Last year Hawke’s Bay earned a spot in the elite group of places known as Great Wine Capitals of the World, confirming the region’s reputation as New Zealand’s Food and Wine Country.

This week signposts to the 11 other global Great Wine Capital locations have been installed in three high-traffic areas for visitors and locals alike, at Hawke’s Bay Airport; the region’s aviation gateway with over 640,000 annual passenger movements; and positioned in front of the isites in Napier and Havelock North.

Judi Godbold, Business Development Manager Hawke’s Bay Airport, says the signposts are a fun reminder of Hawke’s Bay’s rightful place among the best wine growing regions.

“We’ve positioned the signpost at the airport so our status as a Great Wine Capital will be front and centre for visitors arriving in Hawke’s Bay.”

The signposts were made locally, with sponsorship from WineWorks, contract bottler, packer and logistics service provider to New Zealand’s wine industry.

Hawke’s Bay’s admission to the Great Wine Capitals programme came after a stringent selection process that looked at the region’s winegrowing industry, its history, wine tourism, educational opportunities, business, and travel, as well as the cities and region itself.

Hamish Saxton, CEO of Hawke’s Bay Tourism says through this new directional signage, Hawke’s Bay is delighted to demonstrate our place on the global stage with our collective Great Wine Capital peers.

“It’s such an honour to be associated with such wine capital luminaries as Bordeaux, Bilbao, Cape Town and more. Great Wine Capitals Hawke’s Bay is especially grateful to Tim Nowell-Usticke at WineWorks for his generous support of this initiative that reflects our global standing.”

Supporters of Hawke’s Bay as a Great Wine Capital include Hawke’s Bay Airport, Napier City Council, Hastings District Council, Hawke’s Bay Wine Growers, Hawke’s Bay Tourism, and EIT.

Pictured:

L- R Tim Nowell-Usticke – WineWorks, Rochelle Ham – Hawke’s Bay Airport, Hamish Saxton – Hawke’s Bay Tourism.