Our Place
We are proud of the place we call home – isolated, authentic, an untouched splender – it’s the only place we grow our grapes!
The origins of our land
A bountiful, fertile place, our lands were known by the first navigators to Tairawhiti, Toi and Whatonga, for its temperate climate and rich soils. The fertile soils made red by the fruit of the Titoki and Karaka trees.
Place names were given to areas of land for many reasons. Matawhero was the most sought after land by early settlers due its proximity to the river and deep soils which could grow an abundance of produce like kumara, hue and a wealth of other crops.
The area is also home to the Matawhero Church, built in the 1860s, which is the oldest building on the East Coast and graces the Matawhero wine label.
The first vineyards in the world to the greet the new day
Situated on the far east coast of the North Island, Gisborne boasts long hot summers and rich fertile plains. The Māori name for our home is Tairāwhiti, the coast upon which the sun shines.
These high sunshine hours and a warm climate ripens our fruit perfectly and creates distinctive wines with lovely fruit intensity and weight.
Hand selected single vineyard parcels
We only grow our grapes in Gisborne from small, hand selected single vineyard sites, that represent the different distinctive sub regions of Gisborne. This allows us to express the true terroir of that site and grow the varietals that suit the particular site and soil type.
Coastal influences
Our region revels in a classic Pacific maritime climate. Sheltered by hills and mountain ranges to the North and North West, Gisborne’s warm dry climate is moderated by the nearby ocean and its cooling afternoon sea breezes. These preserve the natural acidity and tropical fruit flavours in our distinctive wine.
Fruit bowl of New Zealand
Historically recognised as one of the ‘fruit-bowls’ of New Zealand, our region’s golden climate and fertile soils creates an abundance of other produce – citrus, kiwifruit, avocados and a wide variety of vegetables including tomatoes, sweetcorn, squash and leafy greens of every type. When you drive down the road at our Matawhero home block you can see the hive of activity as these crops are grown.
We could grow anything in our region but we grow grapes, as it is the legacy we have chosen to build on!