SO LONG, SIP WELL…

Vidal Estate has closed the doors of its historic Hastings restaurant and winery, opened by Anthony Joseph Vidal in 1905. It has (along with winemaker Hugh Crichton, left, and his team) relocated to a new complex in the Gimblett Gravels, home to Esk Valley, Te Awa and Villa Maria. “It was a difficult decision to sell the property as Vidal was not only our first restaurant, but it was the first winery restaurant in New Zealand, so it holds a lot of historical relevance,” said Vidal owner Sir George Fistonich, who adds they “had outgrown the facility”.