Napier: Winery + Gin Tasting Tour with Lunch Thu Fri Sat

Mission Estate gives this Napier tasting tour an unusually strong opening: you eat in the Old Mission House, a grand colonial building dating to the country’s oldest winery, then taste wine in a cellar tied to the Marist missionaries who arrived in Hawke’s Bay in 1851. Lunch and history come together here, rather than leaving you with a string of unrelated tasting rooms.

I like the generous food at Mission Estate and Askerne, and I like the change of pace at the National Gin Distillery in Napier’s old port. Guides Ross and Sandy keep the day friendly and well paced. The main consideration is simple: there is a lot of alcohol, so this suits drinkers who want a full tasting day, not anyone hoping for a light sample or a scenic drive with only one glass.

Key points to know before booking

• Mission Estate begins the day with a full gourmet platter, a chosen glass of wine, and access to the historic house and underground cellar.
• The National Tobacco Building adds a distinctive Napier setting for gin tasting, with rum available on special request.
• Askerne Estate is family-run and small-scale, producing about 100,000 bottles from more than a dozen grape varieties.
• Ross or Sandy provides local wine context, including a short vineyard talk when time and conditions allow.
• The $134 price covers the major costs, including lunch, all tastings, cheese, biscuits, water, transport, and pickup.
• This is a Thursday, Friday, and Saturday tour, with seasonal changes possible and no wheelchair access.

Why this tour works for a full Hawke’s Bay tasting day

For $134 per person, this is not simply a winery shuttle. You receive a 5.5-hour outing with hotel pickup, a substantial lunch, several wine tastings, a gin tasting, possible rum, cheese, biscuits, and a guide who explains how the local wine business fits together.

I see the value in the mix. Mission Estate gives you history and a polished meal. The National Gin Distillery brings an urban Napier stop. Askerne provides a smaller family-run winery where the tasting feels more personal. You also avoid the trouble of arranging a sober driver between Napier and Havelock North.

The tour runs on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Pickup is included, and you should be in your hotel lobby five minutes before the scheduled time. The tour normally returns people to their pickup points between 5:30 and 6 p.m., though seasonal opening hours and timing can change the order or exact stops.

Mission Estate lunch in the Old Mission House

The day starts at Mission Estate Restaurant with a gourmet platter and one glass of wine of your choice. The food generally includes cold meats, cheeses, fresh and dried fruit, breads, biscuits, and a hot seafood item. Warm bread has also been part of the meal, making this much more than a token snack before tasting.

You eat in the Old Mission House, whose grand colonial style gives the first stop a strong sense of place. This is one of the tour’s best features because the meal does not feel tacked on. You are eating in a building tied to the early story of winemaking in Hawke’s Bay.

The platter is designed for sharing and is described as generous. That matters on a tasting tour. Food slows the effect of the alcohol, gives you time to talk, and lets you try the wines with something more useful than a few crackers. If you have dietary needs, tell the operator ahead of time so they can cater for them.

The setting is polished, but the experience is still fairly relaxed. You choose the wine that accompanies lunch, then continue with the formal tasting afterward. If you prefer to spend time over food rather than rush straight into technical explanations, this opening stop should suit you well.

The Mission Cellars and a story dating to 1851

After lunch, the tour moves into Mission Cellars for a detailed wine tasting. You learn about the Mission House, the Marist Order, and the missionaries who arrived in Hawke’s Bay in 1851. Mission Estate is described as New Zealand’s oldest winery, so the historical background gives the tasting more weight than a simple list of grape names.

The tasting includes several wines, with one recent visit featuring six wines from different years. The exact selection can change, but you should expect a serious session rather than one or two quick pours. This is a good place to ask questions about local wine production and the differences between vintages.

A particular bonus is time to explore after the tasting. You can roam through the Mission House and visit the underground cellar. That freedom makes the stop feel less managed. You are not hurried directly back to the minibus as soon as the final glass is poured.

