How it started, a short history about Waiheke Islands vineyards

Picture this: it’s 1977, and Kim and Jeanette Goldwater are digging holes on a windy Waiheke hillside, planting the island’s first proper wine grapes. No one thinks it’ll work—Auckland’s too close, the soil’s too volcanic, the ferries too slow. But by 1983 they’re pouring a deep, silky Cabernet-Merlot blend that makes critics blink twice. That’s the spark.

A few years later, Stephen White shows up dreaming of Bordeaux. He buys a north-facing slope, names it Stonyridge, and in 1987 his Larose blend starts collecting gold medals like seashells. Suddenly Waiheke isn’t just a weekend bach escape; it’s a wine destination.

The 90s explode. Mudbrick plants lavender and vines, Cable Bay builds glass boxes with Gulf views, and Man O’ War clears 150 hectares on the wild east coast. Syrah muscles in alongside the Bordeaux reds—spicy, peppery, pure island attitude. Whites follow: buttery Chardonnay, crisp Pinot Gris, even a salty Albariño or two.

By the 2000s, 30 tiny producers are hand-picking 216 hectares, bottling sunshine and salt breeze. Festivals, long lunches, and sunset tastings turn the ferry ride into a pilgrimage. Waiheke wine isn’t just good—it’s a love letter to the place itself.