Mudbrick Wines - Oneroa New Zealand

From bare land a dream in early 1992 to the first plantings and opening the Mudbrick Cafe in 1995, the Jones' grew with sweat, mud bricks and soil to the Mudbrick Vineyard Restaurant. Tastings at Mudbrick are led by cellar masters, and our self guided tours were an excellent way to explore the grounds, gardens and vines. We learned about their history, vineyards and award-winning wines. All of the wines we tasted were delicious . We didn't have a reservation so we were seated at the archive wine bar. We shared a charcuterie board, 2 cheeses. We enjoyed our Sauvignon Blanc and a Casira Moro madam rouge with plums, figs, cherry flavors, a potent tanin and a long finish. Everything was exceptional, service was friendly, knowledgeable attentive. The view and grounds were truly memorable. This was a splurge for lunch.

You truly can't beat the views or the value when embarking on their wine tastings. We opted for the Tour of New Zealand, offering 2 Red and 2 White selections. They give you a bit of background regarding the origins as well as what to note as you taste. You're free to take each glass with you and wander the grounds, so we took a spot up on their rooftop bar, which offered views of the island, winery, as well as the water and even central Auckland in the distance. We'd hoped to be able to combine the tasting with a cheese pairing of sorts, but could only do so if sitting in their restaurant. do note that their is no public transport, requiring either a hired taxi (no Uber) or a ~25 minute walk from the main road.

Check the menu before going, to see if this will work for you. They have about five main dishes, but all are for refined palates. The options were lamb, duck, a couple seafood options, and a mushroom risotto. If you don 't like one of those, then this restaurant is not for you. (That said, double check the menu; hopefully it will evolve in acknowledgement of serving a broader selection of palates. Those who found food options that worked, seemed to enjoy them. Other tables also seemed to have positive reactions, from the interactions I overheard. Of our party of eight, two folks didn 't find a suitable main course; one made the best of it, and one ate bread for lunch. We asked about whether an adult could order from the kids menu, which had chicken, spaghetti, and a more traditional fish option. We were told that the restaurant couldn 't afford to allow that exception. I assume this is a blanket policy as the restaurant was less than half full; we were there on a weekday, so perhaps it fills up on the weekends, which would make the policy a reason to exist. (Note: I 'm keeping this review accessible by not using French. ; The ambiance is great; what 's a nicer setting than a vineyard overlooking the ocean? The service was reasonable; that said, we did have to ask for water whenever we wanted it, including the first time, when not all glasses were filled at the outset. I am keeping this review to factual info only (aside from the view, which again hard to argue that there 's a better setting .

We absolutely loved our visit to Mudbrick on our trip to New Zealand. In an afternoon, Mudbrick became one of our favorite wineries anywhere. The grounds are beautiful, and the view toward Aukland is spectacular. Enjoying the tasting outdoors was a treat. Merlot is not one of my top five varietals, but the merlot from the Mudbrick vineyards on Waiheke was outstanding flavor of ripe black currents. We're looking forward to a return visit.

Stunning. The incredible gardens that welcome you to this unbelievable setting are just the start of an amazing visit. The views from the patio are amazing. The people are extremely knowledgeable. The wine was the best we experienced in New Zealand. Just an incredible place all around. Absolutely worth the trip on the ferry (which was very nice) and quite possibly worth the flight from the USA! I've been to so many wineries all over the world, including some of the most famous and this is the most beautiful winery I've visited to date. Depending on your taste you should easily find a wine you absolutely love. For me it was the Bordeaux blend, the petit Syrah and the Chardonnay. Loved them so much that I'm having a couple cases shipped home for Xmas gifts (and of course a few for the cellar. Seriously you will be so glad you visited! Don't miss this one!