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edited by Sue Courtney
e-mail address: winetaster@clear.net.nz
Waiheke Island - the little Bordeaux of New Zealand
December 2000
Vineyard list revised Apr 2008
[Introduction] [History] [The Vineyards - April 2008] [Waiheke Links]
Introduction
Thirty-five years ago there were no vineyards on Waiheke Island in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf. The handful of permanent residents was largely alternative life-stylers or retired city-folk and the population doubled or trebled over the summer holiday period. The only wine you could buy on the island was from the local pub's bottle store and the journey to the city took an hour and a half by ferry.
But now the island is serviced by fast ferries that carry commuters to and from Auckland City in just 35 minutes. As well as wine being available in supermarkets and classy bottle stores, the island produces it own vinous product and the blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc are likened to similar blends from the classic red wine capital of the world, Bordeaux.
Wine touring is now one of the island's major tourist attractions. The Waiheke Winegrowers' Association numbers 29 and the number will continue to rise as more vineyards are planted and come into production. Several of the vineyards are open to the public for sales, tasting or tours and the new Waiheke Winegrowers' Map provides the most up-to-date information on who, where and when. It also shows places to eat, such as the not-to-be-missed Mudbrick Cafe
It would be a good idea to plan your visit before you go. Pick up a copy of your map from the information booth at the downtown ferry terminal. Alternatively telephone the write to the Waiheke Visitor Information Artworks at Oneroa on (09) 372 9999 - toll free from Auckland, to ask where you can get a copy.
The Beginnings
But before you visit the island, take some time to reflect on the beginnings of this flourishing industry.
It was Kim and Jeanette Goldwater who started the viticultural trend on the island when in 1978 they planted the island's first vineyard on a slope overlooking Pukiti Bay. The varieties were Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot predominantly. Now, with the addition of Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay they have over 35 acres planted on the free draining clay soils. The soil, the warm dry summers and the maritime influence are what they consider ideal growing conditions for their wines, which have attained an international reputation.
The second vineyard was planted in 1982 when Stephen White hopped off his round-the-world racing yacht and created the Stonyridge Vineyard on a slope about a kilometre inland from Onetangi Beach. Here he believed he had found a site similar to that in Bordeaux with its maritime climate, low summer rainfall and high sunshine hours. Stephen also planted Bordeaux varieties - Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet France, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot - the grapes that make up the classic blend from the best vineyards of Pauillac. The aim was to make the highest quality Cabernet blend in New Zealand and there are many that believe that the classy Stonyridge Larose has achieved this status.
The third vineyard was that of Doug and Anne Hamilton, who planted the striking Peninsula Estate Vineyard on the northwestern tip of the peninsula overlooking Oneroa Bay - red grapes again, producing their first commercial wine in 1990.
Stonyridge set the scene for high prices. The wine matched the best from Bordeaux and could only be bought on mail order in the first instance. Basic economic theories of supply and demand quickly pushed this wine to cult status and prices rose to a high unheard of before in New Zealand. If you were lucky enough to buy some 'en primeur' the prices were not too bad at first ~$35.00, but if you missed out and had to wait until it was in retail or auction, expect to pay twice, maybe three times more.
Stonyridge also established the first vineyard restaurant on the island. An exclusive item was their own olives grown in the olive grove adjacent to the grape vines on the property.
So for years it was just these three on the Waiheke Wine Trail and their high quality wines were diligently sought after by those who knew what was good.
