Te Mata Estate
Te Mata Estate is an independent, family-owned Hawke's Bay winery known for long-lived Bordeaux-style red blends and estate-grown premium wines.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Te Mata Estate is an independent, family-owned winery in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. It operates from its historic Havelock Hills site near Havelock North, approximately 15 kilometres south of Napier, and is recognized as New Zealand's oldest winery still operating continuously on its original site and vineyard. The estate's history began in the late nineteenth century, when Bernard Chambers developed a winery on Te Mata Station, farmland acquired by the Chambers family in 1854. Vineyards planted during the 1890s included Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with several historic sites still contributing fruit today. The winery's early reputation was tied to the export potential of Hawke's Bay wine. Government viticulturist Romeo Bragato praised the region's vineyards after visiting in the early twentieth century, and Te Mata wines received international recognition, including a gold medal at the 1909 Imperial International Exhibition. By the early twentieth century, Te Mata was New Zealand's largest wine producer. The property changed hands in 1919, when the Chambers family sold it and Te Mata Vineyards was formed. The Buck and Morris families acquired the winery in 1974 and subsequently modernized the business while retaining its historic site, buildings and estate-focused identity. Te Mata's modern reputation rests especially on its Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot-based wines. Coleraine, named after the Buck family's ancestral hometown in Northern Ireland, is the estate's flagship red and is widely regarded as one of New Zealand's benchmark wines. Other important wines include Awatea, Bullnose Syrah, Elston Chardonnay, Cape Crest Sauvignon Blanc, Estate Vineyards Gamay Noir and Zara Viognier. The winery introduced Viognier to New Zealand in 1994 and later developed plantings of Gamay Noir and Syrah. Its vineyards span the original Havelock Hills plantings, the larger Woodthorpe vineyard and sites in the Bridge Pa Triangle. These locations provide varied aspects, soils and microclimates for parcel-based viticulture and blending. Te Mata maintains a strongly estate-led production model. Grapes are hand-harvested, and wines are produced, blended and labelled on site in the original winery complex. Long-serving staff, a permanent vineyard team and hand-pickers support the production program, while technical winemaking has been led for decades by Peter Cowley. The business generally emphasizes small-batch, age-worthy wines rather than high-volume commercial distribution. Its top bottlings are released in limited quantities and can sell through rapidly, while much of the portfolio is exported. The winery complex was substantially modernized during the 1980s under the direction of the Buck and Morris families, with architectural work by Sir Ian Athfield. New facilities included an underground barrel hall, a cuverie and offices influenced by Hawke's Bay's Art Deco and Spanish Mission architecture. The associated Coleraine House became a notable work of New Zealand architecture and appeared on a 1997 postage stamp celebrating New Zealand wine. The surrounding Te Mata Special Character Zone was established in 1996 as New Zealand's first legally protected wine-growing area, reflecting the landscape's agricultural and heritage importance. Beyond wine, Te Mata has contributed to New Zealand's literary culture. In 1994 it helped establish the New Zealand Poet Laureate award, which initially carried the Te Mata Estate name. Although administration later moved to the National Library of New Zealand, Te Mata continues to support the laureates and their inauguration near the winery. The brand is also associated with prestigious hospitality and diplomatic occasions, and its wines are distributed in numerous international markets. Critics and publications have described Te Mata as a national treasure and one of New Zealand's icon producers. Coleraine and Bullnose Syrah have appeared in international top-wine selections, while the 1998 Coleraine was recognized by Decanter as a Wine Legend.
