There are just a few, tiny plots of grapes grown in the warm and fertile Bay of Plenty, which is renowned for other crops, such as kiwifruit, citrus fruits and avocadoes. Yet you will find two celebrated wine companies established here - Morton Estate and Mills Reef.

A very chic rabbit

Morton Estate near Katikati, north-west of the city of Tauranga, makes some of New Zealand's best chardonnays, including the super-stylish Black Label. Morton Estate Coniglio (Italian for rabbit) Chardonnay is the most expensive in the country. The grapes for Morton Estate wines are grown in Hawke's Bay and Marlborough.

Palatial winery

	Mills Reef Winery on the outskirts of Tauranga
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Here stands an art deco showpiece, with a large, elegant restaurant and stunning grounds which include petanque courts. The Preston family at Mills Reef originally made their name with kiwifruit wine, and still ship it by the container-load to Japan, where it is lauded for its sweetness and health-giving properties. Now they also produce wonderful claret-style reds.

Mountain high

One of the great things to do in the Bay of Plenty is to climb Mt Maunganui, perched on the edge of a beautiful peninsula. It's a comfortable hike - half an hour up, less to come down - and at the top you can celebrate your ascent with a bottle of chilled white wine, looking down over sweeping, white-sand beaches and surf.