Mesita Wine Bar

The Wairarapa


Blink and you'll miss little Mesito, a tiny side-street wine bar. But follow the vintage rock and you'll soon find the door. Inside are excellent wines (mostly local with some far-flung stars), craft beers, killer cocktails and Mexican-inspired nibbles. Tasting flights are a good way to sample the vineyards that got away (four pinot noirs $28).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The Wairarapa attractions

1. Schubert Wines

0.5 MILES

Run by German imports who searched for and found the best spot in the world to produce their favourite wine, pinot noir. This compact cellar door is big…

2. Ata Rangi

0.53 MILES

One of the region’s pioneering winemakers. Great drops across the board and a cute cellar door also selling honey and olive oil. Book a tasting in advance.

3. Palliser Wines

0.53 MILES

Wines so good, even the Queen has some stashed away in her cellar. A slick outfit, as befitting one of Martinborough's best-known producers.

4. Margrain

0.58 MILES

Sip a wide range of high-quality wines at this character-filled cellar door, with a casual on-site cafe overlooking the vines.

5. Tirohana Estate

0.59 MILES

Head past the popular restaurant to the tasting room hung with swords and guns.

6. Haythornthwaite Wines

0.93 MILES

Sustainable, hands-on winery producing complex drops including cherry-like pinot noir and gorgeous gewürztraminer. If the weather's fine, the tasting will…

7. Poppies Martinborough

0.93 MILES

Delectable handcrafted wines served by the label's passionate winemaking and viticulturalist duo. Savour the wines alongside a well-matched platter in the…

8. Martinborough Vineyard

1.7 MILES

The first vineyard to plant pinot noir in the region also has the best name: it's a local legend with a sterling international reputation. The cellar door…