West Auckland Wine Trail
Kate Methven - 20/3/98

In my article on West Auckland in December 97 I mentioned I would be taking a wine trail in the area reasonably soon. Recently we had visitors

Vines growing in West Auckland

from England staying with us so I decided this was an ideal time to make another visit out west, especially as we were all wine lovers, though not, I must emphasise, wine experts. Our idea was to enjoy a drive in the country sampling a few wines and partaking of a leisurely lunch somewhere along the way.

History of Wine Making
Winemaking has a long tradition in West Auckland. The first winemakers were the Dalmatians who began planting vines and producing wines in Henderson at the turn of the century. In 1902 Stripan Jelich at Pleasant Valley, Henderson, made the first wine at what has become one of the oldest family-owned wineries in New Zealand. Other Henderson winemakers soon became established in the area, notably Corbans later in 1902 and Babich in 1916. All three companies continue to produce award winning red and white wines. By the 1960s there was a shortage of large blocks of land in the area so expansion moved to the Kumeu/Haupai district.

Red or White Wine - Which grows better?
West Auckland is today one of New Zealand's major wine producing regions and Henderson has one of the largest clusters of wineries in the country. The climate is particularly suited to the production of premium red wines, with Cabernet Sauvignon being the most commonly planted grape followed by Pinot Noir and Merlot. The most prominent white varieties grown are Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Most West Auckland wineries now own vineyards in Marlborough in the South Island and Gisborne and Hawkes Bay areas on the East Coast of the North Island. Fruit from these regions is in many cases sent to Auckland to be processed.

Planning our visit
Initially I obtained a copy of the pamphlet 'Wineries of West Auckland' available free from the Auckland Visitor's Centre, phone 09 366 6888. This is a comprehensive guide to wine tasting in the West and the two maps clearly show the separate areas where wine is produced i.e. the Henderson Valley or the Kumeu district.

As there are over thirty vineyards in West Auckland it is advisable to decide first on the area and then head for the better known or award winning places. We decided to visit the Kumeu/Huapai districts as most of the wineries are situated reasonably close together and three of them had eating places whilst another had picnic/barbecue facilities - a definite must in my book if one is sampling a few wines on the way.

We headed out of town on the North Western Motorway and then took State Highway 16 sign posted To Helensville. Huapai is about 18km along this highway .Our total travel time from the city was around forty minutes.

Places We Chose

Matua Valley Winery
We first headed to Matua Valley winery which was the furthest away from Auckland. This is delightfully situated about 5km off the main highway at amidst rolling countryside. There are winery facilities, cellar sales, mail order and tasting . Matua award winning wines are well sought after both in New Zealand and overseas. We sampled their Shingle Peak and Dartmoor Valley ranges and decided to purchase a bottle or two of the Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 1996, a delightful rich red with a fragrant and mature bouquet.

Adjacent to the Winery is the award winning restaurant - The Hunting Lodge which serves lunches and dinners from Wednesdays to Sundays. There is a comprehensive menu available with entrees from $11-18 and mains from $22-28 As it was too early in the day for us to have lunch we decided that it was a definite 'must' for a special occasion at a later date.

Coopers Creek

Wine stored in oak casks at Coopers Creek Winery

We then headed back and returned along Highway 16 to our next port of call Coopers Creek, another well known winery with many awards to its credit. Situated on the Highway just north of Huapai, this winery offers tours around its processing plant for small groups and only by prior arrangement. There are barbecue facilities and a small picnic area overlooking the vineyard.

The House of Nobilo

The House of Nobilo

The House of Nobilo is a few kilometres south of Huapai in Station Rd Kumeu. They were just starting to pick their Cabernet Sauvignon and are pleased to show small groups around their large plant by appointment only.

In recent years the company's emphasis has been on exporting bulk quantities of its Muller Thurgau-based White Cloud. However, the company has just released the Nobilo Family Icon series for the national market. The Icon series wines are winemaker-focused in that they combine the best fruit, irrespective of district. There are four Icon whites and the first release wines are dominated by the company's Marlborough vineyards due to the splendidly ripe fruit from the region in 1997. The range includes a Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. They will certainly be wines to watch out for in the 1998/9 awards.

Selaks Wines
Further south again on Highway 16 is Selaks Wines, another well recommended winery with delightful eating facilities. Allely House is a beautiful turn of the century villa with a large verandah and patio area set on three acres of garden. The restaurant is open daily from 11a.m. 11p.m. and the varied menu offered us plenty of choices for an enjoyable lunch. The head office is situated nearby where there is a wine tasting and purchasing area but as all the wines are actually processed in Blenheim, Gisborne or Hawkes Bay there is no plant in Auckland. The company have been producing wines since 1934 and their philosophy is to produce limited edition wines of consistent fine quality. Their 1997 Sauvignon White produced in Marlborough has recently won a Gold Medal in the Air New Zealand Wine awards and it costs only $12.95 a bottle. I enjoyed its crispy dry flavour and it certainly went well with our delightful lunch. Another of their quality wines Brut Methode Traditionelle 89 was recently judged second. At $19.95 a bottle it was just under half the cost of its major rivals.

Riverhead Estate Wines
Our leisurely lunch completed we decided to visit a winery offering something just a little different. Riverhead Estate Winery is not listed in the current brochure but I had visited previously and it was also recommended by a local tour operator. It is situated on the Riverhead/Coatsville Highway. You turn off Highway 16 just 300 metres south from Selaks.

The Riverhead Estate Wines are fermented only from the pure juice of fruit high in vitamin C. There is a noticeable absence of the 'tannins' and flavanoids common in other wines and the wine is bottled with a minimum content of sulphites and antioxidants to which some people are allergic. In addition the wine generally has a lower alcohol content which means fewer side effects and yet they are so delicious. Names like Feijoa, Nashi, Boysenberry and Kiwifruit wines are available in still or sparkling varieties - my choice was Nashi medium dry/still and I found it very palatable. Adjoining the winery is a delightful indoor/outdoor restaurant - Glennies.

How to get there
If you don't have your own transport or if you prefer to be driven so you can enjoy the day without worrying about your intake, Auckland Tours provide whole or half day tours depending on your choice. A half day tour visiting three wineries costs around $49 per person. If extra time is required for eating lunch this would cost $5-10 extra. Bruce Hirtzell, the owner, also can provide a picnic lunch if ordered in advance. Further details may be obtained by phoning or faxing him on 09 834 5363.

Enjoying your visit
A few pointers to help you enjoy your day.
Plan in advance especially if you are needing transport and wish to have a tour of a winery or two. If taking your own car don't forget to get a copy of Winemakers of West Auckland leaflet so you can organise your day easily beforehand. It's a good idea also to pack a snack of cheese and biscuits to nibble on between wineries - and if you can persuade a teetotal friend to drive you so much the better!!

If you prefer not to eat at a winery or have a picnic I can recommend Blossoms Cafe situated on the corner of Highway 16 and the Rivershead/Coatsville Highway. There is a wide range of sandwiches, quiches, home-made pies, salads, muffins, cakes etc. and very reasonable prices. They also serve wine by the glass as well as tea and coffee.