[1] The GI protects any wine produced within the boundaries of the entire Hawke's Bay Region, but in practice the vineyards are chiefly concentrated in the plains and low hills surrounding the cities of Napier and Hastings.

[7] There are several sub-regions within the Hawke's Bay GI, most notably Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa Triangle, which have developed reputations for fine red wines.

this last part is incorrect as of November of 2023, as far as being a GI officially recognized by the New Zealand Intellection Property Office, the organization that regulates GIs.)

Membership allows producers to use the Bridge Pa Triangle logo and branding on the label as long as the wine has a minimum of 85% of the grapes sourced from the area.

[11] Notable wineries in the area include Alpha Domus, Sileni Estates, Red Metal and Ash Ridge.

Several vineyards are established in the coastal area around the small town of Te Awanga, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) east of Hastings.

[13] Growers 50 kilometres (31 mi) further south around the towns of Waipawa and Waipukurau registered their own sub-region geographical indication in 2019, which covers roughly the southern half of the larger Hawke's Bay GI, with the same boundary as the Central Hawke's Bay District local authority.