Bridge Pā Wine Festival draws big crowds for sun, wine and tunes

About 1700 well-behaved revellers soaked up the sun and enjoyed a glass or two of some of Hawke’s Bay’s finest wines this weekend at the 11th annual Bridge Pā Wine Festival.

Ten wineries located within the Bridge Pā Triangle Wine District joined forces for the festival, allowing attendees to visit multiple wineries via a hop-on, hop-off bus, with each offering different wine, food and music.

Tony Kryzewski from Bridge Pā Wine District said the weekend’s pleasant weather helped this year’s festival continue to be “a great social gathering for the Bay”.

“The day was a great success, and it was very pleasing to get feedback from the attendees [saying] they really enjoyed themselves,” he said.

The 2025 Bridge Pā Wine Festival.

The festival featured both local and out-of-town musicians, who helped get “people singing along and dancing” at all the venues, according to Kryzewski, as well as a wide selection of cuisine.

But the wines produced in the area were the main drawcard for many attendees with Abbey Estate, Alpha Domus, Ash Ridge Winery, Oak Estate, Paritua, RedMetal, Zaria, Sileni, Bostock and Radburnd Cellar all represented.

Organisers are already planning the next festival, to be held on January 17, 2026, with tickets on sale from mid-September.

Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and spent the last 15 years working in radio and media in Auckland, London, Berlin, and Napier. He reports on all stories relevant to residents of the region.