Romeo Bragato, an Italian viticulturist & oenologist, was contracted by New Zealand’s Department of Agriculture in 1895 to advise on planting & pruning vines in New Zealand, from which he reported the ideal growing conditions that the Wairarapa & other regions in New Zealand offered potential grape growers.
French wife of early settler, William Beetham, was so inspired by our region when she left her Burgundian homeland to live in New Zealand,1880s and produced the region’s first Pinot Noir vintage in 1897. Prohibition came into force in the early 1900’s which saw an end to winemaking in the region.
Our Logo – The Phoenix
We adopted the mythical sacred firebird, the Phoenix, which has long been seen as a symbol of renewal as our logo. The Matahiwi Phoenix symbolises the rebirth of winemaking in the area for the first time since prohibition.
