Hawke's Bay vineyard Te Mata Estate was established in 1896. It was originally part of Te Mata Station, a large pastoral land-holding, but in 1892 Bernard Chambers experimented, planting three vineyards on the north-facing hills around Havelock North. These same vineyards are used today.
The Chambers family sold the property in 1919. Te Mata Vineyards was established and the property had two other owners until it was acquired by the Buck and Morris families in 1974. These two families transformed the vineyard into an internationally recognised superstar, a renowned producer of world class wines.
Te Mata's flagship wine, Coleraine, is arguably New Zealand's most famous red wine. First produced in 1982, it is a classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc that displays the concentration, complexity and elegance found in the world's finest wines. This is a collectable wine with a long future that will reward patience in the cellar. Other standout wines from the Estate Collection are the Elston Chardonnay, the Awatea Merlot blend and the Bullnose Syrah.