Te Mata Estate Through Britain’s Fine Wine Merchants
A 130-year connection between Hawke’s Bay and the heart of the world’s wine trade
For more than 130 years, Te Mata Estate has shared a special connection with the United Kingdom. From the earliest exports of Hawke’s Bay wines in the late nineteenth century to today’s thriving network of fine wine merchants, Britain has played an important role in the story of Te Mata. By 1909, Te Mata Estate had already become New Zealand’s largest winery and exporter, establishing an international reputation at a time when New Zealand wine was still largely unknown overseas. This early connection with Britain helped introduce the quality and character of New Zealand wine to a wider world.
Today, Te Mata wines are available through some of the UK’s most respected independent fine wine merchants, including Berry Bros. & Rudd, Jeroboams, Lay & Wheeler, Cru, Bordeaux Index, Fine & Rare and Farr Vintners. These specialists provide access to a growing range of Te Mata wines, from the flagship Coleraine and Awatea Cabernet Merlot to Elston Chardonnay, Bullnose Syrah, Cape Crest Sauvignon Blanc and Alma Pinot Noir. Each release reflects the same philosophy that has guided Te Mata for generations: estate-grown fruit, hand harvesting, careful winemaking and a deep connection to the vineyards of Hawke’s Bay.
The continuity of Te Mata is central to its story. The vineyards that established the estate’s reputation more than a century ago continue to produce today’s wines, with all fruit grown on Te Mata Estate, hand picked, vinified and bottled at the historic winery. With one foot in the traditions of the Old World and one foot in the innovation and character of the New, Te Mata has always sought to create wines that belong in the company of the world’s great regions while remaining unmistakably connected to New Zealand. As The Wine Advocate wrote in 2026: “Te Mata has long been one of the great estates in Hawke’s Bay; however, when considered in a national context, the thoughtfulness and applied intellect of the growing and making of wine at this estate make it one of the crowning achievements of New Zealand.”
That reputation continues to grow among international critics and wine lovers. Bob Campbell MW described Te Mata as “New Zealand’s most prestigious wine … nobody dreamed such a wine could be made from New Zealand grapes,” while JancisRobinson.com noted that “consistency of quality and style … have been the hallmarks since day one.” Matthew Jukes called Te Mata “the beating heart of Hawke’s Bay in vinous form,” and Andy Howard MW observed that while Coleraine’s original ambition may have been inspired by the great Cru Classé estates of Bordeaux, “today Coleraine has evolved its own style.” For wine lovers across Britain, this means that discovering Te Mata is easier than ever, through merchants who understand provenance, quality and the enduring relationship between New Zealand and the UK.
