{"id":13431,"date":"2025-10-20T06:55:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-19T17:55:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=13431"},"modified":"2025-10-20T06:55:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-19T17:55:10","slug":"50-years-of-matawhero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=13431","title":{"rendered":"50 years of Matawhero"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Long before New Zealand was known globally for its wine, one bold local made a game-changing. In the late ’60s – when Gisborne was all about livestock and maize – W.N. Irwin (aka Bill), a bookseller with zero vineyard experience, bought a plot of land on Riverpoint Road. People laughed. He planted vines anyway.<\/p>

And that rebellious, why-not spirit? It\u2019s still alive at Matawhero<\/b> today.<\/p>

Fast forward to now – the vineyard is in the hands of Kirsten and Richard Searle, a couple with passion and deep roots in the Gisborne community. Since taking over in 2008, they\u2019ve stayed true to the Matawhero vibe: bold moves, authentic wine, and total respect for the land and its legacy. As kaitiaki (guardians) of the vineyard, they\u2019re not just keeping the dream alive – they\u2019re evolving it.<\/p>

Matawhero is all about distinctive wines that reflect the character of the Tair\u0101whiti-Gisborne region – from their iconic Chardonnay to lush aromatics like Gew\u00fcrztraminer and plush reds. Each bottle is a taste of local history and innovative winemaking, minus the snobbery.<\/p>

But let\u2019s rewind a sec. After Bill\u2019s bold first steps, his son Denis took the reins, learning the ropes in South Africa and Germany before bringing that global expertise back home. In 1975, Matawhero\u2019s first vintage dropped – complete with a label featuring the historic Matawhero Church which survived 1800s frontier conflict and once served as a classroom. The wine world noticed, fast. Matawhero\u2019s Gew\u00fcrztraminer ranked 4th at the 1975 World Wine Show in Paris, and even got poured for Queen Elizabeth II during her NZ visit. Not bad for a young winery from Gisborne.<\/p>

Through the ’70s and ’80s, with Denis at the helm, Matawhero steered a course that led to serious international rep and a slew of awards. Swiss-born winemaker Hatch Kalberer, who went on to make his name at Fromm, joined the brigade for a few years. When Bill passed in 1985, the Bridge Estate vineyard was planted in his honour.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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By 2008, Denis was ready to pass the baton – and he found the perfect fit in the Searles (see photo above). The vineyard needed some TLC, but they saw its potential and knew one thing: Matawhero should stay independent, local, and real. <\/b>Today, the story continues with wines that celebrate both past and present. The \u2018Irwin<\/b>‘ Chardonnay<\/b> is a tribute to the fearless father-son founders. And the Church House <\/b>series? Small-batch wines named after that old Matawhero Church and inspired by those who paved the way.<\/p>

I caught up with Kirsten and had a few questions for her:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Tell me a bit of your background and how\/why you ended up taking over Matawhero?<\/strong>

My previous life was at Villa Maria Estate, where my passion for wines was ignited. Moving to Gisborne in 2002 (I completed a vintage at the former Montana winery) to marry Richard who was born and bred in Gisborne (and mid-way through starting their family), my winery roots were re-activated when Matawhero became available for sale. Our \u201cdependents\u201d suddenly became three children under four, a dog, a cat, a vineyard and an old winery. As with managing a family, considerable time, focus and patience is required to reintroduce a dormant, yet legendary, wine label back to the market.<\/p>

I\u2019ve heard people say it takes a long time to get used to a vineyard – I\u2019m guessing that you are comfortable now?<\/strong>

As with anything, it evolves and you keep learning and adjusting the way you farm and manage especially when you introduce new varieties and also look to climatic influences and seasonal differences. <\/p>

Would you say that Matawhero has a winemaking style\/philosophy?<\/strong>

Yes, I would say we allow the fruit to speak for itself and use minimal winemaking intervention. For example all our aromatics from Pinot Gris to Chenin Blanc are only tank fermentation so a true expression of the flavours we get in a season. We used wild fermentation where we can with our Chardonnays. Our style is very fruit forward and expressive of the fertile soils and dry-farming techniques that 100% of our vineyards undertake.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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What do think are the challenges ahead for the world of wine?<\/strong>

