Matawhero Single Vineyard Pinot Rose

When the late great William (Bill) Irwin planted Riesling, Chassalas and Pinotage varieties at Riverpoint Road in Gisborne back in the late 60s, people thought he was nuts! Livestock, yes. Maize, sure. But wine? What are you doing!

Okay so the Pinotage was a flop but Bill later tried his hand at planting Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer. The result? Well, in 1975 the first Matawhero labels were slapped on bottles (featuring the Matawhero church, the district’s oldest building). A year later Bill and his son Denis were celebrating fourth place for their 1976 Gewurz at a wine show in Paris. Ooh la la! One year on from that in 1977 even the Queen was sippin’ on a 1976 Matawhero Traminer Riesling on a visit to Aotearoa!

These days owned by the Searle family the Matawhero wines are still winning gongs and getting plenty of praise. This is their ever popular Single Vineyard Rose which they describe quite simply as “Strawberry and cream with a lovely dry finish.”