A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Carménère and Malbec showing classical Bordeaux aromas and flavours of red fruit, earth, spice and leather. The palate is weighty yet fresh and accessible, and shows superb complexity and structure

Kumeu River Wines is New Zealand's top Chardonnay producer and best known globally. 

The winery is in the West Auckland village of Kumeu where it began life as San Marino Wines in 1944 when Croatian immigrant couple, Mick and Katé Brajkovich, bought a small property with a vineyard on it. Their descendents now own and run Kumeu River Wines, which produces 250,000 bottles of wine annually from its owns 30 hectares of vineyards in Kumeu and from another 10 hectares, owned by local grape growers. 

This wine, Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay is the flagship white from the winery. It is made from  grapes grown on six different vineyard sites in Kumeu and is consistently one of New Zealand's greatest dry, full bodied whites with outstanding freshness and complexity.

This great white drinks well now and can also age well for up to 10 years, potentially longer. 

Kumeu River Wines and the owners, the Brajkovich family, are icons of the New Zealand wine industry. This Chardonnay consistently over delivers for its modest price tag and is a dry, medium bodied wine with nutty, fresh, savoury elements derived from fermentation in old French oak barriques for 80% of the wine with the balancing 20% in stainless steel to preserve freshness. 

This wine is great drinking now as a fab go-to wine, any time.

Kumeu River Wines began life as San Marino Wines in 1944 when Croatian immigrant couple, Mick and Katé Brajkovich, bought a small property with a vineyard on it. Their descendents now own and run Kumeu River Wines, which produces 250,000 bottles of wine annually from its owns 30 hectares of vineyards in Kumeu and from another 10 hectares, owned by local grape growers. 

Hand picked grapes, indigenous yeast fermentation and time on lees all add the X factor to this dry Pinot Gris from Kumeu River Wines, which has a long standing reputation as the best winery in the region, for good reason.

The winery began life as San Marino Wines in 1944 when Croatian immigrant couple, Mick and Kat? Brajkovich, bought a small property with a vineyard on it. Their descendents now own and run Kumeu River Wines, which produces 250,000 bottles of wine annually from its owns 30 hectares of vineyards in Kumeu and from another 10 hectares, owned by local grape growers. 

We love a dry Pinot Gris and this wine ticks that box beautifully... We're sure you'll love it too.

This West Auckland Pinot Gris is made in a dry style with grapes from Kumeu, fermented with indigenous yeasts and given extended maturation on lees following fermentation. This adds richness and complexity to this youthful white. It drinks well now and can hold for a couple of years as a good quality dry white. 

Kumeu River Wines began life as San Marino Wines in 1944 when Croatian immigrant couple, Mick and Katé Brajkovich, bought a small property with a vineyard on it. Their descendents now own and run Kumeu River Wines, which produces 250,000 bottles of wine annually from its owns 30 hectares of vineyards in Kumeu and from another 10 hectares, owned by local grape growers. 

This is a great red from a small wine producer just outside the village of Clevedon, in the rolling green hills southeast of Auckland. It's an unlikely destination for a top red as there are few other vineyards in the area, which is warm with a maritime climate - the coast can be seen from the vineyard and is about a 10 minute drive away.  

The wines are made solely from estate grown grapes from the four acres on site, which include Merlot, Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. This bunch of classic Bordeaux red grapes inspired founder Judy Fowler to make wines modelled on the great reds of Pomerol and St Emilion in Bordeaux. The first wines were made in 1999 and continue to be produced on site by Judy, her partner Phil Nunweek and winemaker Evert Nijzink.  

Kumeu River Hunting Hill Chardonnay is made from a vineyard that was first planted in 1982 and originally produces grapes that formed a significant part of the original Kumeu River Chardonnay blend. The Hunting Hill Vineyard overlooks Maté's Vineyard in Kumeu and replanted in 2000, since then producing such outstanding grapes that the winemaking Brajkovich family decided to produce a single vineyard wine from here. 

Hunting Hill has elevated acidity which lends this wine both a delicious vibrancy in its youth as well as great aging potential and longevity. It is fresh, piercingly zesty and full bodied with dry, savoury flavours and a long, tangy finish. 

One of New Zealand's greatest Chardonnays both for drinking now and for cellaring for the long term. 

Kumeu River Wines began life as San Marino Wines in 1944 when Croatian immigrant couple, Mick and Katé Brajkovich, bought a small property with a vineyard on it. Their descendents now own and run Kumeu River Wines, which produces 250,000 bottles of wine annually from its owns 30 hectares of vineyards in Kumeu and from another 10 hectares, owned by local grape growers. 

Winemakers Notes:

Puriri Hills - The vineyard is set in green rolling hills southeast of Auckland, New Zealand, just outside of the village of Clevedon. From the main road, a long driveway climbs past vineyards which produced their first handmade, blended red wine in 1999. Grown and produced entirely on the property, the wines are gaining recognition as serious contenders to the best right bank Bordeaux.

