Established in 1896, Te Mata Estate remains family owned, producing internationally recognized wines exclusively from its Hawke’s Bay vineyards.
Te Mata Estate was originally part of Te Mata Station, a large pastoral land-holding established by English immigrant, John Chambers, in 1854. A homestead and stables were built on the property in the early 1870’s.
After returning from France, John Chamber’s third son, Bernard, had the idea to plant vineyards on the north-facing hills around Havelock North. In 1892, Bernard Chambers planted vines on three parcels of hillside land above the homestead and began converting the original stables to ferment and mature these first Te Mata Estate Wines. Today, Te Mata Estate still uses those same three vineyards.
The Chambers family sold the property in 1919. Te Mata Vineyards (TMV) was established and the property had two other owners until it was acquired by the Buck and Morris families in 1974 – the two families behind the modern interpretation of this historic New Zealand estate.
New Zealand’s greatest winery. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, USA
A Unique Place
Hawke’s Bay is a very special place for making wine. Its range of slopes, plains and climatic differences, coupled with low humidity and ample ultra-violet light, give winemakers a comprehensive toolkit to showcase their skills. Soils are young and derived from the gravels, silt and sands left behind as the three main rivers of Hawke’s Bay changed course over thousands of years.
Te Mata Estate was established here in 1896, specialising in high-quality wines of classical style. Every step in the production of our wines is undertaken by us, from grape growing and pruning through to winemaking and bottling.
Internationally Recognised
Over the last forty years Te Mata Estate has established an internationally-recognised array of red and white wines including Coleraine, Awatea Cabernets/Merlot, Bullnose Syrah, Alma Pinot Noir, Elston Chardonnay, Cape Crest Sauvignon Blanc, and Zara Viognier.
In 2012, Te Mata Estate launched Estate Vineyards – a collection of six varietally-designated wines; Merlot/Cabernets, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
The Estate Vineyard wines are produced exclusively from Te Mata Estate’s own vineyards and represent the best qualities of their variety, vintage, and Hawke’s Bay origin.
New Zealand's first growth. Decanter, UK
Conservation & Sustainability
Te Mata Estate is committed to improving its performance in terms of environmental, social and economic sustainability through the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ) programme.
SWNZ was established in 1995 as an industry initiated program directed through New Zealand Winegrowers. SWNZ aims to minimize any impact on the environment in the vineyard and winery and to continually monitor and reduce the use of power, water and fuel resources.
As the program was rolled out Te Mata Estate’s vineyards were amongst the first to be accredited in 1995, as was the winery in 2005, when we were part of a very small initial group having all vineyards and the winery accredited.
Every Te Mata Estate wine displays the SWNZ symbol as your assurance that all of our wine production, from vine to bottle, is fully audited and accredited.
A national treasure. Jancisrobinson.com
Architecture
The aim was to create a modern wine-making complex that reflected the character of the landscape. Specialising in in-fill architecture and innovative modernist design, Athfield Architects created a series of buildings to reflect the art deco heritage of Hawke’s Bay and the art nouveau heritage of the original Chambers homestead.
Incorporating the original winery, Athfield Architects designed an original New Zealand modern wine-making environment using local materials and limewash colours.
In 1987, a winemaker’s laboratory and staff facilities were added, as well as new office spaces and a visitor centre. In 1991, these buildings were complemented with a red wine fermentation room. A purpose-built packaging and labelling warehouse was constructed in 1994.
Coleraine and Awatea are bona fide classics. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, USA
Coleraine: “New Zealand's greatest red wine. Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
1890 to today
From Station to Estate
Innovation
The original Te Mata Station was refitted for winemaking in a series of small buildings. The first commercial winery in NZ was being established.
1890
First Plantings
Vitis Vinifera (cabernet, chardonnay and pinot noir) were planted on the Hill Block and in the site called '1892', one of the country's oldest continuous vineyard plantings.
1892
First Production
The earliest harvest and fermentations were done on site at Te Mata. Clarets were made in small batches with a focus on quality.
1894
First Official Vintage
In the famed year of the International Exhibition, the first wines were released and sold. Bernard Chambers was a local entrepreneur, driving the first automobile in Hawke's Bay.
1896
'Wines of Quality'
Romeo Bragato tasted Te Mata wines and compared them to the Mission's early plantings in Meeanee. High quality reds that reminded him of wines 'from the Greek archipelago'.
1899
International Awards
Gold Medals for our early cabernets at the International Expo, and competitions in Canada, Japan and Britain.
1909
NZ's Largest Wine Producer
Within a few years Te Mata was the largest wines producer in the Dominion. A team made up of Swiss, Irish, Italian, Welsh and English immigrants made this possible. See the team here, with baker onsite.
1913
Temperance Movement
Wine was still bottled on site at Te Mata. Tax increases made it almost impossible to make fine wine in New Zealand. Te Mata was able to continue, just, but many wineries around the country closed.
1930
Andre Simeon tries TM wines
Wine writer André Simon tasted the 1912 Te Mata Estate red blend half a century after it was first bottled: 'This really is quite good. No sign of decay. One would not have thought it would have kept this long. Remarkable, quite remarkable.’
1962
Rennaissance
The Buck and Morris families became involved. Slowly vineyards were replanted and the buildings modernised.
1974
Vineyard Protection
The Te Mata Character Zone became the first protected wine area in NZ. Protecting the terroir has remained a priority for the winery.
1994
Outstanding Producer
Te Mata Estate was listed as a 'Five-Star Outstanding Producer' by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.
2008
100 Points
Our first 100 Point wine. The 2013 was a remarkable vintage, and the start of a run of good harvests through this decade.
2013
Record Prices
Coleraine started to set records as NZ's most expensive collectors' wine.
2014
Wine Legend
Decanter named Coleraine a 'Wine Legend.' This is the only NZ wine to achieve this.
2016
Fine Wines NZ
Coleraine, Bullnose Syrah and Cape Crest Sauvignon Blanc all made the 'Air New Zealand Fine Wines of NZ' list.
2020
Fine Wine In Progress
With multiple Hawke' Bay sub-regions planted, and our new state-of-the-art red wine fermentation room online, the estate now has the newest and oldest winery capabilities in the country. On the back of strong recent vintages, a new phase of winemaking is underway...