| Region of production: | Auckland GI |
| Winery Location: | Waiheke Island, Auckland |
| Year Established: | 2005 |
Vineyard Holdings
60 ha
Top Wines Produced & Inaugural Vintages
- Gravestone (Auckland GI): 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Sémillon. Fermented and aged in 80% old French oak, 20% acacia. Inaugural vintage 2010.
- Exiled Pinot Gris (Auckland GI): Fermented in tank using a combination of cultured and indigenous yeasts. Inaugural vintage 2010.
- Valhalla Chardonnay (Auckland GI): Fermented using indigenous yeasts and aged in French oak puncheons, approximately one-third new. Inaugural vintage 2008.
- Dreadnought Syrah (Auckland GI): Destemmed and fermented using indigenous yeasts in open-top vats. Aged in French oak puncheons, approximately one-third new. Inaugural vintage 2008.
- Ironclad (Auckland GI): Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec. Fermented using indigenous yeasts in open-top vats. Aged in French oak barrels, approximately 40% new. Inaugural vintage 2008.
Average Total Production
- N/A
Summary
Man O’ War is both the largest producer on Waiheke Island and the most isolated. The estate extends across 1,850 hectares on the eastern side of Waiheke Island, with 76 vineyard parcels scattered throughout the property. Man O’ War also cultivates vineyards on the nearby Ponui Island and transports the grapes by boat to be vinified in its Waiheke facility. The estate was formed when the Spencer family, which earned its fortune in paper milling, adjoined four neighboring properties, with the first vines planted in 1993. The name can be traced to Captain James Cook’s landing on eastern Waiheke Island in 1769, where he identified the towering kauri trees as potential masts for man-of-war ships.
Style & Vinification Techniques
Man O’ War’s parcels are harvested from 76 non-contiguous plots across its 1,850 hectare property on Waiheke Island. For most of the top wines, Man O’ War utilizes indigenous yeasts and a combination of old and new oak vessels during élevage.
Producer Website: Man O’ War