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Wine
The stunning
Matakana coast is home to many boutique
wineries. The valley slopes are draped with
vines, their clay-based soils encouraging
richness in our wines.
Come share the
changing seasons and sample the fruits of
our growing wine tradition when you visit
our diverse and inspired vineyards and
cellar doors. All uniquely family owned and
operated, each representing a distinctive
wine craft.
Matakana is a
relative newcomer to the wine industry but
our high quality wines are much prized, both
in New Zealand and overseas. The region has
increased its plantings in recent years and
now encompasses some 32 vineyards, including
12 wineries.
Traditionally a red wine
growing region, there are now some
outstanding white wines including
Chardonnay, Viognier and Pinot Gris.
However the classic red varieties of
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinotage,
Pinot Noir and Sangiovese have
shown consistent excellence.
Wine tasting is
a popular way to spend the day in our area.
Most of the vineyards with wine tasting are
in close proximity to each other and some
serve food. Other options are The
Vintry in Matakana Village which has an
extensive range of Matakana wines and wine
tours with Great Taste Tours and Warkworth
Tours.
The Vintry
The Vintry in
Matakana is New Zealand’s only wine
centre and bar dedicated to the
sales and promotion of locally made
wines – the wine selection is
proudly, purely Matakana. They offer
wine tastings, an extensive
selection of Matakana wine by the
glass with all the wines available
“to go” at cellar-door prices.
Designed for wine appreciation the bar has a deck for the summer months and a real wood fire to sit before in the cooler months. Enjoy its ambience or take a glass of Matakana wine to enjoy while watching a movie in the adjacent boutique cinemas. The Vintry also offers a selection of food boards to complement the wine and other alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks
Open daily
from 10am - 10pm
www.thevintry.co.nz
Blue
Adventures
For
something different try Tony &
Nina's
Auckland to Matakana Day Tour
combining water activities with
gourmet & artisan pleasures. With
your choice of jetboating, stand
up paddleboarding, kitesurfing or
wakeboarding and
a visit to two fantastic wine
estates,
this tour can be customised to your
needs.
www.blueadventures.co.nz
Gillman Vineyard
Each year the Gillman
family create a single red wine blended from
cabernet franc, merlot and malbec grapes,
using old world techniques to give the wine
the structure of the
great wines of Bordeaux. Their
aim is to achieve an elegant and
approachable red wine which is ideal with
food.
The vineyard, where
planting commenced in 1998 now covers 1.5
acres- "small enough that I know every vine,
practically everything is done by hand",
says Toby Gillman.
Cellar door at The
Vintry in Matakana Village is open daily.
www.gillmanvineyard.co.nz
Great Taste Tours
with Bush and Beach
The Matakana Bush and Beach full day
Great Taste Tour to Matakana
includes a feast of art, cheese,
wine, honey, local cuisine and
chocolates. A visit to renowned
Morris and James Pottery and
Brick Bay Sculpture Trail are
highlights.
www.bushandbeach.co.nz
Matakana
Style
Taste the real NZ with Geoff of Warkworth
Tours. Wine Tours and Taste Tours allow you
to indulge in the unique flavours of this
boutique region, with daily tours departing
at 12.30pm from your requested Warkworth or
Matakana location. Times & itineraries
are flexible for larger groups.
Contact Geoff for more details of these &
his garden tours.
www.warkworthtours.co.nz
Brick Bay
Wines
This small
sustainably accredited vineyard
owned by Richard & Christine
Didsbury produces all the fruits for
Brick Bay wines: pinot gris, rose
and a Bordeaux blend, which in
exceptional years is released as
their premium label known as Pharos.
Visit the award
winning Glass House tasting room at
Brick Bay which is cantilevered over
a lake giving visitors a view of the
vineyard and Brick Bay Sculpture
Trail. Open daily for cellar door
sales, wine tasting, food platters,
coffee and other refreshments.
Open daily
10am - 5pm
www.brickbay.co.nz
Contour Estate Vineyard
Contour Estate,
owned by Bruce & Linsey-Ann Taylor
is a boutique winery that
specialises in the crafting of
Syrah. Traditional winemaking
methods combined with low cropping
are all part of the philosophy to
ensure that premium quality Syrah is
presented under the Contour Estate
label.
The tasting
facility is set up in the winery
where visitors can be introduced to
the winemaking methods that have
helped this winery produce award
winning Syrah.
Open 11am – 5pm
weekends and public holidays,
November to March
www.contourestate.co.nz
Heron's Flight Vineyard
Owned by David Hoskins &
Mary Evans, Herons Flight is the only
vineyard in New Zealand specialising
solely in Italian grapes, Sangiovese and
Dolcetto. It is one of the oldest
vineyards in Matakana. David hosts his 'fill
your own bottle' days in the winery itself
and free tastings are available daily.
Regular events are advertised on their
website.
Open daily
from 11am
www.heronsflight.co.nz
Mahurangi River Winery
Recently having changed ownership
this vineyard is now under the
stewardship of local farmer, Shelley
Trotter. Chardonnay, Syrah and
Bordeaux style reds, the best suited
varietals for its microclimate are
used in production of Mahurangi
River Wines.
The cafe and tasting
facilities have recently undergone
extensive renovation and are now
open daily for brunch, lunch,
tastings and cellar door sales.
Thursday to
Monday 11am-4pm
www.mahurangiriver.co.nz
Matavino
Matavino is a small
family owned and operated vineyard, growing
red Italian grape varieties such as Barbera,
Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, and Sangiovese, as well
as Viognier and Chardonay. The vines are
hand nurtured by the Hight family and their
friends, using sustainable practices. The
vision of this boutique vineyard, initially
planted in September 2006, is to produce
wine to compliment the local produce.
Cellar door at The
Vintry in Matakana Village is open daily.
www.matavino.co.nz
Omaha Bay Vineyard
Owned by
Hegman & Bev Foster this relatively new
vineyard and winery was planted in 2002 with
12,000 vines including ; Pinot Gris, Flora,
Syrah, Montepulciano, Viognier, Malbec,
Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Its
tasting room has
spectacular views out over the Hauraki Gulf
to Little Barrier Island. The wines
can be enjoyed with a platter of fresh local
food.
May-September Open
Friday to Sunday 11am - 4pm
October-April
Open Wednesday to Sunday 11am - 5pm
www.omahabay.co.nz
Runner Duck Estate
Clyde and Farida
Cooper's boutique vineyard is small
in size but big on character. Their
stated objective is to produce a
small amount of truly iconic red
wine. They have the resources
and the committment to be
uncompromising throughout the entire
wine making process. So committed in
fact that that unless the year is an
outstanding one they do not process
wine under their label.
The cellar door is at their
restaurant Plume.
Cellar door at Plume open daily from 10am
www.runnerduck.co.nz
Matakana Winegrowers Association
Our local vineyard association are
producers of the Matakana Wine Trail
which is available for download
here. Or call in to the centre for a
copy.
www.matakanawine.com
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