Elephant Hill
A coastal Hawke's Bay estate where Pacific sea breezes and free-draining shingle soils shape elegant whites and world-class reds.
Elephant Hill is a 61-hectare family-owned estate on the Te Awanga coast of Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, founded in 2003. Established by Roger and Reydan Weiss after a 2001 visit to the region, the winery completed its first commercial vintage in 2008. Three certified sustainable vineyards span Te Awanga, Gimblett Gravels, and Bridge Pa Triangle.
- Founded in 2003 by Roger and Reydan Weiss; first commercial vintage produced in 2008
- Located on the Te Awanga coast, Hawke's Bay, near the Pacific Ocean and Cape Kidnappers
- 61 hectares farmed across three vineyards: Te Awanga, Gimblett Gravels, and Bridge Pa Triangle
- All vineyards certified by Sustainable Winegrowers of New Zealand (SWNZ)
- Winemaker Steve Skinner oversees production
- Named in homage to the Asian elephant, a conservation cause the Weiss family actively supports
- Merlot was replaced with Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay better suited to Te Awanga's cooler coastal microclimate
History and Origins
Elephant Hill was established in 2003 after German businessman Roger Weiss and his partner Reydan Weiss visited Te Awanga in 2001 and were inspired by the site's coastal potential. Vineyard planting began in 2006, and the winery was completed in 2008, producing its first commercial vintage that same year. The estate takes its name from the family's commitment to Asian elephant conservation.
- Founded 2003 following a 2001 visit to Te Awanga that inspired the Weiss family
- Vineyards planted from 2006; winery completed and first vintage produced in 2008
- Name is a direct homage to the Asian elephant and the family's conservation support
- Hawke's Bay is New Zealand's oldest wine region
Location and Terroir
Elephant Hill operates three distinct vineyards across Hawke's Bay. The home estate sits on the Te Awanga coast near the Pacific Ocean and Cape Kidnappers, where free-draining shingle soils and cooling sea breezes create a temperate microclimate with an extended growing season. Inland vineyards in the Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa Triangle provide contrasting gravel, clay, and alluvial soils that suit the estate's structured red wines.
- Te Awanga coastal vineyard benefits from Pacific Ocean breezes and free-draining shingle soils
- Gimblett Gravels vineyard supplies fruit for structured, warmth-loving red varieties
- Bridge Pa Triangle vineyard adds further diversity to the estate's aromatic white production
- All three sites are certified by Sustainable Winegrowers of New Zealand (SWNZ)
Grape Varieties and Wine Style
Elephant Hill grows an unusually wide range of varieties across its three vineyards. The cooler Te Awanga coastal site proved better suited to Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay than to Merlot, which was subsequently replaced. The full portfolio spans Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Viognier, Gewurztraminer, and Chenin Blanc among whites, alongside Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Tempranillo for reds. The house style emphasises elegant, classical whites alongside structured, world-class reds.
- Twelve grape varieties grown across the three vineyard sites
- Merlot replaced by Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay at Te Awanga due to the cooler coastal microclimate
- Red varieties including Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Tempranillo thrive at the inland Gimblett Gravels site
- Style targets classical aromatic whites and structured, age-worthy reds
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Look it up →Sustainability
Sustainability sits at the core of Elephant Hill's operations. All three vineyards hold certification from Sustainable Winegrowers of New Zealand (SWNZ), and the winery features a state-of-the-art biological water treatment system designed to recycle waste water. These commitments reflect the wider environmental values of the founding Weiss family.
- SWNZ certification across all three vineyards
- Biological water treatment system enables on-site waste water recycling
- Environmental stewardship aligns with the family's conservation ethos
Whites show bright citrus and stone fruit with aromatic lift, shaped by coastal sea breezes and a long growing season. Reds display structure and depth, particularly from Gimblett Gravels fruit, with dark berry character and firm, age-worthy tannins.
- Elephant Hill Estate Sauvignon Blanc$18-22Coastal Te Awanga site delivers bright citrus and herbaceous character typical of the cool microclimate.Find →
- Elephant Hill Estate Chardonnay$28-35Reflects the extended growing season at Te Awanga with stone fruit depth and restrained oak influence.Find →
- Elephant Hill Syrah$35-45Gimblett Gravels fruit produces a structured, peppery Syrah showcasing Hawke's Bay red wine potential.Find →
- Elephant Hill Enigma$65-80
- Elephant Hill is a family-owned boutique estate in Te Awanga, Hawke's Bay, founded 2003; first vintage 2008
- Operates three SWNZ-certified vineyards: Te Awanga (coastal), Gimblett Gravels (inland), and Bridge Pa Triangle
- 61 hectares total under vine; winemaker is Steve Skinner
- Merlot was removed from Te Awanga in favour of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay to match the cooler coastal microclimate
- Hawke's Bay is New Zealand's oldest wine region