Region: Clevedon, Auckland
Varietal: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Carmenere, Malbec

Rays Road is Kumeu River’s new vineyard site in Hawkes Bay, planted on limestone soils at 180 metres above sea level, with a northerly aspect. The vineyard is dry farmed and this Chardonnay is made from 100% hand picked grapes, whole bunch pressed then fermented with wild yeasts in older French oak barrels. The result is a wine with  approachable and complex flavours, full of zesty citrus notes with a background minerality. On the palate, barrel maturation and malolactic fermentation has given this wine a richness and textural quality which is backed up by the wine’s great acidity, which provides it with good aging potential.

Kumeu River Wines began life as San Marino Wines in 1944 when Croatian immigrant couple, Mick and Katé Brajkovich, bought a small property with a vineyard on it. Their descendents now own and run Kumeu River Wines, which produces 250,000 bottles of wine annually from its owns 30 hectares of vineyards in Kumeu and from another 10 hectares, owned by local grape growers. 

Mate’s Vineyard Chardonnay was the first single vineyard Chardonnay producing by Kumeu River Wines and named in homage to the late Mate Brajkovich, whose four children run the winery today.

The grapes are grown solely on a single vineyard, sloping hillside site opposite the winery in Kumeu, West Auckland. 

The 2019 vintage produced exceptional quality grapes for Kumeu River Wines and this wine is made from the last grapes to be picked each year. High ripeness combined with the variable berry size on Mendoza clone Chardonnay bunches provides a wine with great concentration of flavour, great acidity (thanks to the small berries) and richness from barrel fermentation. This wine drinks well now and will age superbly for at least a decade, and then some, for those with will power. 

Kumeu River Wines began life as San Marino Wines in 1944 when Croatian immigrant couple, Mick and Katé Brajkovich, bought a small property with a vineyard on it. Their descendents now own and run Kumeu River Wines, which produces 250,000 bottles of wine annually from its owns 30 hectares of vineyards in Kumeu and from another 10 hectares, owned by local grape growers. 

Kumeu River Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend together to create a deliciously dry and perfectly pink crémant. The aromas of summer sparkle from the glass, freshly picked strawberries and white stone fruit build the texture and mouth feel we really enjoy from our Kumeu Crémant.

The perfect aperitif for the festive season.

Puriri Hills makes luxurious blended red wines inspired by the grand crus of Pomerol and St Émilion, on the right bank of Bordeaux, France.
Established in 1996, Puriri Hills is a privately owned vineyard founded by Judy Fowler. We make “estate bottled” wine exclusively from the Clevedon Vineyard and embrace a sustainable and authentic expression of terroir.

Climbing from the Clevedon Valley floor carved out by the Wairoa River, up to the ancient river terraces, you find the vineyard. Puriri Hills takes its name from the native Puriri trees growing on the 93 acre property that encircle and protect the 5.5 acres of vines.

84% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium red fruits and some earth, spice and leather undertones on the nose call to mind classic Bordeaux. The palate is medium-bodied and pleasantly weighty without being overpowering. Fresh and accessible, but also showing complex structure that speaks to the very talented winemaker behind this release, and the precisely-judged blend of five distinct varietals.

Kumeu River Hunting Hill Chardonnay is made from a vineyard that was first planted in 1982 and originally produces grapes that formed a significant part of the original Kumeu River Chardonnay blend. The Hunting Hill Vineyard overlooks Mate's Vineyard in Kumeu and replanted in 2000, since then producing such outstanding grapes that the winemaking Brajkovich family decided to produce a single vineyard wine from here.

Hunting Hill has elevated acidity which lends this wine both a delicious vibrancy in its youth as well as great aging potential and longevity. It is fresh, piercingly zesty and full bodied with dry, savoury flavours and a long, tangy finish.

One of New Zealand's greatest Chardonnays both for drinking now and for cellaring for the long term.

Kumeu River Wines began life as San Marino Wines in 1944 when Croatian immigrant couple, Mick and Katé Brajkovich, bought a small property with a vineyard on it. Their descendents now own and run Kumeu River Wines, which produces 250,000 bottles of wine annually from its owns 30 hectares of vineyards in Kumeu and from another 10 hectares, owned by local grape growers.

Rays Road is Kumeu River’s new vineyard site in Hawkes Bay. This limestone hillside is at 180 m altitude, with a northerly aspect. It is dry-farmed to yield high quality grapes for wine under the Rays Road name for our Kumeu River label.  This Chardonnay was hand-harvested, whole bunch pressed and fermented with wild yeast in older French Oak barrels to give a wine that is zesty and fragrant, with mineral complexity that is very true to its site.

Coddington is one of Kumeu River’s finest Chardonnays. The nose is deep and complex, with ripe stone-fruit and citrus notes, complemented by creamy barrel-ferment notes and spicy oak richness. This medium bodied wine is elegant, rich and fruity on the palate with excellent balanced acidity and a lengthy finish. Coddington is drinking excellently now but will reward from further cellaring.