Best Matakana Wineries: Complete Guide to Cellar Doors & Wine Tasting
Last checked: August 2026
Matakana isn't Marlborough.
And that's one of the best things about it.
Around an hour north of central Auckland you'll find a small, highly individual wine region where family vineyards, unusual grape varieties, cellar doors, art, restaurants and coastal landscapes sit surprisingly close together.
There isn't one enormous wine industry dominating Matakana.
Instead, the region is characterised by boutique growers and producers, many working at comparatively small scale and making everything from Sangiovese and Dolcetto to Syrah, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Montepulciano and Bordeaux-style blends.
The Matakana Winegrowers association currently lists a remarkable diversity of varieties across the region and describes Matakana's vineyards as predominantly boutique operations, some with public cellar doors and others welcoming visitors by appointment.
That means planning a Matakana wine day is slightly different from driving through a large commercial wine region.
You shouldn't simply assume every vineyard is open.
But if you plan properly?
Matakana is one of the most interesting wine escapes from Auckland.
This is our regularly updated guide to the wineries, cellar doors and tasting experiences we'd put at the top of the list.
Matakana Wineries at a Glance
Best for wine story and authenticity
Heron’s Flight
Best all-round wine, food and art destination
Brick Bay
Best full winery experience
Matakana Estate
Best vineyard views and escape
Omaha Bay Vineyard
Best wine + serious lunch
Runner Duck Estate at Plume
Best place to taste several Matakana producers in one location
The Vintry
And there are many smaller producers throughout the region whose wines are worth seeking out even when they don't operate conventional daily cellar doors.
Why Is Matakana a Wine Region?
Matakana forms part of the wider Auckland wine-growing area, but its climate and geography give the district its own character.
The region contains rolling hills, clay-rich soils, coastal influences and predominantly small vineyard holdings.
Matakana Winegrowers says the region grows an unusually broad mix of grapes — 28 French, Italian, Spanish and Austrian varieties, including 11 white and 17 red varieties.
You'll find familiar grapes such as:
Chardonnay
Pinot Gris
Syrah
Merlot
Cabernet Franc
alongside less expected varieties including:
Sangiovese
Dolcetto
Montepulciano
Albariño
Tempranillo
Grüner Veltliner
Petit Verdot
and others produced by smaller local growers.
That's what makes Matakana fun.
It isn't a region where every cellar door hands you another interpretation of the same grape.
How Many Wineries Are There in Matakana?
This is more complicated than it sounds.
The Matakana Winegrowers organisation currently lists numerous vineyards and wine producers across the region, including Brick Bay, Heron’s Flight, Matakana Estate, Omaha Bay Vineyard, Runner Duck Estate, October 30, Nola Vineyard, Rift Wines, Omaha Hills and others.
However:
Not every Matakana wine producer operates a normal public cellar door.
Some are:
Open daily
Open selected days
Seasonal
Appointment-only
Producers without an on-site tasting room
So when we say “best Matakana wineries to visit”, we're deliberately concentrating first on places where visitors can realistically build an experience around the wine.
For the smaller producers, we'll explain how to find their wines further down.
1. Heron’s Flight
Best for: Wine with a story
If we had to choose one vineyard to introduce someone to what makes Matakana wine different, Heron’s Flight would be very hard to beat.
Established in 1987, Heron’s Flight describes itself as Matakana's original cellar door.
Its defining feature is its dedication to Italian wine varieties.
Heron’s Flight currently grows and makes:
Sangiovese
and
Dolcetto.
The winery says it is the only New Zealand producer exclusively growing and making these two Italian grape varieties on its vineyard.
That immediately creates a different tasting experience from the typical New Zealand cellar door.
Why We Like Heron’s Flight
There are wineries where the building is the attraction.
There are wineries where the restaurant is the attraction.
At Heron’s Flight:
The wine story is the attraction.
The vineyard has more than three decades of local growing history and produces several interpretations of Sangiovese, including wine made using a 500-litre amphora.
The result is a tasting where asking questions actually improves the experience.
