A seat at the table: Craggy Range

Thistles and Kiwis,

This summer we decided on just having a mini break up in one of our favourite parts of New Zealand, Hawke’s Bay. We have such a big trip coming up in our autumn, that we are saving our energies for that. It takes about 4 hours to drive up there, so not too bad a trip.

Last year we had lunch at Craggy Range, which we had thoroughly enjoyed, and so decided to go again for a special treat. The setting of this winery is so perfect and makes a stunning backdrop to the vines, tasting room and restaurant. There is also accomodation available should you wish.

Hawke’s Bay is New Zealand’s oldest and second largest wine region. Craggy Range sits beneath Te Mata Peak, in a fabulous setting for wine making and visiting. Below you can see what looks like cows resting on the grass, but these are in fact statues.

We took a walk before lunch, remembering not to climb on the chickens….

…but enjoying looking at the vines….

It was then time for lunch. This year, over the holiday period, there were fixed menus on offer, and we decided to go for the shared menu. As I was not driving, I also took up the wine match option, with Karl sticking to two small half glasses of wine (though he did taste a spot of mine). Below you can see the blanc de blanc the meal started with, along with delicious bread and a honeyed cultured butter.

To start ,we had their signature venison tartare served on potato rosti with a tarragon sauce and a potato and leek fritter with black garlic mayonnaise, both of which you can see in the larger picture below. Neither disappointed, the venison tartare being a real special mouthful. The first course was beetroot cured salmon with lemon verbena dressing, nectarine and celery. The other dish was a marinated octopus which was fantastic (top left below). I drank a chardonnay.

The second dish consisted of two plates – one a crispy duck tonkatsu, wedged between soft white bread, which was a delight and can be seen bottom left.

The other dish was halloumi with burnt honey and lemon dressed beetroot and candied walnut, which was also excellent (and yes dear readers we both ate the beetroot and enjoyed it). I drank a pinot noir from Martinborough. The main course was a slow cooked glazed lamb shoulder with an almond cream, anchovy and harissa dressing and asparagus. This was served with garlicky roast potatoes, and I had a Bordeaux blend from the Gimblett Gravels Vineyard which was a perfect match.

They offered us dessert on the terrace, so we moved outside (into the shade naturally), and enjoyed a fig leaf and yoghurt ice-cream with poached apricots, burnt honey and hazlenut. I had a semillon and coffee alongside.

This two and a half hour lunch was fabulous – a 5* experience and 10/10 for the food. Quite a special way to spend part of our holiday.

Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer, good food and pretends to garden. You can also find Thistles and Kiwis on Facebook and Instagram.

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Published by Thistles and Kiwis

Loves summer, sunshine and cats. Beginner gardener, likes eating, cooking and reading about food

34 Comments

    1. The other menu had some vegetarian options I think? Otherwise, I imagine they would as they certainly were able to cater for children separately and had offered to add on the venison tartare to the other menu if we had opted for that.

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    1. I would imagine it would be no problem if told beforehand (you really have to book as it is a popular venue for groups and special events as you can imagine), and the other menu did have meat free dishes I am pretty sure.

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  11. The food looks divine. My hairdresser was only saying last week she is due to run in a marathon that ends at this winery! I missed the winery but did see Te Mata Peak and the very windy road. Fabulous view up there. Are the rocks surrounding the winery of volcanic origin. They are pretty impressive.

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      1. I also thought ending a marathon at a winery was clever and I am sure there will be lots of competitors and friends at the end. Hawke’s Bay was the origin of the New Zealand branch of my Danish family – they were some of the original settlers, so I remember it well. Lovely spot, especially I like Havelock North. I read a book written by locals there recently. A detective mystery.

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        1. Have you been to Norsewood? On the way from Wellington to Napier and home to a wee museum about Scandinavian settlers. Ah yes….I have read both of the bookshop detective books – great fun.

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        2. Norsewood yes I went there and chatted to the locals as we had mutual Norwegian friends. The Danish family secured an original block at Dannevirke but as it was impenetrable forest at the time left and established a shop in Havelock North. The museum at Dannevirke was so interesting.
          I haven’t read the second Book shop Detective book..yet. must get onto that. Or maybe I haven’t read the first and read the second???
          The authors run the bookshop don’t they?

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