The tradeoff is time. Mission Estate is both a meal stop and a history stop, so the first part of the tour takes a substantial portion of the day. I think that is worthwhile if you care about the character behind a winery, but people focused only on tasting as many producers as possible may prefer a tour with more vineyard stops.

Gin in Napier’s National Tobacco Building

The minibus then heads to Ahuriri, Napier’s old port area, for gin tasting at the National Gin Distillery. The distillery operates inside the National Tobacco Building, one of Napier’s best-known Art Nouveau buildings.

This stop changes the feel of the day. After Mission Estate’s colonial setting and wine cellar, you are back in town and tasting spirits in a notable piece of Napier architecture. An Art Deco guide may occasionally be showing visitors around the building. The tour information says this happens in a non-intrusive way, so it should not interfere with your tasting.

You are invited to taste several gins. One visit included four gins and another spirit chosen by the participant. Rum may be available on special request, and some tastings can include vodka or rum as well. Ask in advance if rum is a priority, since it is not presented as a guaranteed part of every visit.

This is also where you need to pace yourself. By this point, you have already had a glass with lunch and a wine tasting. Gin, vodka, and rum can add up quickly. Drink the water provided in the air-conditioned vehicle, take the food seriously, and do not feel obliged to treat every pour as a full drink.

In the low season, Sunday gin tastings are not offered, but the tour information notes that Church Road Winery may be added instead. The regular experience described here operates Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Since wineries adjust opening days and hours by season, check the current schedule before paying.

The drive toward Havelock North

After the distillery, you travel by air-conditioned minibus toward Havelock North. The route passes orchards, vineyards, and fields used for different types of farming. This transfer gives you a useful pause between tastings and shows that Hawke’s Bay is more than a cluster of cellar doors.

Your guide is also part of this section. Ross is described as a vineyard-manager guide and is praised for explaining wine production and the local area in a friendly way. Sandy also leads some departures. The tour can be a small-group outing, and one reported group had nine people, though the exact group size is not specified as a fixed limit.

I like guided minibus travel here because the route between Napier and the wineries is part of the experience, but you do not need to navigate it yourself. You can look out at the orchards and fields, talk with the other people in your group, or simply reset before the next tasting.

The vehicle is air-conditioned and water is included. Comfortable shoes are the sensible choice, especially if you plan to explore the Mission property or walk around Askerne’s grounds.

Askerne Estate and a family-run final tasting

The final stop is Askerne Estate, a small family-owned and operated winery near Havelock North. It produces about 100,000 bottles a year and grows more than a dozen grape varieties on its own estate.

That range is one of the stop’s appealing details. You may taste aromatic wines alongside other styles, and there can be plenty to compare. The tasting is described as generous, so this is not just a final symbolic pour before the return trip.

Ross serves a selection of New Zealand cheeses and biscuits with the wine. After the substantial Mission platter, this works as a second food break rather than a full meal. It also gives you a chance to see how wine changes when paired with local cheese instead of lunch foods.

If you are interested, Ross can give a short talk in the vineyard about grape-growing practices in the region. The wording is important: this talk is for people who want it, so you are not forced into a technical lecture. I would take the opportunity, since growing conditions help explain why different varieties perform well across Hawke’s Bay.

Askerne feels more personal than a large commercial winery. The family-run character is part of its appeal, but it can also mean that the exact tasting and presentation depend on the day’s schedule. The program may change when wineries adjust opening hours or when the tour is running behind.

How much value do you get for $134?

The price is reasonable if you plan to use all the included elements. Buying a restaurant platter and wine, paying for two winery tastings, adding a gin tasting, arranging transport, and purchasing cheese and biscuits separately could quickly approach the tour price. You also get pickup and a guide for the full outing.

The value is strongest for visitors without a car or anyone who does not want to assign a driver. It also works well for couples and small groups who want one organized day rather than several separate bookings.

