Amanda K.
Yelp
I dragged my boyfriend here for an afternoon of wine tasting and education. Craggy Range was our last stop in Hastings and omg I am so happy we made it here. The grounds are gorgeous, the tasting room is picturesque, and the wine is incredible! After working in wine in Northern California, I was excited to be tasting in New Zealand's famous wine region of Hawkes Bay. 
The employees were friendly but also super busy. They gave us a tasting with some education and facts about the wines, but didn't stick around long enough to have a conversation or for us to ask any questions. The experience was mediocre as we couldn't really get personalised attention, but the wines were tasty and we got to catch up with each other. 
It seems a lot of the wineries taste their "tropical" Sauv Blancs, which was interesting to me. The region is known for those crisp acidic Sauv Blancs, but they are trying to do something innovating and new by aging their SB in oaks and getting it to taste like pineapple juice. I wasn't so much a fan of that, but the Pinot Gris was done well and the reds were spot on. 
We left the tasting room without buying anything, not because we didn't like the wines, but because as soon as we were poured our last wine, the attendant disappeared. We didn't see him again! After working in the industry I can understand how this happens but was still a bit disappointed in the service. 
Nonetheless, if you're looking for some good wines to sip and a date with a friend (or more), I would recommend Craggy Range. They had a good selection of wines, my favorite being the Pinot Gris and a couple of the reds. The tasting room is beautiful and they have the option of standing or sitting for your tasting, and the tastings are free.