Take a short drive West of Auckland and you will find a unique wine destination, in and around Kumeu Valley, where boutique vineyards produce globally renowned wine from New Zealand’s best wine regions.
West Auckland has been creating award-winning wine for more than a hundred years, and now a group of local and passionate winemakers have teamed up to create Wineries Out West, a collaboration dedicated to promoting their historic grape-growing region, a mere 30-minute effortless drive from Auckland’s CBD, in the hope that more Aucklanders will #Support Local.
“Kumeu is a very special place, and one of the historic cradles of New Zealand wine. The wineries in this district, and in the wider West Auckland area, have been working together for decades and it’s that true community spirit and family friendship over generations that makes our region unique,” expressed Michael Brajkovich, MW Winemaker, Kumeu River Wines.
“As 3rd generation winemakers, we are very happy to be making a quality of wine now that our parents and grandparents could only aspire to and would be extremely proud of. Our family has been making wine in Kumeu for 75 years, and we are committed to continuing that tradition of hard work, and the pursuit of excellence, well into the future.”
In the first decades of the 20th century, West-Auckland became the centre of the country’s wine industry and helped put New Zealand on the vino map. Most of the vineyards were small and owned by families of Dalmatian (Croatian) origin, and many still are. The original families helped each other, and as a result built a close-knit community of vintners, passionate about wine.
Today there is a collective of authentic, family-friendly wineries producing globally renowned wine including Westbrook, Coopers Creek, Soljans, Babich, The Hunting Lodge, Kumeu River, all of which have a unique offering and can be visited in just one day.
Best known for their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, they also produce wine from Central Otago, Hawkes Bay and Marlborough and are ushering in a new era of wine production with aromatic grapes like Albariño. Each vineyard features unique vistas of rolling hillsides, leafy natives and lush vines, providing a tranquil escape from the city.
From cellar door to private tour, casual picnic to full pairing degustation; Wineries Out West offers an experience for every level of wine and food enthusiast.
About the Vineyards
Babich Wines is an internationally renowned, family-owned winemaker. Since 1916 there has been a long history of looking ahead with the aim being to sustainably craft the most drinkable New Zealand wines. Set in the picturesque rolling country in Henderson Valley, the Babich Cellar Door has wonderful vineyard views. Come and taste our wines, hear our story, and explore over 100 years of family winemaking in a beautifully designed space that embraces the old with the new.
Founded in 1980, Coopers Creek is a family-owned winery that has a reputation for producing classic, regional wines, set in beautiful gardens showcasing native plants in the heart of the Kumeu wine region. Enjoy free Summer Sunday Jazz concerts every weekend until Easter, bring your own picnic or try their Cheese & Fruit or Vintner’s platters.
Kumeu River Wines dates to 1944 and is still owned and operated by the Brajkovich family. A simple and honest wine-making philosophy has won Kumeu River multiple global awards, most notably for their Chardonnay wine. Kumeu River encompasses 30 hectares of vineyards across North-West Auckland, visit their Cellar Door to find your favourite bottle.
Soljans Estate Winery, established in 1937, is one of the oldest family-owned wineries in the country. This winery complex combines sprawling rural vines, an award-winning café, with menus that are paired with Soljans Estate stunning wines. A spacious cellar door and gift shop for wine tastings as well as function rooms available for weddings, events, and private gatherings. As the only New Zealand winery with the 5th generations of family involved, their passion shows through their comprehensive family lead winery tours.
With a history dating back since 1868, The Hunting Lodge is situated on a unique 80-acre estate. Their grounds feature Cellar Door, winery, roaming gardens, event spaces, along with award-winning gastronomy from celebrated chef Des Harris at their casual Lawn Bar setting or renowned Restaurant in their historic lodge.
Westbrook Winery planted their first vines in 1935, and today the skilled wine-making team proudly embrace a fusion of time-honoured traditional and innovative techniques to produce award-winning hand-crafted wines. Enjoy one of Westbrook’s famous wine-matched platters while overlooking picturesque grounds featuring tree-lined grassy terraces, a tranquil lily pond and row upon row of vines.
