Heron’s Flight Matakana: Wine Tasting, Italian Grapes & Complete Visitor Guide
Last checked: August 2026
Hidden among the rolling countryside between Warkworth and Matakana Village is one of the most distinctive wineries in the Auckland region.
Heron’s Flight isn't trying to make the same wines as everyone else.
Established in 1987, the family-run Matakana vineyard specialises exclusively in two Italian grape varieties — Sangiovese and Dolcetto — and produces its wines on site. Heron’s Flight says it is the only New Zealand winery exclusively growing and making these two varieties.
That alone makes it worth knowing about.
But what makes Heron’s Flight particularly interesting for visitors is the story behind the wine: more than three decades of growing grapes in Matakana, a deliberate move away from traditional French varieties, an intimate cellar door and a tasting experience that feels connected to the people and land behind the bottle.
For wine lovers, curious beginners and anyone building a great Matakana day trip, Heron’s Flight is one of the wineries we recommend most highly.
It is also the first wine experience on our own Matakana Wine Country Discovery from Auckland.
Heron’s Flight at a Glance
Where: 49 Sharp Road, Matakana/Warkworth
What: Boutique family-run vineyard, winery and tasting room
Established: 1987
Speciality: Sangiovese and Dolcetto
Cellar door: Yes
Wine by the glass: Yes
Food: Build-your-own deli platters
Group tastings: Yes
Current published opening hours: Daily, 11am–5pm
Approximate visit: 45–60 minutes for a tasting; longer with wine and a platter
Best for: Wine lovers, couples, groups and visitors looking for something different
Official website:Heron’s Flight Vineyard & Winery
Current hours and tasting offerings were checked against Heron’s Flight in August 2026. Always check directly before making a special journey, as winery hours and experiences can change.
Why Visit Heron’s Flight?
Matakana has several excellent wineries, but Heron’s Flight occupies its own little corner of the region’s wine story.
New Zealand wine is commonly associated with Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah.
Heron’s Flight chose another direction.
After initially planting French grape varieties, founders David Hoskins and Mary Evans decided that wasn't the wine they wanted to make. They removed those vines and concentrated instead on Italian varieties — particularly Sangiovese and Dolcetto.
Decades later, that decision defines the vineyard.
Today you'll find different expressions of Sangiovese, including a wine made in a 500-litre amphora, alongside red and rosato expressions of Dolcetto.
So even if you've toured plenty of wineries elsewhere in New Zealand, Heron’s Flight can still show you something different.
The Story of Heron’s Flight
Heron’s Flight was established in 1987, making it part of the early development of Matakana as a wine-growing region.
The name has a wonderfully simple origin.
While the vineyard was being established, posts were installed before the vines. Near the end of the property was a stream, and one day a group of herons appeared and perched on the posts.
The name apparently came rather naturally after that.
Herons continue to be associated with the property today.
It is exactly the sort of small local story that makes visiting an independent vineyard more interesting than simply ordering the same bottle from a shop.
Sangiovese: The Heart of Heron’s Flight
If you've heard of Sangiovese before, Tuscany is probably what comes to mind.
It is one of Italy's great red grape varieties and is famously associated with wines such as Chianti.
Finding it growing in Matakana is part of what makes Heron’s Flight so interesting.
The winery currently creates several different expressions of Sangiovese, allowing visitors to see how the same principal grape can be handled in very different ways.
Current wines include:
Volare Sangiovese
Reserve Sangiovese
Amphora Sangiovese
The Amphora is particularly unusual, with the winery using a 500-litre amphora as part of the winemaking process.
For people who normally associate New Zealand red wine with Pinot Noir or Syrah, it makes for a fascinating comparison.
What is Dolcetto?
Heron’s Flight's other core variety is Dolcetto, a red grape associated particularly with Piedmont in north-west Italy.
Despite the name sounding as though the resulting wine must be sweet, Dolcetto is commonly made as a dry red.
At Heron’s Flight you'll currently find both a traditional red Dolcetto and Dolcetto Rosato.
The contrast between Dolcetto and Sangiovese is one of the things that makes a tasting here worthwhile.
Rather than sampling five unrelated varieties, you're getting an introduction to the vineyard's particular philosophy.
Wine Tasting at Heron’s Flight
The tasting room sits beside the winery and looks out towards the vineyard.
For casual visitors, Heron’s Flight currently offers two tasting flights.
Flight One
The introductory flight currently includes:
Dolcetto Rosato
Dolcetto red
Volare Sangiovese
Heron’s Flight currently lists this flight at $15.
Flight Two
The second flight moves into its more premium Sangiovese wines:
Reserve Sangiovese
Amphora Sangiovese
This is currently listed at $20.
Casual tasting flights can currently be shared and are presented with written information about the wines. Wines are also available by the glass.
Vintage Views tip
If this is your first visit, don't rush through it.
The interesting part isn't simply deciding which wine you like most.
Ask questions.
Why Italian grapes?
Why Matakana?
Why make Sangiovese in several different ways?
Heron’s Flight has been growing grapes here for decades, and understanding the story makes the wines considerably more memorable.
Group Wine Tastings
This is where Heron’s Flight particularly comes into its own.
