The best wineries in Gisborne sit on the flats and foothills just outside the city, in Matawhero, Manutuke and along the Ormond slopes. The wineries in Gisborne pour Chardonnay, aromatic whites, rosé and reds at relaxed cellar doors, often with a platter or picnic among the vines, and several also sell direct online. Matawhero Wines and Wrights Vineyard and Winery are good places to start a tasting day.
1Matawhero Wines
Matawhero Wines has been making wine in Gisborne since 1975 and farms its vineyards without irrigation, relying on natural rainfall. The rustic cellar door on Riverpoint Road, about 10 minutes south of the city on State Highway 2, serves tastings and gourmet platters under the vines and olive trees, with luxury cabins next door for an overnight stay. It suits couples, groups planning a long lunch and anyone who wants to stay among the vines.
Services
- Cellar door wine tastings (bookings advised)
- Gourmet antipasto platters
- Luxury vineyard accommodation cabins
- Functions and winery events
- Online wine shop with nationwide delivery
Highlights
- Producing wine in Gisborne since 1975
- Naturally dry-farmed vineyards
- Irwin Chardonnay 2022 rated 97 points by Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
- Underground cellar of older vintage wines to explore
- On-site art gallery and pétanque at the cellar door
Location & Contact
Name: Matawhero Wines
Address: 189 Riverpoint Road, RD1, Gisborne 4071
Phone: 06 867 6140
Website: matawhero.co.nz
2Wrights Vineyard and Winery
Wrights Vineyard and Winery is a certified organic producer at Manutuke, south of Gisborne, making its wines on site. The cellar door offers tasting flights alongside a build-your-own gourmet picnic, platters and coffee in a family-friendly setting with indoor and outdoor seating. It suits families, organic wine drinkers and campervan travellers, who can book a park-over spot at the vineyard.
Services
- Wine tasting flights at the cellar door
- Build-your-own gourmet picnic boxes and platters
- Park-over stays for self-contained campervans
- Online wine orders
Highlights
- Certified organic vineyards, with no herbicides, insecticides or systemic chemicals
- Sustainable Vineyard of the Year, Aotearoa New Zealand Organic Wine Awards 2022
- Wrights Reserve Chardonnay 2024 named Champion Chardonnay at the NZ Organic Wine Awards 2026
- Range includes Syrah, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Méthode Traditionnelle
Location & Contact
Name: Wrights Vineyard and Winery
Address: 1093 Wharerata Road, Manutuke, Gisborne
Phone: 027 656 8222
Website: wrightswines.co.nz
3Bushmere Estate
Bushmere Estate is a 100% family-owned, single-vineyard winery run by David and Shona Egan on 17 hectares in Gisborne’s Central Valley, with more than 40 years of grape growing behind it. The cellar door on State Highway 2 at Matawhero sits beside The Vines, a restaurant and café on the estate, so a tasting can easily roll into lunch. It suits visitors wanting wine and a sit-down meal in one stop.
Services
- Cellar door wine tastings
- Lunch at The Vines restaurant on the estate
- Wine sales of red, white, sparkling and speciality wines
Highlights
- 100% family owned, single-vineyard wines
- Mainly Chardonnay, with Merlot, Malbec, Pinot Gris, Montepulciano and Sangiovese
- More than 40 years growing grapes in Gisborne
- Weddings and celebrations hosted among the vines
Location & Contact
Name: Bushmere Estate
Address: 166 Main Road SH2, RD1 Matawhero, Gisborne
Phone: 06 868 9317
Website: bushmere.com
4TW Wines
TW Wines was started in 1998 by growers Paul Tietjen and Geordie Witters, whose two vineyards sit on The Golden Slope, the strip of foothills running from Ormond to Hexton. There is no formal cellar door; instead the owners invite visitors to call ahead for a personal vineyard tour and tasting, and the wines can be ordered online. It suits Chardonnay enthusiasts and anyone who wants to hear the story straight from the growers.
Services
- Personal vineyard tours and tastings by arrangement
- Online wine sales
- Chardonnay, Verdelho, Viognier and Rosé
- Merlot, Malbec and Carmenere
Highlights
- Grown on The Golden Slope between Ormond and Hexton
- More than 40 national and international medals, including nine golds
- Trophies at the 1997 National Wine Show of Australia and the 1998 Air New Zealand Wine Awards
- Made at Gisborne Wine Company by winemaker Anita Ewart-Croy
Location & Contact
Name: TW Wines
Address: Back Ormond Road, RD1, Gisborne
Phone: 021 222 0135
Website: twwines.co.nz
Wineries in Gisborne at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Matawhero Wines | Producing wine in Gisborne since 1975 |
| Wrights Vineyard and Winery | Certified organic vineyards, with no herbicides |
| Bushmere Estate | 100% family owned, single-vineyard wines |
| TW Wines | Grown on The Golden Slope between Ormond and Hexton |
How to Choose the Right Winery in Gisborne
- Check opening days first: most cellar doors run reduced winter hours and longer summer hours, so confirm before you drive out.
- Decide on food: some wineries serve platters or picnics, others sit beside a full restaurant, and a few offer tastings only.
- Match the wine style: Gisborne is known for Chardonnay, but look for aromatics, rosé, sparkling or reds such as Syrah and Malbec if that is your preference.
- Consider organic or sustainable credentials if how the grapes are grown matters to you.
- Plan your route and transport: Matawhero and Manutuke sit south of the city on State Highway 2, while the Ormond vineyards lie to the north, so group stops by area and arrange a sober driver or a tour.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gisborne Wineries
Where are the wineries near Gisborne?
Most sit within a 10 to 20 minute drive of the city. Matawhero and Manutuke are just south along State Highway 2, and the Ormond and Hexton foothills, known locally as The Golden Slope, are to the north. If you are staying in the city, a winery in Gisborne’s southern flats is usually the quickest to reach.
Do I need to book a wine tasting?
Bookings are often advised, especially for groups, platters and weekends. Some smaller producers only host tastings by arrangement, so call ahead rather than turning up unannounced.
What wine is Gisborne known for?
Gisborne is widely known as a Chardonnay region, and it also grows Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Viognier, rosé styles and reds such as Merlot, Malbec and Syrah. New Zealand Winegrowers has an overview of the Gisborne wine region.
When are Gisborne cellar doors open?
Hours change with the seasons. Many open Wednesday to Sunday through spring and summer and cut back to a few days in winter, so check each winery’s website before you visit.
Can I eat at a winery in Gisborne?
Yes. Platters, picnic boxes and light lunches are common at cellar doors, and some estates have a restaurant on site. Menus are often seasonal, so ask when you book.
Can I buy Gisborne wine online?
Most local producers sell direct through their own online shops and deliver nationwide, which is handy if you want to reorder a bottle you tasted at the cellar door.
What does sustainable or organic winegrowing mean?
Certified organic vineyards avoid synthetic herbicides and pesticides and are audited by a certifier. Many other wineries belong to Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand, the industry programme covering vineyard and winery practices.
Are Gisborne wineries family friendly?
Several welcome families, with garden seating, lawn games and non-alcoholic drinks. If you are bringing children, check with the winery first, and remember that tastings are for adults only.
How We Chose the Best Wineries in Gisborne
Every business in this guide was found by searching for wineries in Gisborne, then checked against what the business publishes itself: its own website, or where it has none, its official social or booking page. Names, addresses and phone numbers come from those pages rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what the business says about itself. We also check that each one is still trading and is actually based in or genuinely serving Gisborne, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business we can’t confirm from its own pages is not listed.