Hawke’s Bay Takes an Elite Place Within Global Wine Regions
There is something rather special about seeing Hawke’s Bay recognised on the world stage.
In October 2026, our region will welcome the 26th Great Wine Capitals International Annual Conference, bringing together leading wine and tourism regions from around the world. Bordeaux, Verona, Napa Valley, Mendoza and Adelaide are among the places that make up this international network, and now the world’s attention will turn to Hawke’s Bay. It is a wonderful moment for a region that has quietly built an international reputation for fine wine, food, hospitality and a strong sense of place. Hawke’s Bay joined the Great Wine Capitals Global Network in 2023, and hosting the annual conference is a significant step in sharing our story with the wider wine world.
For Te Mata Estate, there is an added sense of history to being part of it. Established in 1896, Te Mata is New Zealand’s oldest continuously operating winery, with wine still being made on the same site and from the same original vineyards. The original winery buildings, first converted for winemaking in the 1890s, remain at the heart of the estate today. For more than 130 years, this has been a place where wine, people and landscape have remained closely connected. To welcome an international gathering of wine regions to Hawke’s Bay, and to be part of that story from a winery with such a long and continuous connection to the region, feels particularly meaningful.
There is also a nice personal connection to the Great Wine Capitals network for Te Mata Estate’s Toby Buck. Toby has attended Great Wine Capitals events in Verona, Italy, and Bordeaux, France, representing New Zealand wine and Hawke’s Bay in his role as a technical advisor. These gatherings offer a rare opportunity to meet people working at the forefront of wine regions around the world, to exchange ideas and experiences, and to see how different places approach the relationship between wine, tourism, landscape and culture. It is also an opportunity to share something of the distinctive character of Hawke’s Bay with people who may know the great wine regions of Europe and the Americas intimately, but have yet to experience ours.
This time, the journey comes full circle. Rather than travelling overseas to join the conversation, Toby will be taking part in the Great Wine Capitals conference here in Hawke’s Bay, as the region welcomes its fellow wine capitals to New Zealand. The programme will showcase the vineyards, landscapes, food, people and stories that make Hawke’s Bay such a distinctive wine region. For Te Mata, it is an opportunity to contribute to that wider conversation while representing a small but significant part of Hawke’s Bay’s wine history.
For a region that has been making wine for generations, there is something fitting about having the world come to us. Hawke’s Bay has always had a strong sense of place, from the soils and long growing season to the vineyards that sit beneath Te Mata Peak and the people who have shaped the region’s wine story over generations. Now, for a few days in October, some of the world’s great wine regions will be here to experience it for themselves. At Te Mata Estate, we are proud to be part of that welcome, and proud that Hawke’s Bay will have its moment in the international wine spotlight.
Great Wine Capitals Conference 2026
‘Under the theme ‘A World of New’, the five-day programme has been designed to deliver new cultures, new wines, new experiences, and new business opportunities. Delegates can expect keynote presentations, roundtable discussions, travel trade meetings, structured networking, hosted dinners, winery visits, and curated regional experiences.
President of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network, Jo Collins, said the timing could not be more relevant: “At a time when the global wine sector is navigating both challenges and transformation, our conference in Hawke’s Bay offers a vital opportunity to come together, share knowledge, and strengthen one another. This is more than a conference; it’s a chance to shape the future of wine tourism collectively.”
For international delegates, Hawke’s Bay offers a compelling destination in its own right. Kim Thorp, GWC Hawke’s Bay Ambassador, said: ”Hawke’s Bay is New Zealand’s Food & Wine Country and one of the most extraordinary regions, and we couldn’t be prouder to welcome the world here. Ancient soils from the Gimblett Gravels to limestone ridges and clay hillsides produce exceptional diversity, from world-class Syrah and Cabernet blends to elegant Chardonnay. But wine is only part of the story. Delegates will discover Hawke’s Bay’s iconic Art Deco architecture, stunning mountain and coastal landscapes, and cycle trails winding through vineyards. This is a place that will inspire every delegate long after they leave.”
Registrations
Registrations are open for the Great Wine Capitals International Annual Conference in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, 18-22 October 2026. We look forward to welcoming you to our extraordinary corner of the world defined by its breathtaking landscapes, warm people, and world-class wine experiences.
You are just one step away from being part of this exceptional global event. View the programme by delegate type here then select your delegate status from the options below to view the delegate fees and fill out the associated registration form. Or you can purchase individual tickets to three of the highlight events in the programme.
Conference accommodation can be found here. We have negotiated special rates at these hotels, so please email the hotel via the link and use the code provided.
