Mercury Bay Estate - Coromandel wines with an Italian connection

A Vineyard Shaped by Sun and Sea

It's an idyllic setting on the sloping hills facing the sun, looking out over Cooks Beach and the blue of Mercury Bay. Cook sailed in here to replenish his supplies and perform his astronomy measurements, and he found plenty.

The micro-climate here is ideal for growing grapes, a pleasant surprise for vintners Simon and Veronica Ward when they arrived from Italy, looking for a likely terroir.  The rain clouds scoot around the surrounding hills and the sloping vineyards drain easily in the occasional deluge. The stunning property reminded them of the kind of European-style business that they worked in, and always admired; family-owned, compact and hands-on. So they stayed.

Simon and Veronica produce sustainable wines from grapes grown in their vineyard, with the addition of some Hawke's Bay grapes as the wine style selection has grown.

At the cellar door you can buy a bottle of rosé if you get there early enough and enjoy a glass of the current vintage in the restaurant overlooking the vines and the small village of Cooks Beach. It is here, in the restaurant, that the Italian influence is evident; in the simple unfussy presentation of fresh local & imported ingredients.

Antipasto platters are the perfect accompaniment to a tasting flight of estate wines. Whether it's the Cheese selection or the Charcuterie Board, the flavours of the place shine through.  Veronica is Italian, and so her wood-fired pizza has locals travelling for miles, not to mention the Tiramisù.

Generally open 5 days a week for Lunch, then extended to 7 days over the summer season.