While the Lismore vineyard is a name that’s synonymous with highly regarded Martinborough wines, it is also in a transitional stage, in need of some investment and strategic thinking to maximise the potential in the soil and the site.

To this end, the current plantings of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris will be removed later in 2026, the vineyard gently subjected to some restorative practices, and then replanted in Pinot Noir in 2027. And, says Nga Waka winemaker Paul Mason, excitedly, Syrah.

“It is great to acquire a prime site in the heart of the Martinborough Terraces. This three hectare vineyard has an excellent track record of producing top quality grapes and we are very excited to have the opportunity to own it. The combination of a warm, sheltered site and free draining soils are perfect for producing small quantities of high quality, distinctive wines, in the celebrated Nga Waka style. The potential for planting new varieties, in particular Syrah, is very exciting.”

This is a long-term project from a winery that’s always had a long-term vision.  Indeed, the new plantings will not produce wine until 2030, something Nga Waka Owner Jay Short says is further testament to the three decade old winery’s investment in the region.

“There’s been a great deal of ‘doom and gloom’ reporting of late in regard to the domestic wine industry. However, at Nga Waka, we firmly believe the New Zealand wine industry, and in particular the Martinborough region, has a long and rewarding future and we are keen to keep investing in that. We are all excited to see what these wines will look like in a few years’ time.”

For further information please contact

Mick Hodson, General Manager, Nga Waka

mick@ngawaka.co.nz     021 527 477

The post Nga Waka Winery purchases the Lismore Vineyard appeared first on Nga Waka Wines.

Qualmark is New Zealand’s official tourism quality assurance organisation, providing a trusted mark of excellence for businesses committed to delivering world-class visitor experiences. Achieving Silver status is a testament to our dedication to continuous improvement and our commitment to sustainability, safety, and genuine Kiwi hospitality.

A Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Experience

Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at Nga Waka Wines. Our commitment to environmentally friendly viticulture ensures that our practices not only produce outstanding wines but also protect the land for future generations. From responsible vineyard management and waste reduction initiatives to energy efficiency and water conservation, we strive to minimise our environmental impact while enhancing the quality of our wines.

A Commitment to Best Practices

Visitor comfort is paramount, and we take every measure to ensure a secure and enjoyable experience for all our guests. Our adherence to best practices in health and safety ensures that every aspect of our winery operations – from the vineyard to the tasting room – meets the highest standards. Whether you’re enjoying a guided tasting or exploring our scenic vineyards, you can do so with confidence, knowing that your wellbeing is our priority.

Genuine Kiwi Hospitality

At Nga Waka Wines, we believe that every visitor should feel welcome and valued. Our team is passionate about sharing the story of our wines and the land they come from. Whether you’re a seasoned wine enthusiast or a first-time visitor, you can expect a warm reception, expert knowledge, and an authentic taste of New Zealand’s renowned wine culture.

Receiving Silver Qualmark recognition reaffirms our dedication to providing an unforgettable experience – one that combines exceptional wines, sustainable practices, and the best of Kiwi hospitality. We invite you to visit Nga Waka Wines and experience firsthand what makes us a trusted and award-winning destination.

Come raise a glass with us and be part of a truly special journey!

The post Nga Waka Wines Awarded Silver Qualmark: A Quality Experience in Every Way appeared first on Nga Waka Wines.

Paul is currently head winemaker at Martinborough Vineyard, and during his 20 year tenure has built an enviable reputation as an outstanding winemaker, winning many awards and accolades. 

Paul started in the wine industry after studying science at Auckland University and then winemaking at Lincoln University. He has worked vintages in New Zealand at Coopers Creek, de Redcliffe and Villa Maria and harvests in France, Italy, Chile, Australia and the US. He came to Martinborough in 2004 and in 2007 was appointed winemaker at Martinborough Vineyard, following in the steps of Claire Mulholland (Burn Cottage) and Pinot Noir pioneer Larry McKenna. His in-depth understanding of Martinborough and passion for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay makes him particularly well-suited to Nga Waka, with these varieties making up 90% of our production.

