Man O' War Vineyards | Waiheke Island, New Zealand
Man O’ War is located at the eastern end of Waiheke Island in the Auckland wine region of New Zealand. It is a stunning array of coastal hillsides with high cliffs and pristine beaches forming a ruggedly beautiful coastline.
It was along this coastline that Captain James Cook came to anchor during his first voyage around the islands of New Zealand in 1769. Upon sighting the ancient stands of magnificent Kauri trees ashore, Cook noted in his journals that they would make ideal masts for the Man O' War battleships of the Royal Navy. Thus the name Man O’ War was bestowed upon this unique land.
Vines were first planted in 1993 and today the Man O' War estate consists of 150 acres of vineyards planted in 76 individual hillside blocks, each with a distinct soil profile and microclimate. Each block has been meticulously designed with different rootstocks, clones and planting densities to best match the specific terroir on offer.
The white grape varieties have been carefully placed high on the exposed volcanic hilltops of Man O’ War so that they benefit from cooling sea breezes, extending their growing season and giving them great concentration and minerality. While the red varieties are draped down precipitously steep sheltered clay hillsides enjoying the heat and drainage provided, promoting serious intensity and depth in flavour.
With the belief that the greatest wines of the world are made in the vineyard, each small parcel of vines are carefully tended and harvested by hand, then vinified separately, fusing classic Old World techniques with innovative New World ideas.