Havelock North wine tasting tour: Smith & Sheth exclusive

Sip wine straight from barrels and explore creative urban cellars in style

A small-group wine tour in Havelock North that moves beyond vineyard rows into city-based cellar doors, anchored by an exclusive tasting at Smith & Sheth's Heretaunga Studio where you taste wine straight from the barrels in a curated, intimate space. Four hours; private transport, water and wine included; minimum age 18.

Step-by-step itinerary

Urban wine tasting and exclusive visit

• Visit boutique city cellar doors
• Enjoy guided tastings of local wines
• Experience exclusive tasting at Smith & Sheth
• Taste wine straight from barrels
• Explore modern Hawke’s Bay wine culture

The experience

What makes a wine tour worth the time? When it takes you past the standard tasting room and into spaces where the winemakers actually work. This tour does that. You start at Smith & Sheth's Heretaunga Studio in Havelock North, an award-winning space built around immersive storytelling and sensory experience. The setup is deliberate: you taste wine straight from the barrels, not poured from a bottle someone handed you an hour ago. The studio itself sits in a beautifully restored historic building, and every detail (the design, the pacing, the way each pour connects to the next) is intentional.

After Smith & Sheth, you move to a second urban winery where the approach shifts again. This one leans into creativity and bold winemaking choices, often in unexpected spaces across the city. You're tasting premium local wines, but the story changes at each stop: a different philosophy, a different flavor, a different reason the winemaker chose to do it this way. The whole day runs four hours. Private transport moves you between the two venues, and the vehicle is air-conditioned. You get bottled water throughout, and the wine tastings are included.

What’s included

• Private transport between venues.
• bottled water.
• wine tastings at both stops, including barrel tastings at Smith & Sheth.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• English-speaking guide.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomeNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Mates travel

Is this one for you?The tour runs four hours with minimal walking, all movement by private vehicle between two indoor tasting spaces in Havelock North, so it suits a morning or afternoon slot without demanding early starts or physical exertion.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between this and a regular Hawke's Bay wine tour?

This tour skips the vineyard rows and focuses on urban cellar doors in Havelock North and the surrounding city, where winemakers work in restored historic buildings and contemporary spaces. The centerpiece is Smith & Sheth's Heretaunga Studio, where you taste wine directly from the barrels while a guide walks you through the sensory and storytelling elements behind each pour.

Do I need to know anything about wine to join?

No. The tour is built around guided tastings and storytelling, so the guide walks you through what you're tasting and why. The experience is designed to be intimate and personal, regardless of your wine knowledge.

Is lunch included, or should I plan to eat before or after?

The tour includes wine tastings and water, but not a meal. You may want to eat before the tour starts or plan a restaurant visit afterward, depending on your schedule.

How much walking is involved during the four hours?

The tour moves between two urban venues by private transport, so travel time is covered. Walking at each stop is minimal. You're tasting in curated indoor spaces rather than hiking vineyard grounds.

Can I book a different start time if the standard one doesn't work?

Yes. The tour description notes that alternative start times and customizations can be requested when you book through Mates Travel.