The vineyards
MATAWHERO WINES
The Matawhero journey started with two New Zealand wine pioneers from the 1960s. Today the story continues around the drive and determination of Kirsten and Richard Searle, who have continued to develop the iconic winery and share the distinctive wine styles of the Gisborne region.
The Matawhero winery and vineyards were purchased by Kirsten and Richard Searle in 2008 from New Zealand pioneer winemaker Denis Irwin. After a rigorous process on Denis’s part to ensure that the baton was being passed to someone equally as passionate about wine and the region as he was, he willed us on and the hard work began replanting and revitalising the historic winery.
Their love of the region runs deep, Richard grew up here and with a family history of growing grapes they wouldn’t want to be doing anything else!
TW WINES
Paul Tietjen and Geordie Witters began the TW business in 1998. Their wines epitomise what the world has come to expect of New Zealand wine – power, complexity, elegance and excellent cellaring potential.
TW Wines are grown and hand-crafted along The Golden Slope, Gisborne’s very own Côte d’Or…Gisborne is well known as New Zealand’s Chardonnay Capital and this narrow, five-kilometre strip from Ormond to Hexton, has given rise to most of Gisborne’s Gold Medal winning Chardonnays.
Two good friends, Paul Tietjen and Geordie Witters, have vineyards on these golden slopes. Their wines epitomise what the world has come to expect of New Zealand wine – power, complexity, elegance and excellent cellaring potential.
Since the 1989 vintage, our two vineyards have won 39 national and international medals.
