The Man O’ War story begins with a special piece of land rich in history. Located at the eastern end of Waiheke Island, Man O’ War is a stunning array of coastal hillsides with high cliffs and pristine beaches forming a ruggedly beautiful coastline. Every single block bears the footprints, and sometimes the names, of those who transformed Man O’ War’s rugged hillsides into a spectacular patchwork of vines. Each block has been meticulously designed with different rootstocks, clones and planting densities to best match the specific terroir on offer.

For over a hundred years, generations of our family have sailed past the Eastern End of Waiheke Island admiring its spectacular natural beauty and rugged coastline. With the desire to protect and enhance this treasured piece of land, our family progressively purchased the four contiguous farms that now form Man O’ War Station through the early 1980’s.

As that decade progressed and we became witness to the world class wines being grown on Waiheke by Stephen White at Stonyridge and the Goldwaters, we decided to join the fray and began to develop what we believe has now become one of New Zealand’s great vineyards and the basis of a family wine business for generations to come.

Driven by this blueprint, our white varieties have been carefully placed high on the exposed volcanic hilltops of Man O’ War so that they benefit from cooling sea breezes, extending their growing season and giving them great concentration and minerality. While our red varieties are draped down precipitously steep sheltered clay hillsides enjoying the heat and drainage provided, promoting serious intensity and depth.