Why Italian varieties?
Why Matakana?
What's the difference between the Sangiovese styles?
Those conversations are part of the reason we selected Heron’s Flight as the winery experience on our own Matakana tour.
Heron’s Flight Tastings
The current tasting room operates:
Daily, 11am–5pm.
Two casual tasting flights are currently offered, alongside wine by the glass.
Heron’s Flight also specialises in organised tutored tastings for groups.
Food is deliberately simple: the cellar door currently offers a deli selection allowing visitors to build their own platters from meats, cheeses, breads and accompaniments.
Best for
Wine enthusiasts
Italian wine lovers
Couples
Small groups
People who want to learn something
Visitors who prefer intimate vineyards over large tourism operations
Read our complete Heron’s Flight Visitor Guide →
Official website
2. Brick Bay
Best for: The complete Matakana day out
Brick Bay is considerably more than a cellar door.
It combines:
Wine
The Glass House restaurant
A major outdoor Sculpture Trail
Native landscape
Vineyard
Art
into one destination.
Brick Bay currently operates daily and produces estate-grown wine alongside its food and art experiences.
If you're travelling with people who don't care deeply about wine, this is one of the easiest Matakana vineyards to recommend.
There is plenty else for them to do.
Brick Bay Wine
Brick Bay is a small vineyard rather than a massive producer.
Its estate grows varieties including:
Pinot Gris
Chardonnay
Cabernet Franc
Merlot
Malbec
Petit Verdot
and produces a relatively small quantity of wine annually.
Wine tastings are available alongside the wider Brick Bay experience.
But we'd rarely suggest driving all the way here only for the tasting.
The magic is the combination.
Our Ideal Brick Bay Visit
Walk the Sculpture Trail.
Then:
Have lunch at The Glass House.
Then:
Taste Brick Bay wine.
Then:
Don't schedule anything for another ten minutes.
You are allowed to enjoy yourself.
Best for
Couples
Foodies
Art lovers
First-time Matakana visitors
Mixed-interest groups
Long lunches
People who want one destination rather than five quick stops
Read our complete Brick Bay Visitor Guide →
Official website
3. Matakana Estate
Best for: A full modern winery experience
If Heron’s Flight represents the intimate, deeply personal end of Matakana wine, Matakana Estate offers something larger and more polished.
The property combines:
Cellar door
Wine tasting
Bistro
Vineyard
Events
Luxury accommodation
Wine experiences
making it one of the region's more complete wine destinations.
For visitors wanting a recognisable “winery day” experience — tasting, food, views and somewhere impressive to spend some time — Matakana Estate belongs high on the list.
Wine Tasting at Matakana Estate
The cellar door currently offers wine flights alongside food and small plates.
Matakana Coast's current visitor information lists the cellar door as open:
Wednesday–Monday
11am–4pm
with Tuesday closed.
Always verify those hours directly before travelling.
Matakana Estate Wine Blending Experience
This is one of the more interesting hands-on wine experiences in the region.
Matakana Estate currently runs a Wine Blending Experience on Fridays and Saturdays at 2pm by advance booking.
Guests learn about blending and create their own red wine blend, taking home a 375ml bottle of their creation.
That's quite different from another five-glass tasting flight.
For visitors celebrating something or wanting a more interactive activity, we'd seriously consider it.
Best for
Traditional winery experiences
Groups
Couples
Wine activities
Food and wine
Celebrations
Visitors wanting to spend several hours in one place
Official website
A dedicated Vintage Views Matakana Estate guide is one of the next pages planned for this hub.
4. Omaha Bay Vineyard
Best for: Views, atmosphere and feeling properly away from Auckland
The drive to Omaha Bay Vineyard, or OBV, already tells you this isn't a quick cellar-door stop.
Located on the Tāwharanui Peninsula, the family-owned vineyard has been operating since 2002 and looks out towards Omaha Beach, Little Barrier Island and the surrounding coastline.
There is a wine cave.
There is an art gallery.
There are platters.
And there are those views.
