Are you a wine lover? Waiheke wineries are one of the island's main treasures. When looking forward to a great gastronomical experience, visiting at least one of the vineyards is a must!
The island is especially known for elegant Bordeaux Blend wines made from a mixture of two grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Chardonnay and Syrah can also be found and tasted throughout this magical piece of land.
No wonder we at Omana Luxury Villa are passionate about wine. Our awarded boutique hotel is nestled on a hill overlooking the ocean and shares a magnificent lush landscape with neighbours Destiny Bay Vineyard.
Only a 45-minute ferry ride or 12-minute helicopter flight from Auckland, Waiheke invites you on a journey of tastes. So, when planning your getaway, honeymoon, or anniversary, do consider joining a wine-tasting event. The experience allows you to learn about different grapes and wines, learn about the making process, and understand better which label goes better with a certain food or occasion!
Visiting Waiheke vineyards is always a great idea throughout the year, whether summer or winter. Actually, it’s one of the best things to do in Waiheke, especially on happy occasions such as an engagement, a honeymoon or an anniversary.
Regardless of the reason that brings you to Waiheke, you will be invited to discover the island’s flavours. So, here are the top 4 wineries you should go check out:
Te Rere is a boutique vineyard nestled in a sheltered valley in Church Bay, Waiheke Island. Family-owned, it focuses on producing small quantities of premium wines through sustainable viticulture and artisanal winemaking – isn’t that sustainable luxury?!
Award-winning winemaker Michael Wood crafts high-quality wines by cultivating low-yielding crops to ensure immaculate fruit and allowing nature to take its course as much as possible in the winery.
Omana Luxury Villa has proudly partnered with Te Rere Vineyard to offer a journey of tastes in a wine tour as part of our exclusive services to our guests – do email us at omana@omanaluxuryvilla.com to learn more!
Another great recommendation from us is Batch Winery, which has two vineyards: the Thomas Vineyard, established in 1988, and the Margaret Reeve Lane Vineyard, established in 2006.
Thomas Vineyard is planted with Chardonnay and small parcels of Syrah and Pinot Gris grapes to create wines with intensity and complexity. On the other hand, Margaret Reeve Lane has Syrah and Bordeaux planted.
With all these different grape varieties, this Waiheke winery is quite interesting because it offers visitors the opportunity to taste different flavours and enjoy a very rich experience.
After the tasting, you can head to their restaurant for a full gastronomic experience, savouring dishes made from fresh local ingredients.
Tantalus is an award-winning Estate and a family-owned vineyard in Waiheke. They are proud of their location, which allows a long growing season that is particularly interesting for the full development of red wine grapes.
The variety is good. There are Cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet franc and Merlot, Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. Tantalus also produces a small quantity of Bordeaux and Rhone-style reds, which are completely focused on quality.
To make the visit even more special, you can also visit their restaurant to eat refined-tasting dishes made from the island's seasonal ingredients. Below, is a picture of Cobus and Silmara Scholtz (right), owners of Omana Luxury Villa.
The Stonyridge Vineyard is known for its world-class Bordeaux-style red wine and other high-quality wines and is "one of the Top Ten wineries to visit in the world", according to a review in the Guardian UK.
Their wine tasting will allow you to understand their ambassador, Stephen White’s mind. He spent three years working at wineries in France, California, and Italy before heading back to New Zealand and beginning his journey as a winemaker.
Good to know: you can visit the Stonyridge Vineyard by air once they have a helipad! You can come to Waiheke by helicopter and enjoy a unique island view.
Besides the tasting, this Waikahe winery has its own restaurant and a sunset café, for a lovely experience before going back to chill in the comfort of your villa at Omana.
Not all Waiheke wineries have a helipad, so you’d be glad to know there are other ways to get to them. One of the best options for a stress-free experience is to hire a private driver, an exclusive service Omana is able to offer our guests.
There are also taxi services on Waiheke Island, which is also a convenient and safe choice. No matter your preferred transportation, always be mindful not to combine driving with a wine-tasting experience.
If you’re doing other activities that don’t involve drinking, you can rent a car or even come on the car ferry from Auckland with your own vehicle. All those options will help you get around the island; we would just like to highlight that it is important you make transport arrangements before your arrival.
For the most adventurous spirits, riding a bike or getting a scooter or Segway can add a great deal of fun to your Waiheke experience.
If, by any chance, you prefer to diversify your visit by not making it all about Waiheke wineries, there are other options like gin, whisky and beer tastings on the island. Let’s explore some of those:
Waiheke is conveniently close to Auckland, making it an amazing excuse for a day trip, but it’s definitely worth spending at least two nights on this island and being greeted every morning with a gourmet breakfast delivered to your door.
Or why not plan a longer trip, especially for a celebration?! Think of you and your loved one savouring a sparkling wine from your villa’s balcony.
For either a night or a long stay, this wonderful land awaits your visit and will present you with some of the best wineries in the world.
When looking for accommodation in Waiheke, we suggest you consider our private villas for full relaxation and the opportunity to experience the island with the utmost comfort and style.