Current challenges are around oversupply, economic factors in many countries meaning the consumer has less to spend on non-essential items and the general numbers that say people are drinking less.\u00a0 <\/span>All of these combined means you have to work a lot harder to sell and engage. Relationship becomes important and we have been fortunate to have a strong brand that represents good value and partner in markets that enjoy championing our wines.<\/p>

With a few new, smaller labels popping up in New Zealand \u2013 do you see a change in the landscape a bit?<\/strong>

I think that generally people are seeking a little more to New Zealand wine than Sauvignon Blanc and people like to engage with a winery that has a unique story or selling proposition. At Matawhero, we are proud of the heritage we have and celebrating 50 years of winemaking this year. We also like to showcase varieties like our famous Gew\u00fcrztraminer or even Chenin Blanc, that are not mainstream. This has always been part of our fabric and the legacy that we wanted to carry on.<\/p>

A few lessons you’ve learned along the way?<\/strong>

We have dabbled in many alternative varieties over the years \u2013 from Arneis, Gruner, Albarino to a barrel-aged Sauvignon Blanc. We learned early on that whilst they are amazing wines and we loved exploring the styles and diversity but at some stage you have to put a commercial hat on and make wines that consumers will buy. We now only produce a couple of non-mainstream varietals (Gew\u00fcrztraminer and Chenin Blanc) to complement our core wine.<\/p>

What is your favourite thing to do on a day off?<\/strong>

Anything outdoors or active! I am an \u201cactive\u201d relaxer. Golf, tennis or a walk with friends.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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What was your favourite travel experience?<\/strong>\u00a0

Recently Richard and I took a small sabbatical to celebrate my 50th<\/sup> milestone (yes the same year as Matawhero) and we hiked 800kms (39 days) in the Pyrenees in Europe wandering through the high mountains of Spain, France and Andorra with just our backpacks and tent!\u00a0 <\/span>It was an amazing adventure both physically and in terms of the scenery, culture and people we met. We also sampled some amazing wines along the way!<\/p>

Who would you most like to share a glass of your wine with (and why)?<\/strong>

My dad! Unfortunately, he passed away 10 years ago from Alzheimers (and didn\u2019t really get to experience our Matawhero journey). He loved wine and to cook and it would be special to share some of our wines and stories with him.<\/p>

Matawhero<\/b> isn\u2019t just another wine brand. It\u2019s about bold beginnings, local love, and wines with a real story. They celebrate their 50th Anniversary this year – and the current selection of wines are perfect for your next dinner party, backyard BBQ, or just a quiet glass while reflecting on how far a little courage (and a lot of passion) can go.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Here\u2019s a quick look at some of my Matawhero current release favourites:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Matawhero Pinot Ros\u00e9 2025 <\/b>is quite fruit-forward, with a bright, saline acidity. Dry but really ripe, with peach melba, glossy cherry, and a distinctive \u201csourdough breadcrumb\u201d flavour. An elegant ros\u00e9 with plenty going on, and a good length on the finish.<\/p>

If you\u2019re looking for a full-bodied, barrel fermented Chardonnay – Matawhero Church House Chardonnay 2024<\/b> is it. Quite boisterous and vivacious \u2013 brimming with stone fruit and citrus. Acidity is bright, spun around a core of pithy fruit tannin and warm, nutty wood. Generous, textural and creamy.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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From the Tietjen vineyard in Gisborne – Matawhero Church House Malbec Merlot 2024<\/b> shows a deep purple\/magenta colour. Bold aromas of damson, blackberry, cherry, liquorice, mocha, cinnamon and woody herbs. A plush palate shows fine tannins and rustic, succulent flavours.<\/p>

Matawhero Pinot Gris 2025<\/b> comes from a dry-farmed single vineyard and is a pure expression of the varietal, with signature pear, honeysuckle, ginger and apple pie aromas and flavours. A touch of pithy phenolics, and an off-dry swathe of golden sweetness rounds out an elegant palate.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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