The vineyard specialises in tutored group tastings, generally lasting about an hour. Heron’s Flight says these sessions include the history and development of wine in Matakana, why the property concentrates on Italian varieties, the origins of Sangiovese and Dolcetto and discussion of the individual wines.
The winery currently prefers groups of at least ten people.
Two group options are currently advertised:
Tasting A — $15 per person
Three wines.
Tasting B — $35 per person
All five wines.
Prices and inclusions can change, so groups should always confirm directly with the winery.
For us, this is one of the strongest reasons to include Heron’s Flight in a Matakana experience.
A tasting with some context is far more interesting than being handed three glasses and a tasting sheet.
Can You Eat at Heron’s Flight?
Yes — but it's important to understand the current offering.
Heron’s Flight is not currently positioning itself as a full vineyard restaurant.
Instead, the tasting room has a small deli stocked with items such as:
New Zealand cheeses
Cured meats
Preserves
Crackers
Bread
Other platter accompaniments
Guests select what they want and create their own platter, with boards and utensils provided by the winery.
We actually rather like that format.
It fits the relaxed personality of the vineyard and means you can turn a wine tasting into a leisurely stop without committing to a formal restaurant booking.
For a substantial lunch, however, we'd plan to eat elsewhere in Matakana.
How Long Should You Spend at Heron’s Flight?
For casual visitors:
45–60 minutes is a sensible minimum for tasting.
Allow longer if you're adding a platter or sitting with a glass afterwards.
For organised group tastings, Heron’s Flight says the experience generally lasts around one hour.
One of the advantages of Matakana is that you don't need to cram five wineries into a day.
A good tasting, followed by lunch, art or the coast, often creates a much better experience.
Where is Heron’s Flight?
Heron’s Flight is located at:
49 Sharp Road
Matakana / Warkworth
Auckland 0982
New Zealand
The vineyard describes itself as approximately a 10-minute drive from both Warkworth and Matakana Village.
That location makes it easy to combine with attractions throughout the wider Matakana Coast.
What to Do Near Heron’s Flight
This is where Matakana becomes particularly useful as a day-trip destination.
Heron’s Flight doesn't need to be your entire day.
It works beautifully as one part of a wider itinerary.
Matakana Village
Continue into the village for cafés, boutique shopping, galleries and the famous Saturday Farmers’ Market.
Read our Complete Matakana Village Guide.
Matakana Farmers’ Market
If you're visiting on Saturday morning, the Farmers’ Market makes an excellent start to the day before exploring the surrounding countryside.
Read our Matakana Farmers’ Market Guide.
Sculptureum
For something completely different, combine wine with one of Matakana's most extraordinary art experiences.
Read our Complete Sculptureum Visitor Guide.
Brick Bay
Wine, architecture, food and contemporary sculpture come together at Brick Bay.
Read our Brick Bay Sculpture Trail Guide.
Explore More Matakana Wineries
Heron’s Flight is only one part of the region's wine scene.
See our Guide to the Best Matakana Wineries to compare cellar doors and build your own itinerary.
Heron’s Flight or a Larger Matakana Winery?
It depends what you want.
Heron’s Flight is particularly well suited to visitors who value:
Smaller producers
Wine with a strong story
Italian grape varieties
Personal tasting experiences
Family-owned businesses
Relaxed cellar doors
Learning something about what they're drinking
If your priority is a large restaurant, resort-style facilities or an extensive entertainment complex, there are other Matakana venues better suited to that.
That's part of the point of exploring the region.
Different Matakana wineries offer genuinely different experiences.
We wouldn't try to choose a single “best winery” for everybody.
Is Heron’s Flight Good for People Who Don't Know Much About Wine?
Yes.
In fact, we'd argue that this is exactly the sort of winery that can be particularly enjoyable for someone who isn't a wine expert.
You don't need to know what tannins should taste like.
You don't need to pretend you can detect seven different types of blackberry.
The interesting question is much simpler:
Why is a family in Matakana growing Italian grapes?
From there, the tasting makes considerably more sense.
Heron’s Flight for Couples
Heron’s Flight is an easy addition to a romantic Matakana day or weekend.
Combine it with:
Wine tasting → long lunch → Sculptureum or Brick Bay → Omaha Beach
and you've built a very good day without trying particularly hard.
For overnight ideas, continue through our Complete Matakana Guide and wider Matakana Coast guides as we expand them.
Heron’s Flight for Groups
Groups are one of the venue's strengths.
The tutored tasting format means everyone experiences the wines together rather than simply scattering around a cellar door.
Large groups should always organise their visit directly with Heron’s Flight in advance. The winery currently prefers a minimum of ten guests for its tutored group tasting format.
And if everyone intends to drink:
sort the transport before the wine.
Matakana is rural, attractions are spread out, and winery touring doesn't mix particularly well with drawing straws for a designated driver.
Visit Heron’s Flight on Our Matakana Wine Country Discovery
Heron’s Flight is not merely somewhere we recommend.
We visit it.
It is the first major experience on the Vintage Views Matakana Wine Country Discovery, our full-day Matakana tour from central Auckland.
