'Manic' season for Mission Estate Winery

Cellar door manager Yvonne Sharp (middle) gives Sharon and Frank Goodedge, from Auckland, a taste of what's on offer at the Mission Estate. Photo / Duncan Brown

In a word, the season at Mission Estate Winery has been "manic".

New Zealand's oldest winery had experienced a "really, really busy" summer so far, its cellar door manager Yvonne Sharp said.

As well as international visitors, it appeared domestic visitors had also been flocking to the renowned Taradale winery.

"They've been very forthcoming with their purses this year," she said.

Cruise ship passengers had also added to the numbers through Mission's doors, with a number of cruise ships docking at Napier port already this summer - including the biggest to ever visit Napier, the Ovation of the Seas.

"We sort of start getting busy in October and it goes through until the tour operators cool down in April, May. We have been pretty busy which is good for the business."

As well as the quality of wine produced at the estate, Ms Sharp thought visitors enjoyed coming to the oldest winery in New Zealand.

"It's a beautiful seminary house, and the elevation we have above the vines looking out over the hill of Napier, I think all of that plays a part.

"And the restaurant's got a really high reputation, and excellent food and service. We do a pretty good job here I think."

While people are busy at work throughout the estate, those who man the cellar door are the "eyes of the mission" and the first people guests see when they enter Mission.

"The cellar door is a crucial part," Ms Sharp said. "It's very important to greet [guests] and make them feel welcome.

"I think we play a huge part not discounting how much we put in the till per day."

Although there had been some popular wines among visitors, Ms Sharp said the wine they offered for testing, and varietals purchased depended on the weather.

When she spoke to Hawke's Bay Today earlier this week, the manager was preparing a tasting for some more cruise ship visitors, and they would be enjoying "more whites than reds because it is so jolly hot".

"It comes down to personal likes and dislikes ... but we judge the weather really, we open what we think would be good for the weather."

With a week of temperatures peaking over 30C, Ms Sharp said white wines were better than reds, as they "cool in the fridge and are quite refreshing really".