, soaking up live music at events like our Church Road Live Summer Sessions or transport options like the Hawke's Bay Cycle Trail.