Omaha Bay Wine
OBV produces a broad range of wines, with current offerings including varieties such as:
Syrah
Rosé
Montepulciano
Pinot Gris
Malbec
Petit Verdot
Cabernet Franc
among others.
One particularly fun cellar-door option pairs four wines with handmade Honest Chocolat chocolates from Matakana.
Nobody said wine education had to be difficult.
Omaha Bay Cellar Door
The official vineyard currently publishes cellar-door hours of:
Friday–Sunday
11am–4pm
with bookings recommended.
Important August 2026 update
At the time this page was checked, Omaha Bay Vineyard had posted a seasonal closure from 13 July until 20 August.
That's a perfect example of why we strongly recommend checking individual cellar doors before driving out.
Smaller Matakana wineries don't necessarily operate seven days and 52 weeks a year.
Best for
Scenic vineyard visits
Couples
Relaxed afternoons
Wine and platters
Art
Visitors heading towards Tāwharanui
People who enjoy finding somewhere slightly out of the way
Official website
5. Runner Duck Estate at Plume
Best for: Wine tasting followed by lunch
Runner Duck Estate and Plume Restaurant work together particularly well for visitors who want wine and dining in one place.
The vineyard produces small quantities of Runner Duck wines, while Plume provides the restaurant, cellar-door tasting area and accommodation experience.
The result feels more restaurant-led than Heron’s Flight and less art-focused than Brick Bay.
If lunch matters as much as wine:
That's not a bad thing.
Runner Duck Wine Tastings
Plume currently offers cellar-door tastings from Thursday through Sunday, with slightly longer tasting hours on Saturday. Its current tasting page advertises tastings of four Runner Duck wines for smaller groups, with organised options available for larger groups.
Plume Restaurant itself currently operates for lunch Thursday–Sunday and dinner Friday and Saturday.
Because those days are more limited than some other Matakana cellar doors, check before travelling.
Best for
Wine + lunch
Couples
Celebrations
Groups
Weekend Matakana visitors
People wanting a more formal dining experience
Official website
6. The Vintry
Best for: Tasting Matakana without driving between wineries
Technically:
The Vintry isn't a vineyard.
But leaving it out of a guide to drinking Matakana wine would be ridiculous.
Located directly in Matakana Village, The Vintry operates as a shared cellar door and wine bar, showcasing wines from multiple Matakana producers.
That solves several problems.
Maybe you only have two hours.
Maybe some boutique wineries are closed.
Maybe it's late afternoon.
Maybe nobody wants to spend the day driving between vineyards.
The Vintry lets you explore several local labels in one place.
Why The Vintry Matters
Matakana has a lot of small wine producers.
Not all of them can justify operating a full public cellar door every day.
The Vintry gives those producers another way to reach visitors.
Current listings include wines from names such as:
Brick Bay
Heron’s Flight
Omaha Bay Vineyard
Matavino
alongside other local producers.
Best for
First-time Matakana visitors
Short visits
Comparing local producers
Evenings
Visitors staying in the Village
People without time for the full wine trail
Official information
See The Vintry through the current Matakana Coast listing and Matakana Village directory.
What About Matakana's Smaller Wineries?
This is where the region gets really interesting.
Matakana Winegrowers currently lists producers including:
Coxhead Creek
Nola Vineyard
October 30 Wines
Omaha Hills
Quail Rise
Rift Wines
Speakeasy Wines
Takatu Vineyard
Yakutin Family Wines
Gabion
alongside the larger visitor-facing wineries covered above.
Some of these are small enough that:
Visiting them isn't like turning up at a big commercial winery.
They may be:
Appointment only
or primarily selling through:
The Vintry
Local retailers
Markets
Wine events
Online
That shouldn't be seen as a disadvantage.
In many ways, this is the essence of Matakana wine.
Matakana Wine Markets
Another clever way to taste smaller local producers is through regional wine events.
Matakana Winegrowers currently promotes Matakana Wine Markets, with a 2026 programme bringing boutique producers together for tastings, bottle sales, food and live music.