History
Te Mata Estate traces its origins to Bernard Chambers's development of a winery on Te Mata Station in Hawke's Bay during the 1890s. The Chambers family had acquired the wider property in 1854 from Ngāti Kahungunu. After returning from France, Chambers established the winery and planted early vineyard blocks with Cabernet, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. These plantings included the Eighteen92 and Elston sites, the latter associated with some of New Zealand's earliest Chardonnay cultivation. The estate gained an early international profile. With assistance from the Marist brotherhood and the Beecham family of Central Hawke's Bay, its vineyards were identified as capable of producing export-quality wine. Government viticulturist Romeo Bragato recognized the vineyards in 1905, and Te Mata received a gold medal at the 1909 Imperial International Exhibition. During the early twentieth century it became New Zealand's largest wine producer. The historic cellar, constructed from locally fired brick with mataī and rimu roofing, was later extended with a barrel hall in the 1930s. The Chambers family sold the property in 1919, after which Te Mata Vineyards was established. A major new phase began in 1974, when the Buck and Morris families purchased the winery. They invested in modernization and expanded the estate's vineyard base while preserving the original site and its identity. During the 1980s, architect Sir Ian Athfield helped reshape the winery complex through an underground barrel hall, cuverie and office buildings incorporating Art Deco and Spanish Mission references. Coleraine House, located opposite the winery, became a notable architectural landmark and was featured on a New Zealand postage stamp in 1997. The estate expanded its vineyards in the early 1990s. In addition to approximately 15 hectares of historic Havelock Hills vineyards around the winery, Te Mata established the 75-hectare Woodthorpe vineyard northeast of Havelock North and two 15-hectare vineyards in the Bridge Pa Triangle west of Hastings. From 2001, only a portion of fruit from these vineyards was made under the Te Mata label, allowing the business to manage production and maintain a selective premium range. Te Mata broadened its varietal program while retaining a strong focus on Bordeaux grapes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir had been present since the nineteenth century. In 1994 the winery introduced Viognier to New Zealand, followed by Gamay Noir and additional Syrah plantings, including the country's second-oldest Syrah planting. The estate's use of multiple Hawke's Bay sites enables small vineyard parcels to be developed separately and then blended according to their soil, aspect and climatic characteristics. The winery's modern identity is particularly associated with Coleraine, a Cabernet-led red blend named after the Buck family's ancestral town in Northern Ireland. Awatea developed as another important Cabernet and Merlot blend, while Bullnose Syrah, Elston Chardonnay, Cape Crest Sauvignon Blanc, Zara Viognier and Estate Vineyards Gamay Noir broadened the portfolio. Production is carried out on site, from hand-harvesting through winemaking, blending and labelling. Technical Director Peter Cowley has led the winemaking team for more than three decades, supported by long-serving management and vineyard staff. Te Mata's heritage extends beyond viticulture. In 1994 the winery helped create the New Zealand Poet Laureate award. The title was initially called the Te Mata Estate Poet Laureate, but administration later passed to the National Library of New Zealand. Te Mata continues to support the laureates, whose inaugurations are held near the winery at Matahiwi Marae; the first five laureates received carved tokotoko made from the estate's original wine press. The Hawke's Bay Regional Council established the Te Mata Special Character Zone in 1996, protecting the area's wine-growing and landscape heritage. International recognition continued through critical classifications, restaurant placements, diplomatic service and export distribution. Te Mata wines have been served at prominent hospitality and official events, while Coleraine and Bullnose Syrah have appeared in international rankings. The estate remains a privately held, family-run producer whose reputation is built on continuity of place, limited production and long-lived wines.
- 2017
1998 Coleraine recognized as a Wine Legend
[1]Decanter selected the 1998 Coleraine for its Wine Legends profile.
- 1997
Coleraine House appears on postage stamp
[1]Coleraine House was featured on an 80-cent New Zealand postage stamp in a wine-themed series.
- 1996
Te Mata Special Character Zone established
[1]The Hawke's Bay Regional Council created New Zealand's first legally protected wine-growing area in recognition of the Havelock Hills landscape and heritage.
- 1994
Viognier introduced and Poet Laureate award founded
[1]Te Mata introduced Viognier to New Zealand and helped establish the national Poet Laureate award.
- 1991
Elston Chardonnay wins international trophy
[1]The 1989 Elston Chardonnay won the International Wine Challenge trophy for Best White Wine in Show.
- 1980
Historic winery complex modernized
[1]During the 1980s, Sir Ian Athfield designed major additions including an underground barrel hall, cuverie and offices.
- 1974
Buck and Morris families acquire the winery
[1]The Buck and Morris families purchased Te Mata and began a period of modernization and development.
- 1919
Te Mata Vineyards formed after sale
[1]The Chambers family sold the property, and Te Mata Vineyards was subsequently established.
- 1909
Gold medal at the Imperial International Exhibition
[1]Te Mata received a gold medal at the Imperial International Exhibition, reinforcing its early international reputation.
- 1905
Early vineyards recognized for export potential
[1]Government viticulturist Romeo Bragato recognized the quality and export prospects of Te Mata's vineyards.
Products and positioning
An independent, heritage-led Hawke's Bay producer focused on limited-production, estate-grown and hand-harvested wines with a strong emphasis on ageability, site expression and New Zealand fine-wine prestige.