Why did we choose it?
Because our tour isn't designed as a race to see how many wineries we can fit into one day.
We wanted one winery with a genuinely interesting story.
Heron’s Flight gives us that.
Our day heads north from Auckland aboard Dorothy, our genuine 1960s London Routemaster, taking in the Ōrewa coast before arriving in Matakana.
At Heron’s Flight we enjoy a hosted wine tasting and hear some of the story behind the vineyard and its unusual Italian varieties.
From there we continue to:
Smiths at Matakana Country Park
for a light lunch, included drink and free time,
before finishing at
Sculptureum
for food, a drink and a selected gallery experience.
Then Dorothy takes everyone back to Auckland.
No designated driver.
No organising three separate bookings.
No rushing between six wineries.
Just wine, food, art, countryside and a day in Matakana.
Explore the Matakana Wine Country Discovery →
Planning Your Own Matakana Wine Day?
If you'd rather explore independently, Heron’s Flight is still one of the cellar doors we'd put high on the list.
A good day could look something like:
Morning
Explore Matakana Village or the Farmers’ Market on Saturday.
Late morning
Wine tasting at Heron’s Flight.
Lunch
Head towards Matakana Village, Matakana Country Park or one of the region's vineyard restaurants.
Afternoon
Choose either art or coast:
Art: Sculptureum or Brick Bay
Coast: Omaha, Point Wells or Tāwharanui
Trying to visit every winery in Matakana in a single day rather misses the point.
Give yourself enough time to enjoy the places you choose.
Frequently Asked Questions About Heron’s Flight
Is Heron’s Flight open to visitors?
Yes. As of August 2026, Heron’s Flight advertises its tasting room as open daily from 11am until 5pm. Check directly before travelling in case hours change.
Where is Heron’s Flight?
Heron’s Flight is at 49 Sharp Road, approximately ten minutes by car from both Matakana Village and Warkworth.
What wine is Heron’s Flight known for?
Heron’s Flight specialises in the Italian grape varieties Sangiovese and Dolcetto. The winery says it is the only New Zealand winery exclusively growing and making these two varieties.
Does Heron’s Flight offer wine tastings?
Yes. Casual tasting flights and organised tutored group tastings are available.
How much is a Heron’s Flight tasting?
As of August 2026, casual tasting flights are currently advertised from $15, while group tasting options are currently $15 or $35 per person depending on the wines included. Always check current pricing directly with Heron’s Flight.
Can you have lunch at Heron’s Flight?
Heron’s Flight currently offers a small deli where visitors can buy meats, cheeses, preserves, crackers and other items and build their own platter. It is not currently promoted as a full restaurant experience.
Can I buy wine at the cellar door?
Yes. The wines tasted at the property can also be purchased, and Heron’s Flight sells its range online.
Is Heron’s Flight suitable for groups?
Yes. Heron’s Flight specialises in tutored group tastings and currently indicates a preference for groups of at least ten people.
Is Heron’s Flight family friendly?
Heron’s Flight describes the vineyard itself as family-oriented, with three generations living on the property. If travelling with children, contact the winery if you have specific requirements.
How long should I allow?
Around 45–60 minutes for a normal tasting. Group tastings generally run for around one hour.
Do I need to book?
Casual visitors should check current arrangements directly with Heron’s Flight. Groups should arrange their tasting in advance.
Can I visit Heron’s Flight from Auckland in one day?
Easily.
Heron’s Flight can be incorporated into a full Matakana day trip from Auckland alongside food, art, beaches and other attractions.
If you'd prefer someone else to organise the day and do the driving, it is included in our Matakana Wine Country Discovery.
Our Verdict
Is Heron’s Flight worth visiting?
Yes.
And not simply because it makes good wine.
Heron’s Flight represents exactly what makes the Matakana wine region interesting.
It is boutique.
Independent.
A little unconventional.
Connected to the history of the region.
And doing something that isn't easily replicated by dozens of other cellar doors.
You could visit Matakana and spend the entire day comparing variations of familiar New Zealand wines.
Or you could stop somewhere that makes you ask:
“Why are they growing Sangiovese here?”
We prefer the second option.
Continue Exploring Matakana
Heron’s Flight is only the beginning.
Use our growing Matakana guide to plan the rest of your visit:
The Best Wineries in Matakana
Compare Matakana cellar doors and find the winery experience that suits you.
Matakana Village Guide
Shopping, cafés, markets and what to see in the heart of Matakana.
Matakana Farmers’ Market Guide
Everything you need to know before a Saturday visit.
Sculptureum Visitor Guide
Art, galleries, gardens and one of the most unusual attractions in the region.
Brick Bay Sculpture Trail Guide
Contemporary sculpture, wine and landscape near Snells Beach.
Matakana Wine Country Discovery
Experience Heron’s Flight with Vintage Views on our full-day Matakana tour from Auckland.
Official Information
For current opening hours, tasting prices, wine releases and direct bookings, visit the official Heron’s Flight website.
Vintage Views is an independent Auckland tour company and this guide is designed to help visitors plan their time in Matakana. Venue information is checked periodically, but opening hours, pricing and experiences can change.