If your visit happens to coincide with one of these events, it's a particularly efficient way to discover producers that don't operate public cellar doors every day.
What Wine Is Matakana Famous For?
There isn't one simple answer.
And that's probably the answer.
Marlborough has Sauvignon Blanc.
Central Otago has Pinot Noir.
Matakana is much less singular.
The region grows an unusually broad mix of grapes and contains producers following very different philosophies. Matakana Winegrowers currently lists 28 varieties across its member vineyards.
That means you can move in a relatively short distance between:
Italian-style Sangiovese
and
Bordeaux-inspired blends
and
Syrah
and
Chardonnay
and
Montepulciano
and
Pinot Gris.
If variety matters to you, that's a major strength.
Which Matakana Winery Is Best?
That depends entirely on what you mean by best.
Best wine story
Heron’s Flight
For history, family character and unusual Italian varieties.
Best destination
Brick Bay
For wine + food + art + walking.
Best conventional winery experience
Matakana Estate
For cellar door, food, blending experience and vineyard atmosphere.
Best view
Omaha Bay Vineyard
Particularly if the weather is good.
Best lunch and wine combination
Runner Duck Estate / Plume
Make the meal part of the experience.
Best variety in one location
The Vintry
Because you can explore several Matakana producers without leaving the Village.
Which Matakana Winery Is Best for First-Time Visitors?
If you only have time for one, we'd probably choose between:
Heron’s Flight
if your main interest is wine
or:
Brick Bay
if your main interest is the overall experience.
Those are very different recommendations.
That's intentional.
Which Winery Is Best for Couples?
A few combinations work particularly well.
Heron’s Flight
Intimate and personal.
Brick Bay
Walk + lunch + wine.
Omaha Bay
Wine with expansive coastal views.
Matakana Estate
Wine, food and potentially an overnight stay.
For a romantic weekend, you don't need four vineyards in one afternoon.
Pick one or two excellent ones and leave time for the coast.
Which Matakana Winery Is Best for Groups?
We'd look particularly at:
Heron’s Flight
For structured tutored tastings.
Matakana Estate
For organised wine experiences and food.
Plume / Runner Duck
For tasting plus a restaurant.
Brick Bay
For groups with mixed interests.
Group requirements vary between venues, so organise larger parties in advance rather than arriving unannounced.
Which Winery Is Best With Food?
Our shortlist:
Brick Bay
For The Glass House.
Matakana Estate
For its cellar-door bistro and shared plates.
Plume
For a dedicated vineyard restaurant experience.
Omaha Bay
For a more relaxed platter-style wine stop.
Heron’s Flight
For simple build-your-own deli platters rather than a full restaurant.
The right answer depends on whether you want:
a meal
or
something to eat with wine.
They aren't quite the same thing.
Matakana Winery Opening Hours: The Important Bit
Do not plan a Matakana wine trip by opening Google Maps at 11am and deciding where to drive.
Several vineyards operate:
Selected days
Seasonal hours
Appointment-only tastings
and those arrangements change. Matakana Winegrowers explicitly advises visitors that some local wineries require appointments.
The broad current picture is:
Heron’s Flight
Open daily.
Brick Bay
Open daily.
Matakana Estate
Currently Wednesday–Monday.
Omaha Bay Vineyard
Currently Friday–Sunday, with seasonal closure periods.
Plume / Runner Duck
Currently Thursday–Sunday.
Smaller vineyards
Check individually.
If a winery is essential to your day:
Book it.
Can You Walk Between Matakana Wineries?
Generally:
No.
This is rural wine country.
The vineyards are scattered across roads and countryside around Matakana, Warkworth, Snells Beach and the Tāwharanui Peninsula.
Some happen to be close to one another.
That doesn't turn the region into a safe pedestrian wine trail.
If you're drinking:
Nominate a sober driver
Arrange transport
Book a tour
The driver's reward can be feeling morally superior to everybody else.
But we'd probably just arrange transport.
Can You Cycle the Matakana Wine Region?
There are cycling routes and trails around Matakana, and cycling can be a lovely way to explore selected parts of the region.