Roger Parkinson’s retirement is bitter sweet, having made every Nga Waka wine since our first vintage in 1993. As a pioneer of the Martinborough wine industry his retirement after 32 vintages will leave an incredible legacy both at Nga Waka, and also more widely across the region.

“When Roger announced his retirement, my first thought was how on earth would we find someone with the same depth of knowledge, passion and winemaking experience in Martinborough. But when we met with Paul about the role, we knew instantly that he was the right person to continue the story of Nga Waka, and expand on Roger’s legacy. We couldn’t be more delighted.” said Nga Waka owner Jay Short.

“I want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication that Roger and his wife Carol have put into Nga Waka and the wider Wairarapa wine industry over the past 30 years,” continued Jay. “Roger has made some exceptional Pinot Noirs and set the benchmark for Chardonnay in Martinborough. I wish Roger all the best in his well-earned retirement.”

The post Announcing our new Winemaker appeared first on Nga Waka Wines.

Rainfall (mm)

 Growing Degree Days (heat units)

A rather typical season in many respects with one glaring exception. A major advective (cold air mass) frost in October took out most of our largest vineyard, Pirinoa Block. The cold air mass settled to the South of Martinborough and around Te Muna while the vineyards around the Martinborough township were largely spared. We lost all the Chardonnay and most of the Pinot Noir at Pirinoa Block.

Good rainfall up to Xmas 2018 set the vineyards up well for what was a very dry Summer. Heat units (growing degree days) were above average but cooler than 2018. Rainfall over harvest caused some minor inconvenience but we were largely able to pick on desired ripeness without having to factor in disease pressure. The wines of 2019 will be full-flavoured, fine-structured and elegant with good ageing potential. All in all, a classic Martinborough vintage.

Here are the average harvest parameters for each variety:

Roger Parkinson

July 2019

The post 2019 Vintage Report: frost depleted yields offset by high quality vintage appeared first on Nga Waka Wines.

Rainfall (mm)

 Growing Degree Days (heat units)

There’s always a danger with catch phrases like “small but perfectly formed” that somewhere in the past I’ve used it to describe a similar vintage. If I have, mea culpa!

The “small” part of the equation was established during the first half of the growing season with very cool and windy conditions prevailing right through until close to Christmas. If you compare seasonal Growing Degree Days, the heat units for October – December 2014 track very closely to the 2011-12 season which produced our last under-sized harvest.

Happily, the second half of the growing season was almost the opposite of the first half with some of the warmest, and certainly driest, months in recent history. Again, using the comparison with the 2011-12 season, for the first half of the 2014-15 season, heat units were behind 2011-12 but by the end of the season had reached 1148 compared to 988 for 2011-12. The smaller crop was further depleted by a couple of extreme wind events in January which hammered the vines and broke several posts. Irrigation was essential to maintain the vines ability to ripen the grapes and to help them recover from the wind damage. The latter part of the season was very benign and with the second half warmth, we commenced harvesting at our normal time, around the beginning of April. With the dry Summer, disease pressure was minimal and, despite some rain falling over harvest, the small crop of grapes came into the winery in perfect condition. Juice parameters (brix, pH, TA) were straight out of the text book and, more importantly, the juice flavours were both expressive and concentrated, “perfectly formed”.

There will only be small volumes of wine from vintage 2015 but, when released, they will be well worth seeking out.

Just a reminder re the Growing Degrees Days table above. Prior to 2013 I used the nearest dedicated weather station to provide the data for our Growing Degrees Days summary. It turns out that, due to its proximity to other structures, this weather station was likely to be over-stating temperature. The Growing Degree Days figures since 2013 are sourced from another local weather station that is set up in accordance with the rules that Metservice specify for siting weather stations. I haven’t re-calculated the earlier seasons but it is likely that, excepting the cold 2012 vintage, they will be ranged around the 2013 figure.

Here are the average harvest parameters for each variety:

Roger Parkinson

August 2015

The post 2015 Vintage Report: small but perfectly formed appeared first on Nga Waka Wines.