Taste Hastings 2026: Twenty Wineries Take Over Heretaunga Street

By Alyssa | WhatsOn local events writer Alyssa picks out timely events, local favourites and useful places to eat, stay and explore.

Taste Hastings 2026 transforms the vibrant East Block of Heretaunga Street into an open-air celebration of regional viticulture and street dining, closing the roadway to traffic to host more than twenty local winemakers, craft brewers, and food trucks for a single, spirited Friday night. Co-organised by Hastings District Council and Hawke's Bay Wine, the evening gathers cellar doors from the Gimblett Gravels, Bridge Pa, and coastal terroir directly into the urban centre, turning a bustling business precinct into one massive, glass-in-hand pedestrian party. It marks the unofficial curtain-raiser to Hawke's Bay's spring and summer beverage calendar, giving locals and travellers alike an accessible way to sample boutique vintages without navigating country backroads.

Vintage Pours and Sizzling Street Food

As the late afternoon sun dips behind the facades of Heretaunga Street East, the aroma of smoked meats, crisp flatbreads, and aromatic wood smoke begins drifting across the tarmac. The atmosphere is unhurried and lively: early arrivers claim curbside tables with chilled pours of crisp Hawke's Bay Chardonnay and blush-pink rosé, while live acoustic melodies float over the chatter from pop-up stages along the block. For food lovers, it is an evening to graze continuously rather than sit down for a formal meal, matching full-bodied Syrah samples with gourmet skewers, artisan dumplings, and local sliders directly from vendor windows. As dusk turns to dark, festoon lighting strung across the shopfronts flickers to life, the music turns uptempo, and the street takes on the buzz of an intimate night market where conversation flows as effortlessly as the regional wine.

A Gathering of Growers and City Crowds

What makes the event distinct from sprawling paddock festivals is its deeply communal, neighbourhood character. Winemakers and head brewers stand behind the pouring stations themselves, giving enthusiasts the chance to discuss recent vintages, soil conditions, and harvest notes with the very people who pressed the grapes. The crowd reflects a relaxed, multigenerational cross-section of the region: local hospitality teams enjoying their evening off, groups of friends kicking off the weekend after work, and curious visitors who planned their getaway specifically around the spring release season. It feels intimate, authentic, and unmistakably grounded in Hawke's Bay hospitality, with shop owners spilling out onto the footpaths to welcome patrons alongside regional cellar staff.

Know Before You Go

• Arrive right at the 17:00 opening to beat the queues at the most popular winery stalls and grab a comfortable table along the pedestrian corridor.
• Secure your entry passes in advance via the Eventfinda Taste Hastings ticketing page or check full details on the Hawke's Bay Wine official portal before heading in, as gate sales may be capped.
• With Heretaunga Street East closed to traffic, park in the surrounding public off-street parking lots on Warren Street or Hastings Street South, or plan for rideshares so you can sample responsibly.
• Bring layers; late spring evenings in Hastings can cool down swiftly once the sun drops behind the hills.
• Payment terminals are widely supported across wine and food stalls, but keeping a modest cash reserve on hand is always handy for fast-moving beverage queues.

Make a Weekend of It

An evening on Heretaunga Street East places you right in the culinary beating heart of Hastings, making it effortless to turn your festival outing into a wider long weekend. If you fancy a refined Italian dinner before plunging into the street stalls, book early at Sazio, located right along Heretaunga Street East, where handmade pasta and polished regional pairings set the tone for the night. Those craving bold, slow-smoked flavours will appreciate popping around the corner to Black Betty BBQ on Warren Street North for tender brisket and authentic southern-style trays.

During daylight hours, immerse yourself in regional culture just a block away at Toitoi – Hawke's Bay Arts & Events Centre, a stunningly restored heritage landmark hosting theatre, music, and community arts exhibitions. When it comes to laying your head, base yourself amidst the rolling hills of nearby Havelock North at Black Barn Vineyards, offering private retreats surrounded by vines just ten minutes away. Alternatively, make the short fifteen-minute coastal drive into Napier to stay along Marine Parade at Scenic Hotel Te Pania or choose the central convenience of expressotel beside Clive Square, giving you a wonderful base to explore both twin cities over the weekend.

Grab a ticket, raise a glass of local Syrah, and I hope to see you on the street for a brilliant Hastings evening. — Alyssa, What's On Hawke's Bay