Ash Ridge Winery

Ash Ridge Winery — Organic Wine Right Next Door to On Yer Bike

Ash Ridge Winery is a certified organic, family-owned winery and cellar door at 2543 State Highway 50, Roys Hill, Hastings. It sits where the Bridge Pa Triangle and Gimblett Gravels Wine Districts meet. Ash Ridge shares its site with On Yer Bike Winery Tours, about 200 metres from where you collect your bike, so it’s the first or last cellar door on most of our rides.

Who owns Ash Ridge?

Leith and Tracy Ashworth, who bought Ash Ridge in November 2021 and live just around the corner in Maraekakaho.

Leith is head winemaker, and pretty much everything else besides. He grows the grapes, bottles the wine, runs tastings and flips the pizzas, so don’t be surprised if he walks over from the winery to pour your glass. He also makes the wine for Junction Wines, the family label founded by his father, former All Black John Ashworth. Leith studied viticulture and oenology at Lincoln University, has worked vintages in Oregon and Bordeaux, and has more than 20 years in the Hawke’s Bay wine industry.

Keep an eye out for Winston, the family Labrador and resident wine dog.

H2: Is Ash Ridge organic?

Yes. Ash Ridge has been a fully certified organic vineyard since Harvest 2022. Sheep and cattle graze through the vines to manage the grass and canopy, so you may ride in to find livestock among the rows.

The vineyard sits on an old course of the Ngaruroro River. The river left behind free-draining red metal soils, overlaid with loess, volcanic ash and greywacke. Add high sunshine hours and low rainfall, and you have the conditions that make the Bridge Pa Triangle such good grape-growing country.

H2: What wines does Ash Ridge make?

Ash Ridge makes wine across several ranges: Estate, Premium and Reserve, plus Junction. The Family Range is named after the Ashworth children and their dog. It includes:

• Elodie Sparkling Brut
• Imogen Chenin Blanc
• Maximus Syrah
• The Winston, a sweet Ruby Syrah

If you find a favourite, the Ash Ridge Wine Club sends six bottles three times a year, chosen by Leith.

How much is a tasting at Ash Ridge?

$18 for six wines, from a tasting list that changes monthly. The fee is waived if you buy two bottles.*

Can you eat at Ash Ridge?

Yes. The cellar door kitchen serves pizzas and platters made with local ingredients, plus hot and cold drinks. There’s room for up to 50 people inside and plenty of space on the grounds for groups and families. Group lunches can be arranged with Ash Ridge directly through the Ash Ridge website.
In 2023 Ash Ridge was named Hawke’s Bay Cellar Door of the Year at the Bayleys Hawke’s Bay Wine Awards.

When is Ash Ridge open?

Thursday and Friday, 12pm–5pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 10:30am–5pm.*

How does Ash Ridge fit into an On Yer Bike ride?

Ash Ridge and On Yer Bike share the same site, so you can start your day with a tasting or finish it with a pizza and a glass before handing back your bike. Because it sits between both wine districts, it works with our Bridge Pa Triangle and Gimblett Gravels rides. Bought a few bottles along the way? We’ll carry your bottles home for you.

Ash Ridge is also one of the wineries in the annual Bridge Pa Wine Festival, held on the Saturday of Wellington Anniversary Weekend each January. The next one is listed for Saturday 23 January 2027. See the Bridge Pa Triangle website for details.

Ready to ride? Book your regular bikes or e-bikes with On Yer Bike Winery Tours.

* Subject to change.