Day 20: Waiheke Island

Waiheke Island, located in the Hauraki Gulf, is a 40-minute ferry ride from Downtown Auckland. They call it the “island of wine”...need I say more? (Clearly I need not, but you know I will 😊).

I had a list of wineries mapped out and a loose plan. Luckily, as fate would have it, my plans went out the window and magic stepped in. My first stop was Mudbrick Winery and I did a tasting of their premium reds, all were nice. Gorgeous property and views all the way to Auckland.
I decided to ask the wine guy there where I should go next and he suggested their sister winery, across the other side of the island. Then he walked out the door, looked down the hill, and said I was in luck because the flag was flying down the road. He said I should walk down, turn left, and go to this winery that does “very special wines.” Cool. Why not?! Turns out it’s the best decision of the day.

Fullers 360 Ferry Auckland - Waiheke Island

Finding the winery wasn’t obvious, it’s very easy to miss. No signs anywhere, I found it because I looked up through the trees and saw the flags. I walked up a drive and it looked like a residence, I was unsure until this guy appeared from around the corner and led me into a building that was indeed a tasting room.

He then, rather gruffly, started telling me about the wines. I soon found out this vineyard is his and what a vineyard it is and what a winemaker he is. Wow wow wow. 2 hours later I felt like I’d been on the most amazing learning journey from the master himself. As he says, his wines are ‘natural' wines', 'authentic wines', not 'mucked about with' wines - whatever winemakers call them, they are most definitely my kind of wines!

The winery is Jurassic Ridge and the gentleman I spent time with is Lance Blumhardt, a retired neurologist who is the founder, viticulturist, winemaker, cellar door pourer, sales manager, tractor driver and odd-job man. He does it all. He dug every hole and he and his wife planted every vine. He prunes, loves, and nurtures the grapes himself, and when its time to pick them, his kids and a few friends give him some help. He grew up coming to visit his uncle on this island and bought the property when it was a sheep farm decades ago. He held onto it until he retired as his dream for this property was always to create a vineyard. He is brilliant and passionate about the art and science of winemaking. What an amazing day it’s been!!

Mudbrick Winery

Jurassic Ridge Winery

About his wines from the Jurassic Ridge Website: “The keys to individuality and expression of our unique terroir are growing great grapes in the vineyard using intensive, impeccable, sustainable viticulture and the best of organic principles, combined with minimal intervention/additions by the winemaker, ie keeping the winemaking as simple and as clean as possible. Minimal or no crushing, no fining with animal products, low sulfite protocol, nil chemical residue program, gentle slow natural ferments in small batches and, extended cellar ageing - typically 6-7 years in the cellar before release - to allow slow, natural development in the bottle. Vino lentamente, or slow wines. Fine wine takes time!

In other words, we aim to express our turangawaewae - or sense of place - by allowing the vineyard to do the talking. Our vineyard sits on the site of a once huge mountain ridge of Jurassic greywacke, so you just might taste 155 million years of geological history in your glass!”

This is what I found. Can you see how I wasn’t sure? Haha...not really trying to get people in, is he?

And here’s the winery.

The master himself. He is the one that introduced Syrah to the island. Now many are growing it.

This is Erik. Who they later found out was a girl. She is wild but likes to hang out feeling safe at the winery. The babies are brand new as of that morning.