Hawke’s Bay, a cornerstone of New Zealand’s wine industry, is renowned for its rich viticultural heritage, driven by families whose legacies span generations. Situated on the North Island’s east coast, the region benefits from Pacific Ocean breezes, fertile alluvial soils, and a temperate, sunny climate, making it a premier wine-growing area. Its history began in 1851 with Mission Estate, New Zealand’s oldest winery, founded by Marist missionaries. As the country’s second-largest wine producer, Hawke’s Bay garners global acclaim, for example, its Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa sub-regions, known for exceptional Chardonnay, Syrah, and Bordeaux-style reds.
As a member of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network, Hawke’s Bay thrives through families like Gordon Russell and daughter Holly, Kate Radburnd and daughter Penelope, and Alwyn Corban and son Abraham. Their expertise and innovative visions, passed from one generation to the next, continue to elevate the region’s international reputation, blending tradition with forward-thinking winemaking.
Gordon Russell and Holly Given Russell
Gordon Russell, a trailblazer in Hawke’s Bay’s wine industry, has left an indelible mark through his 32-year tenure at Esk Valley, where he pioneered New Zealand’s first Malbec, Verdelho, Merlot Rosé, and the now-iconic Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet blend. Now leading Gordon Russell Wines, a tourism and consulting venture, he continues to shape the region’s viticultural landscape. His commitment to quality—emphasising minimal intervention, premium fruit, and respect for the winemaking process—has become a hallmark of his legacy, inspiring the next generation, including his daughter, Holly Girven Russell.
Holly, raised amidst the vibrancy of Esk Valley’s winery, recalls it as an extension of her childhood home, where she assisted with tasks like Brix and temperature checks and delivered meals to harvest crews. Initially pursuing a veterinary career, her passion for wine was ignited through tastings in Wellington and diverse industry roles in logistics, buying, and harvests. At 25, she returned from London to study winemaking in New Zealand, later co-founding Three Fates Wines with two Hawke’s Bay peers, Hester Nesbitt and Casey Motley. Their 2024 Chenin Blanc, a collaboration with Gordon, blends his expertise with Holly’s operational acumen, showcasing their shared dedication to quality. Holly’s vision for Three Fates focuses on export growth while upholding sustainable practices and supporting local growers. With a second Chenin Blanc vintage in production, their partnership continues to bridge tradition and innovation, reinforcing Hawke’s Bay’s reputation for excellence.
Credit Richard Brimer
Kate Radburnd and Penelope Radburnd
Kate Radburnd and her daughter Penelope are shaping Hawke’s Bay’s wine industry as a formidable mother–daughter team. Kate, with over 40 years of winemaking experience, founded Radburnd Cellars—an ultra-premium winery producing small-parcel Chardonnay, Syrah, and a Merlot Cabernet blend, the wines she believes best showcase Hawke’s Bay’s cool climate. With numerous accolades, including being honoured as a Fellow of New Zealand Winegrowers (2015) and inducted into the New Zealand Wine Hall of Fame (2019), Kate now works alongside Penelope to craft exceptional wines.
Penelope had grown up in and around the winery—helping with Brix and temperature readings, stomping stems fresh from the destemmer, working on the bottling line, and hosting tastings at the cellar door. When Kate realised Penelope was serious about becoming a winemaker, she wanted her to understand the reality of the role. At 17, Kate took her on a two-week business trip to the UK to show her the demands of working on the road—early mornings, late nights, and a constant schedule of presentations, tastings, and dinners. After earning a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology from the University of Adelaide in 2017, Penelope worked at several wineries with a focus on Chardonnay before joining Radburnd Cellars in 2022 as Marketing Manager and Winemaker.
Sharing Kate’s “less is more” philosophy and a love for elegance driven winemaking, the pair divide tasks seamlessly and love working together. 2024 marked a milestone: their first vintage as a team and the launch of the second generation ‘Penelope’ label—a Rosé and a modern style of Chardonnay—which sold out quickly and attracted a new wave of younger customers. Together, Kate and Penelope are strengthening Hawke’s Bay’s global reputation, crafting wines of uncompromising quality that honour the region’s legacy.
Alwyn Corban and Abraham Corban
The Corban name is synonymous with wine in New Zealand. Alwyn was raised in an enterprising, innovative, hard working & tight knit family who were early pioneers and leaders of the New Zealand Wine Industry.
As a 4th generation winemaker, Alwyn followed in the footsteps of his father, great uncles and great grandfather. A career which began with a master’s degree in oenology from California, followed by work in Australia, France, Germany, and New Zealand. In 1981, he founded Ngatarawa Wines in Hawke’s Bay, the first commercial producer in the renowned Bridge Pa Triangle Wine District. His contributions to the industry were recognised when he was inducted into the Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Hall of Fame and made a fellow of New Zealand Winegrowers in 2020.
Together with his son Abraham, they continue their heritage and passion for the wine industry with the AC brand. Having grown up at Ngatarawa, Abraham has his roots firmly established in the wine industry. Alwyn’s experience guides their winemaking approach & style, while Abraham’s innate industry and production knowledge, backed by marketing experience, provides the platform and vision to continue their family’s legacy. Together they craft exceptional wines which are a quality reflection of time and place from their treasured home in Hawke’s Bay.
The Next Generation and the Future of Hawke’s Bay
The stories of Holly Girven Russell, Penelope Radburnd, and Abraham Corban highlight the strength of Hawke’s Bay’s wine industry: a blend of heritage and forward-thinking innovation. The next-generation winemakers are not only preserving their families’ legacies but also adapting to new challenges, from sustainable practices to global market demands.
Hawke’s Bay’s wine industry, built on the foundations laid by pioneers and elevated by visionaries like Alwyn Corban, Kate Radburnd & Gordon Russell, continues to thrive through the passion and dedication of its people. As these families demonstrate, the region’s future is bright, with each new vintage telling a story of tradition, quality, and the enduring spirit of Hawke’s Bay.