What the Winery says...

Located at the eastern end of Waiheke Island, in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf, Man O’ War boasts a pristine and beautiful spread of coastal hillsides with high cliffs and stunning beaches. This rugged and beautiful coastline was “Discovered” in 1769 by Captain James Cook, and today we take responsibility for maintaining its beauty and integrity for future generations.

 Under our family’s stewardship for almost 30 years we first introduced grapes to Man O’ War in 1993, firm in the belief that world class wines could be produced here. Since then we have carefully selected and developed almost 90 individual pockets of Man O’ War’s hillsides for wine growing, each chosen for the unique and exceptional qualities they bring to our wines.

 Today 150 acres of vines are strategically placed around Man O’ War’s 4500 acres, enhancing its intrinsic beauty. Meticulous design ensures that the distinct soil profile and microclimate of each block is used to best advantage with different rootstocks, clones and planting densities selected to match the specific terroir on offer.

Gravestone comprises of grapes that were carefully selected from our cool coastal vineyards. These small parcels were gently whole bunch pressed and cold settled before being transferred to new and old French barrels for fermentation. Fermentation occurred over 14 days with aromatic yeast strains that were selected to enhance the varietal character. The wine was then aged in barrel for a further 10 months with occasional lees stirring to enhance mouth feel and to add complexity.

Lifted lime and grapefruit aromas unfold to show hints of toasty oak. The palate shows ripe melon flavours with rich complexity and texture that is backed by a vibrant clean acidity and lingering finish. The ripe flavours and fresh acidity of this wine make it ideal for fresh smoked snapper and green salad.

Awards and Accolades.