The price is less attractive if you do not drink much or if you mainly want vineyard scenery. This is a tasting-heavy program with lunch and several alcoholic pours. It does not include a long countryside walk, a dedicated art tour, or an extended stay at each winery.

Food helps balance the cost. Mission’s platter is substantial, and Askerne adds cheese and biscuits. The inclusions mean you are not paying $134 for tastings alone.

Pacing, weather, and practical limits

The tour takes place in all weather. Wet conditions do not automatically cancel the day, and the air-conditioned minibus provides shelter between stops. Bring comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for moving around winery grounds and historic buildings.

The schedule is relaxed but active. You begin with lunch, continue to a detailed Mission tasting, visit the distillery, drive to Askerne, and return in the early evening. There is enough food and movement to break up the drinking, but you should not expect long periods of free time.

The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. Pickup is included, and English is the listed tour language. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund.

The itinerary can change because wineries adjust their seasonal opening times or because the day runs tight. That is normal for a multi-stop food and drink tour. If one particular winery matters most to you, confirm the operating schedule rather than assuming every listed stop will be identical on every date.

Who should book this Napier wine and gin tour?

I would recommend it to you if you want a well-fed, guided introduction to Hawke’s Bay wine and spirits. It suits first-time visitors who want history at Mission Estate, a city stop at the National Tobacco Building, and a smaller winery visit at Askerne without arranging transport.

It is also a good match for people who enjoy hearing how wine is grown and made. Ross’s vineyard background adds useful context, and the optional vineyard talk at Askerne can make the final stop more than a series of pours.

You should think twice if you are a very light drinker, dislike shared platters, or want a tour built around a single premium winery. The day includes a glass with lunch, multiple wine tastings, several gins, and possibly rum or another spirit. That is a lot.

I also would not choose it for a wheelchair user, since the experience is specifically listed as unsuitable. And if you are visiting on a Sunday, check the seasonal program carefully, since the gin stop may be replaced by Church Road Winery during the low season.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want variety, food, local history, and transport in one half-day outing. Mission Estate is the anchor, while the gin distillery and Askerne Estate keep the day from feeling repetitive.

The best reason to choose it is the balance between polished and personal. You get a respected historic winery and restaurant, then a distinctive Napier distillery and a friendly family-run estate. At $134, the included lunch, tastings, cheese, biscuits, water, and pickup make the cost fair for a full drinking day.

Skip it if you want a quiet scenic drive, very small pours, or a tour with no schedule changes. For most wine lovers visiting Napier on an available Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, this is a practical and enjoyable way to sample Hawke’s Bay without having to plan the route yourself.

FAQ

How long does the Napier winery and gin tour last?

The tour lasts about 5.5 hours. Return transfers are generally scheduled between 5:30 and 6 p.m.

What days does the tour operate?

The listed operating days are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Seasonal winery opening hours can cause changes to the program.

What is included in the $134 price?

The price includes pickup, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, water, all tasting fees, the Mission Estate luncheon platter with one glass of wine, and cheese and biscuits at Askerne Estate.

What food is served at Mission Estate?

The gourmet platter generally includes cold meats, cheeses, fresh and dried fruit, breads, biscuits, and usually a hot seafood tasting. Warm bread may also be included.

Can dietary requirements be accommodated?

Yes. Dietary requirements can be catered to when you provide prior notice.

What happens at Mission Estate?

You have lunch in the Old Mission House, take part in a detailed wine tasting at Mission Cellars, learn about the Mission House and Marist Order, and have time to explore the house and underground cellar.

Where is the gin tasting held?

The gin tasting takes place at The National Gin Distillery in Ahuriri, Napier’s old port area. The distillery is located in the National Tobacco Building.

Is rum included in the tasting?

Rum may be available on special request. The exact spirits offered can vary, and tastings may also include gin, vodka, or other spirits.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is listed as unsuitable for wheelchair users.