However, distances, rural roads, traffic and alcohol all need to be considered.
Do not assume “wine trail” means every vineyard is linked by a separated cycleway.
We'll address this properly in our dedicated Matakana Cycling Guide rather than pretending the answer is simply yes.
How Many Wineries Should You Visit in a Day?
Our preference:
Two or three.
Not six.
At three good wineries, you have time to:
Taste properly
Talk to people
Have lunch
Buy wine
See something else in Matakana
At six, you risk spending most of your day getting in and out of vehicles.
Matakana has:
Beaches.
Art.
Food.
Markets.
Villages.
Nature.
Use them.
Our Ideal Matakana Wine Day
Option One — Wine + Art
Morning
Matakana Village.
Late morning
Heron’s Flight.
Lunch
Matakana Estate, Plume or another local restaurant.
Afternoon
Sculptureum.
This gives you a proper tasting without making wine the only activity.
Option Two — Wine + Sculpture + Lunch
Brick Bay.
That's almost the itinerary.
Arrive.
Walk.
Eat.
Taste.
Then perhaps head to Snells Beach or Warkworth.
Don't overcomplicate it.
Option Three — Wine + Coast
Morning
Heron’s Flight or Matakana Estate.
Lunch
Matakana.
Afternoon
Omaha Bay Vineyard.
Late afternoon
Omaha Beach or Tāwharanui.
Particularly good in summer.
Option Four — No Designated Driver
This one's ours.
Our Matakana Wine Country Discovery travels from central Auckland aboard Dorothy, our genuine 1960s London Routemaster.
The day includes:
Heron’s Flight
A hosted wine tasting focused on the vineyard's Italian varieties.
Smiths at Matakana Country Park
Light lunch, included drink and free time.
Sculptureum
A curated art experience, gourmet taste and included drink.
Then everyone returns to Auckland.
No winery race.
No arguing about who drives.
No logistics spreadsheet.
Just:
Wine. Food. Art. Coast.
Explore the Matakana Wine Country Discovery →
Why Doesn't the Vintage Views Tour Visit Three Wineries?
Because we deliberately didn't design a winery crawl.
Matakana offers much more than cellar doors.
Our scheduled experience includes one winery we genuinely like — Heron’s Flight — and then introduces guests to food, countryside and art as well.
If your sole aim is:
“I want to visit as many Matakana wineries as possible.”
our scheduled tour isn't the right product.
And we're perfectly happy saying that.
Use this guide and build yourself a dedicated wine itinerary.
If your aim is:
“Show me why Matakana is worth visiting.”
that's what our tour is designed to do.
Heron’s Flight vs Brick Bay
These two names come up frequently.
They are very different.
Heron’s Flight
Choose it for:
Wine
Story
Family ownership
Italian varieties
Intimate tasting
Brick Bay
Choose it for:
Sculpture
Vineyard
Dining
Landscape
Wine as part of a larger experience
If time permits:
Do both.
Heron’s Flight vs Matakana Estate
Heron’s Flight
Smaller.
More intimate.
Highly specialised.
Matakana Estate
Larger.
Broader.
More conventional destination-winery facilities.
Neither is inherently better.
They appeal to different people.
Matakana Wine or Waiheke Wine?
Now this is an interesting comparison.
Both can be visited from Auckland.
But the experience is very different.
Waiheke has:
Ferry journey
Larger tourism wine industry
Many established vineyard restaurants
Island atmosphere
Matakana has:
Road access
Greater connection to a wider driving itinerary
Boutique producers
Beaches and parks further along the coast
Farmers’ Market
Sculptureum
Brick Bay
Greater variety between individual wine experiences
Eventually we'll build a full Matakana vs Waiheke guide because this question deserves more than a paragraph.
For now:
If you want an island wine day, Waiheke is obvious.
If you want wine as part of a wider road-trip destination, Matakana is excellent.
Can You Buy Matakana Wine Without Visiting a Winery?
Absolutely.
The Vintry
is the obvious first stop.
