Te Whare Ra
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Marlborough's oldest vines, certified organic winemaking, and a founding story that shaped New Zealand's boutique wine scene.
Te Whare Ra is an 11-hectare certified organic estate in Renwick, Marlborough, home to the oldest surviving vines in the region. Founded in 1979 by Joyce and Allen Hogan as Marlborough's first boutique private winery, it has been owned by winemakers Anna and Jason Flowerday since 2003. Named 2025 NZ Vigneron of the Year, TWR ranks among New Zealand's top three wineries.
- Founded in 1979 by Joyce and Allen Hogan as Marlborough's first boutique, privately-owned winery
- Home to the oldest surviving vines in Marlborough, Riesling, Chardonnay, and Gewürztraminer planted in 1979
- Certified organic since 2012 (Biogro NZ); also practices biodynamics
- 11 hectares planted with seven varieties on loam over clay soils in Renwick
- Named 2025 New Zealand Vigneron of the Year; ranked top 3 wineries in NZ by Real Review
- Founding member of MANA Winegrowers and member of Organic Winegrowers of New Zealand
- K&L Wines has been the exclusive U.S. importer for over 13 years
History and Ownership
Te Whare Ra was established in 1979 by Joyce and Allen Hogan, making it the first boutique, small, privately-owned winery in Marlborough. The estate passed to winemakers Anna and Jason Flowerday in 2003, who have since built its reputation as one of New Zealand's most respected organic producers. The name is Māori and the property sits in Renwick, the heart of the Marlborough wine region.
- First boutique private winery established in Marlborough, founded 1979
- Anna and Jason Flowerday have owned and operated the estate since 2003
- Original 1979 plantings of Riesling, Chardonnay, and Gewürztraminer still producing today
- Vines survived phylloxera because they were planted on grafted rootstock, unlike earlier regional plantings
Organic and Biodynamic Farming
Te Whare Ra received certified organic status through Biogro NZ in 2012 and also follows biodynamic practices. The estate is a founding member of MANA Winegrowers and a member of Organic Winegrowers of New Zealand. Winemaking is described as minimal intervention, with hand-picked and hand-sorted fruit, deliberately low yields, and wines made with minimal sulphites. All wines are suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
- Certified organic (Biogro NZ) since 2012; biodynamic practices also in place
- Founding member of MANA Winegrowers
- Hand-picked, hand-sorted fruit with deliberately low yields
- All wines vegan and vegetarian-friendly, made with minimal sulphites
The Vineyard and Wines
The 11-hectare estate in Renwick grows seven varieties on loam over clay soils under a dry, sunny growing season typical of Marlborough. Varieties include Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. The Toru blend, a first of its kind in New Zealand, was created over 12 years ago and remains a signature wine of the estate.
- 11 hectares planted with Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah
- Loam over clay soils in the Renwick sub-region of Marlborough
- Toru blend, a New Zealand first, created more than 12 years ago
- Dry, sunny growing season characteristic of Marlborough
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Look it up →Recognition and Distribution
Te Whare Ra was named 2025 New Zealand Vigneron of the Year and is ranked in the top three wineries of New Zealand by Real Review. K&L Wines has served as the exclusive U.S. importer for more than 13 years, reflecting the estate's strong international profile despite its small, handcrafted scale.
- Named 2025 NZ Vigneron of the Year
- Ranked top 3 wineries in New Zealand by Real Review
- K&L Wines exclusive U.S. importer for 13-plus years
- Small-batch production with a terroir-focused philosophy
Te Whare Ra's wines reflect Marlborough's dry, sunny climate filtered through organic and biodynamic farming. Expect precise, terroir-driven expressions across the range: vibrant, citrus-edged Sauvignon Blanc; complex, age-worthy Riesling from vines dating to 1979; and aromatic Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris with genuine textural depth. The Toru blend showcases the estate's willingness to push beyond convention.
- Te Whare Ra Sauvignon Blanc$25-35Estate-grown Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from certified organic vines in Renwick, hand-picked with minimal intervention.Find →
- Te Whare Ra Riesling$30-40Sourced from 1979 plantings, the oldest surviving Riesling vines in Marlborough, with genuine age-worthy structure.Find →
- Te Whare Ra Toru$35-45New Zealand's first blend of its kind, produced for over 12 years from organic estate fruit in Renwick.Find →
- Te Whare Ra Gewürztraminer$30-40Grown from vines planted in 1979, among the oldest Gewürztraminer in Marlborough, farmed organically and biodynamically.Find →
- Founded 1979 by Joyce and Allen Hogan; first boutique private winery in Marlborough
- Certified organic via Biogro NZ since 2012; biodynamic practices also employed
- Oldest surviving vines in Marlborough: Riesling, Chardonnay, and Gewürztraminer from 1979 plantings on grafted rootstock
- 11 hectares in Renwick on loam over clay; seven varieties grown
- Founding member of MANA Winegrowers; 2025 NZ Vigneron of the Year