[Introduction] [History] [Waiheke Links]
The Vineyards - April 2008
|
Awaroa Vineyard |
Open for wine tasting & sales on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays from 11am-4pm during January and February. |
|
Cable Bay Vineyards |
The Tasting Room is open from 11am to 5pm, 7 days a week. Tastings cost $5 for 7 wines. |
|
Christensen Estate |
Wine tasting and sales: Sat, Sun & public holdays, 11am to 4pm. By appointment at other times. |
|
Destiny Bay Vineyard |
No facilities. |
|
Edbrooke Vineyard Gordon's Rd, Half Moon Bay |
Vineyard Accommodation. Wine tasting & sales by appointment only e-mail:edbrookevineyard@xtra.co.nz |
|
Fenton Estate |
Wine sales by appointment. |
|
Goldwater Estate |
The Tasting Room is open from midday to 4pm during December, January & February. |
|
Isola Estate |
Wine tasting & sales by appointment only. |
|
Jurassic Ridge |
Cellar Door opened December 2007. Now open 11am to 4pm daily. |
|
Kennedy Point Vineyard |
Cellar door hours vary through-out the year. In Dec 2007, opening hours were stated as Tuesday to Friday 10am-2pm and Saturdays 12pm-4pm. Wine and olive oil tasting
$5 per person. tasting plates available. Check the website for up-to-date opening times. www.kennedypointvineyard.com. Accommodation available. |
|
Man O' War Vineyards |
Not open to the public |
|
Miro Vineyard |
Wine sales and tastings from Dec 29th for 3 weeks only, otherwise by appointment. Ph. 372-7854. |
|
Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant |
Restaurant and wine sales. Open 7 days all year. Wine tasting 10am to 4pm. Lunch from 11am, Dinner from 6.00pm. Group tours by appointment. |
|
Obsidian Vineyard |
Open daily Dec 27 to Jan 29 – 11am – 4pm . Weekends thereafter until the end of February. Otherwise wine sales and tastings by appointment only. Ph. 372 6100. |
|
Owhanake Bay Estate |
No Cellar Door. Luxury accommodation available. Ph. 372 2220. |
|
Passage Rock Wines |
Wine tasting, sales, cafe, tours by appointments ($7). Ph. 372 7257. |
|
Peacock Ridge |
Not open to the public except by appointment. Ph. 418 3588 |
|
Peninsula Estate |
Closed for the 2007/2008 summer while the property is on the market. It goes under the auctioneer's hammer on February 16th 2008.
|
|
Putiki Bay Vineyard |
Not open to the public except by appointment. Ph. 372 8089. |
|
Ridgeview Estate |
Tasting Room open 7 days from 11am to 5pm. Restaurant open daily 11.30am until late. Functions and weddings catered for. Ph. 372 3223. |
|
Saratoga Estate |
OPen from December through February for tours, weddings, picnics and other functions by arrangement. Ph. 372 6450. |
|
Shepherds Point Vineyard |
Not open to the public - refer Mudbrick |
|
Stonyridge Vineyard |
Opening Hours:
Open 7 days for lunch and wine tastings. Open Saturday nights for dinner. (Updated May 2008) |
|
Te Motu Vineyard |
Opening hours change seasonally. |
|
Te Whau Vineyard |
Cafe, tasting room, winebar, wine sales, tours. |
|
The Hay Paddock |
Not open to the public |
|
Topknot Hill Vineyard |
Open daily from 11am - 5pm during the summer. |
|
View East Vineyard |
Opening Labour Weekend 2008. |
Tasting Etiquette
Do not be offended when asked to pay for tasting the wines. The tasting prices are high - some would say very high, but the winegrowers say they cannot afford to pour out tasting samples of the limited quantity product to all the holiday makers and visitors to the island who partake in the vineyard tours, now one of the islands major tourist attractions.
[Introduction] [History] [The Vineyards - April 2008]
Waiheke Wineries on the Web and other links
Check out the Waiheke Winegrowers Association web page for a detailed Waiheke Island map and up to date links to the Waiheke winery websites
www.waihekewine.co.nz
Also Pure Waiheke for a wine tasting price guide comparison. www.purewaiheke.co.nz
Tours
Ananda Wine Tours www.ananda.co.nz
Wine Country Tours on Waiheke Island homepages.ihug.co.nz/~winetour
Fullers Vineyard Tours www.fullers.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/189
Fullers Ferry Timetable www.fullers.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/210
Sea Link Car Ferry www.sealink.co.nz
Other Resources
Wharf Rats Bike Hire. Ph. 372 7937.
Waiheke Buses: Ph. 372 8823.
Waiheke Rental Cars and Scooters: Ph 372 6835.
Waiheke Taxi: Ph. 372 8038.
Dial-a-Cab: Ph. 372 9666.
Also check out this page www.ki-wi.co.nz/waiheke.htm.
If you know of any other wine related Waiheke links, please e-mail me so I can add the link to this page.