Cabernet Sauvignon-led red blend
Coleraine
Te Mata's flagship red wine, named after the Buck family's ancestral hometown in Northern Ireland. It is a limited-production Hawke's Bay blend centered on Cabernet Sauvignon and supported by other Bordeaux varieties. Coleraine is known for structure, concentration and the ability to mature over many years. It is widely regarded as one of New Zealand's benchmark red wines and has received major international critical recognition.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend
Awatea
Awatea is a premium Cabernet-based Hawke's Bay red blend that complements Coleraine within Te Mata's fine-wine range. It draws on the estate's multi-site vineyard program and is made to express depth, balance and cellaring potential. The wine is associated with the winery's broader specialization in Bordeaux varieties adapted to the dry, maritime conditions of Hawke's Bay.
Syrah
Bullnose Syrah
Bullnose Syrah is Te Mata's leading expression of Hawke's Bay Syrah, sourced principally from the Bridge Pa Triangle. The wine forms part of the estate's expansion beyond Bordeaux varieties and benefits from the area's warm, dry conditions and distinctive gravelly soils. It has been included in international top-wine selections and is one of the winery's most recognized non-Cabernet bottlings.
Chardonnay
Elston Chardonnay
Elston Chardonnay is associated with one of Te Mata's historic vineyard sites and with the estate's early Chardonnay tradition. The vineyard is described as one of New Zealand's earliest Chardonnay plantings. The wine has achieved notable competition recognition, including the Best White Wine in Show trophy at the 1991 International Wine Challenge for the 1989 vintage.
Barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc blend
Cape Crest
Cape Crest is Te Mata's barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc-based wine, made in a style compared with white wines from Graves and southern Bordeaux. It demonstrates the winery's willingness to treat Sauvignon Blanc as a structured, age-worthy variety rather than only as a fresh, stainless-steel style. The wine has received strong critical attention for its complexity and barrel-fermented character.
Viognier · 1994
Zara Viognier
Zara is Te Mata's Viognier offering. The estate introduced Viognier to New Zealand in 1994, making the variety part of its experimental and diversified vineyard program. The wine extends Te Mata's portfolio into a fragrant white variety while retaining the producer's emphasis on site selection, small parcels and careful on-site production.
Gamay Noir
Estate Vineyards Gamay Noir
Estate Vineyards Gamay Noir is part of Te Mata's range of alternative red varieties. It reflects the winery's expansion beyond its core Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah program and is produced from estate vineyard resources. The wine offers a lighter, more fragrant and fruit-focused direction within a portfolio otherwise strongly associated with structured, cellar-worthy reds.
Marketing campaigns
- 1994New Zealand Poet Laureate
New Zealand
Te Mata helped establish the New Zealand Poet Laureate award, initially branded as the Te Mata Estate Poet Laureate. The initiative linked the winery with national literary culture rather than conventional product advertising.
Outcome. Administration later transferred to the National Library of New Zealand, while Te Mata continued supporting the laureates and their inaugurations near the winery.
Brand decisions
2001
Adopt selective use of vineyard fruit under the Te Mata labelStrategyBackground
Te Mata had expanded from its historic Havelock Hills vineyards into Woodthorpe and the Bridge Pa Triangle.
Action taken
The estate began making only a portion of fruit from its expanded vineyard holdings under the Te Mata label.
Aftermath
This supported a selective, premium production model and gave the winery greater control over range architecture and volume.
1994
Introduce Viognier to New ZealandProduct launchBackground
Te Mata's traditional vineyard portfolio centered on Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Action taken
The estate planted and introduced Viognier, later developing the Zara bottling.
Aftermath
The move broadened the estate's varietal range and contributed to its reputation for selective experimentation.
1974
Modernize while preserving the historic winery identityStrategyBackground
The Buck and Morris families acquired the winery and inherited one of New Zealand's longest-running wine sites.
Action taken
They modernized the production complex and expanded the vineyard base while retaining the original Havelock Hills site and heritage buildings.
Aftermath
The combination of historic continuity and modern facilities became central to Te Mata's premium positioning.
Recent events
- 2017
1998 Coleraine named a Decanter Wine Legend[1]
Other
Decanter profiled the 1998 Te Mata Coleraine as a Wine Legend, an uncommon distinction for a New Zealand wine.
- 1991
1991 International Wine Challenge honors Elston Chardonnay[1]
Other
The 1989 Elston Chardonnay received the International Wine Challenge trophy for Best White Wine in Show.
Te Mata Estate recognized as a New Zealand icon producer[1]
Other
The Wine Advocate included Te Mata Estate among New Zealand's icon wineries and classified it as an outstanding producer.
Coleraine and Bullnose Syrah included in global top-wine selections[1]
Other
James Suckling listed Te Mata's Coleraine and Bullnose Syrah among the Top 50 Wines of the World.
Sources2 sources
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