Woodthorpe Te Mata

Te Mata Estate is New Zealand’s oldest winery, dating from the early 1890’s. It is a New Zealand family owned winery – a true estate, specialising in grape growing and winemaking from its ten Hawke’s Bay vineyards. Acknowledged as one of only five icon wineries in New Zealand. Te Mata’s completely handmade wines are renowned as the country’s finest.

Under the direction of John Buck, Te Mata Estate has, over nearly thirty years, produced a stunning array of red and white wines including such famous labels as Coleraine and Awatea Cabernet/Merlots, Bullnose Syrah, Elston Chardonnay and Cape Crest Sauvignon Blanc.

Not content to rest on its laurels, Te Mata has also developed a unique single vineyard from which it produces its Woodthorpe and Rymer’s Change wines.

Te Mata Estate, in its centenary year, established the New Zealand Poet Laureate award to recognise outstanding contributions to New Zealand poetry.

Each winning poet is appointed for a two year tenure and receives from Te Mata Estate, a grant of both money and wine, together with an individual tokotoko (a ceremonial carved walking stick) symbolising their achievement and status.

In 2003 Te Mata joined forces with Victoria University’s International Institute of Modern Letters to enhance the public profile of New Zealand poetry through a range of Laureate visits to secondary schools and public engagements. At the end of each poets term Te Mata Estate combines with international publisher Random House in the production of a volume of the Laureate’s work.