Peninsula Estate was the third vineyard established on Waiheke, in 1985, after Goldwater Estate and Stonyridge, and can share the credit for establishing the island’s reputation as a premium winemaking area.

Peninsula Estate’s flagship wine, a Bordeaux blend known as Hauraki, is held back by the winery till it’s considered ready for drinking, which may take as long as five years. It’s a single-vineyard wine, estate-grown, that is made to be food-friendly and to age well. At the opposite end of the longevity scale, Peninsula Estate makes a Rosé that sells out within six months.

The Hauraki label has always consisted predominantly of Cabernet Sauvignon, though the vineyard is also planted in Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.

Peninsula Estate also makes a Syrah from vines planted in 1999 – the first Syrah on the island.