Local supermarkets, specialist stores and restaurants also carry regional labels, while most producers sell directly online.
Matakana Winegrowers maintains current information about where its producers' wines can be purchased.
So even if your favourite tiny vineyard happens to be closed:
You may still be able to drink the wine.
A terrible tragedy has been avoided.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matakana Wineries
Is Matakana a wine region?
Yes. Matakana is a recognised wine-growing district within the broader Auckland region, with numerous boutique vineyards and producers.
How far are Matakana wineries from Auckland?
The region is generally around an hour north of central Auckland in favourable traffic, although actual travel times can be considerably longer during busy periods.
What wine is Matakana known for?
Matakana is notable more for diversity than one dominant grape. Regional producers make Syrah, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Bordeaux-style reds and Italian varieties such as Sangiovese, Dolcetto and Montepulciano among many others.
Which is the oldest Matakana cellar door?
Heron’s Flight describes itself as Matakana's original cellar door and was established in 1987.
Which Matakana winery is best for food?
Brick Bay, Matakana Estate and Plume are three of the strongest options if dining is central to the visit. Each offers a different style of experience.
Which Matakana winery has the best views?
Omaha Bay Vineyard is a particularly strong contender thanks to its elevated setting overlooking the coast and Little Barrier Island.
Which Matakana winery is best for art?
Brick Bay is the obvious vineyard choice because of its major outdoor Sculpture Trail.
Omaha Bay Vineyard also has an underground wine-cave art gallery featuring contemporary New Zealand art.
Are Matakana wineries open every day?
No.
Some are daily, while others operate selected days, seasonal hours or by appointment. Always check before travelling.
Do I need bookings?
For casual visits, some cellar doors accept walk-ins.
However, bookings are recommended for restaurant dining, organised tastings, weekends and larger groups.
Can I visit wineries without drinking?
Of course.
Brick Bay in particular offers sculpture, food and landscape regardless of whether you drink wine.
Can children visit Matakana wineries?
Policies differ between venues. Several are family-friendly, but always check the individual winery when planning with children.
Is there a central Matakana wine tasting room?
Yes.
The Vintry in Matakana Village operates as a shared cellar door showcasing wines from producers around the region.
Can I do a Matakana wine tour from Auckland?
Yes.
You can self-drive with a designated driver, arrange private transport or join an organised tour.
Vintage Views' scheduled Matakana Wine Country Discovery includes a hosted tasting at Heron’s Flight alongside food and art experiences.
Our Verdict
Is Matakana worth visiting specifically for wine?
Yes.
But ironically, we'd recommend not spending the entire day drinking it.
Matakana's strength is the way wine sits within a much larger destination.
Taste Sangiovese at Heron’s Flight.
Walk through sculpture at Brick Bay.
Have lunch.
Discover Matakana Village.
Drive towards the coast.
See Omaha.
Explore Tāwharanui.
That's what makes this region different.
The wineries are excellent.
But Matakana is better than just its wineries.
Continue Exploring Matakana
Heron’s Flight Complete Visitor Guide
Our deep dive into Matakana's original cellar door and its Italian varieties.
Brick Bay Sculpture Trail Guide
Wine, art, The Glass House and the outdoor Sculpture Trail.
Matakana Village Guide
Shopping, food, wine, cinema and the centre of Matakana.
Matakana Farmers’ Market Guide
The definitive guide to Saturday morning.
Sculptureum Complete Visitor Guide
One of Matakana's major art attractions.
Complete Matakana Guide
Start here to explore the entire Matakana Coast.
Matakana Wine Country Discovery
Experience wine, food and art from Auckland aboard our vintage London Routemaster.
Official Matakana Wine Information
For current information on regional wine producers, wine events and the Matakana Wine Trail, visit the Matakana Winegrowers website.
For individual cellar-door hours, bookings and tasting availability, always check directly with the winery before travelling.
Vintage Views independently maintains this guide as part of our growing Matakana visitor resource. We don't rank wineries based on paid placement, and inclusion in this guide does not mean a venue forms part of our scheduled Matakana tour.