The arrival of new Cabernet Sauvignon clones at Te Mata Estate marks an important moment in the long arc of the winery’s red wine programme. These young vines, now ready for planting, represent years of research, international collaboration, and careful intention, all directed toward the future quality and expression of Te Mata’s Cabernet-based blends.
These clones began their journey far from Hawke’s Bay. Selected from the most advanced and highly regarded Cabernet Sauvignon material currently in use at leading châteaux in Bordeaux, they were developed and refined in Montpellier by OMTAV, one of the world’s foremost authorities on vine selection and clonal research. Te Mata undertook extensive study to identify which clones would best suit both the climate of Hawke’s Bay and the style of wines the estate aims to produce.
After selection, the vines passed through the rigorous quarantine process required to bring new plant material into New Zealand. They were then propagated and nurtured in a specialist nursery on the east coast of the North Island, ensuring they were fully adapted and healthy before their arrival at Te Mata. The process is slow by design, prioritising biosecurity, vine integrity, and long-term success over speed.
Now ready for planting, these Cabernet Sauvignon clones will be established in a small number of carefully chosen vineyard sites across the estate. Each site has been selected for its soil, exposure, and ability to express Cabernet at the highest level. The intention is clear: these vines are destined to form part of Te Mata’s most refined and age-worthy Cabernet-based wines.
While their impact will not be immediate, the long view is essential. Over the coming years, as the vines establish themselves and mature, they will begin to contribute greater complexity, precision, and structural finesse to Te Mata’s red wines. This is an investment measured not in seasons, but in decades.
The project also reflects what is possible in a New World wine country like New Zealand. Free from rigid appellation constraints, producers such as Te Mata can research, experiment, and innovate with clarity of purpose. By combining Old World knowledge with New World freedom, Te Mata continues to push forward—quietly, rigorously, and with confidence—in the ongoing evolution of fine red wine in Hawke’s Bay.
