Trinity Hill

Trinity Hill's story began over a bottle of wine at the Bleeding Heart restaurant in London in 1987, when the idea for a Hawke's Bay winery was born. Its founders recognised the potential of the Gimblett Gravels winegrowing district, and in 1993 Trinity Hill planted grapevines on a barren plot there. It was among the first to plant grapes in the Gimblett Gravels. Robert and Robyn Wilson, who opened the Bleeding Heart wine bar in London in December 1983, were among Trinity Hill's founders and were partners in the estate in 2008. In February 2014 California investor Charles Banks and his winery investment group Terroir Selections signed a deal to take a controlling share of Trinity Hill; the purchase price was not disclosed. Michael Henley was Trinity Hill's chief executive at the time.

• 1987: the idea for a Hawke's Bay winery born over a bottle of wine at the Bleeding Heart restaurant in London
• 1993: grapevines planted on a barren plot in the Gimblett Gravels
• Founders included Robert and Robyn Wilson, who opened the Bleeding Heart wine bar in London in December 1983
• February 2014: Charles Banks and Terroir Selections signed a deal to take a controlling share; the price was not disclosed

Warren Gibson has led Trinity Hill's winemaking and vineyard teams since 1997 and is Chief Winemaker. In 2024 he was a winemaker with both Bilancia and Trinity Hill. The team also includes General Manager Sarah Watson, Oliver Kettle as Director, Sales and Marketing, Operations Winemaker Simon Fell, Assistant Winemaker Anna Young, Winery Operations Manager Sebastian Hanse and Export Manager Rachael Thomson. John Hancock, a winemaker and an Australian by birth, was at Trinity Hill in 2010. That year Tim Atkin MW, writing in Decanter, called Trinity Hill's Homage one of the best Syrahs in the country.

• Warren Gibson: has led the winemaking and vineyard teams since 1997; Chief Winemaker
• Sarah Watson: General Manager (October 2026)
• Simon Fell: Operations Winemaker; Anna Young: Assistant Winemaker; Sebastian Hanse: Winery Operations Manager (October 2026)
• Oliver Kettle: Director, Sales and Marketing; Rachael Thomson: Export Manager (October 2026)
• John Hancock, a winemaker and an Australian by birth, was at Trinity Hill in 2010

Trinity Hill's three estate vineyards all lie within the Gimblett Gravels of Hawke's Bay. Until 1867 the district was the Omahu channel of the Ngaruroro river; a flood that year moved the channel north to the other side of Roy's Hill, leaving a plain of river gravel that can be more than 30m deep. In 2001 growers formed the Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association and trademarked the district, and wines bearing the Gimblett Gravels name must have 95% of their fruit from it. The 125 Gimblett vineyard, known as the Tin Shed, is a 10-hectare site of stony soil on Gimblett Road; most of it is Chardonnay, alongside Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Merlot, Marsanne and Cabernet Sauvignon. Gimblett Stones, behind Roy's Hill, is exceptionally warm and sheltered and grows Malbec, Tannat, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon. Its Prison Block is a three-quarter-hectare section, originally earmarked for the Hawke's Bay Regional Correctional Facility, planted to Clone 337 Cabernet Sauvignon. Gimblett Estate is an 18-hectare block off Gimblett Road, close to 125 Gimblett. It is particularly stony and home to 95% of Trinity Hill's Syrah, as well as Tempranillo, Touriga Francesca, Viognier, Montepulciano, Cabernet Sauvignon and Touriga Nacional, and to some of the estate's oldest vines. Thomson's Block, an elevated, north-facing hillside vineyard on Roys Hill behind the winery, is principally sandstone over limestone and was planted to Syrah in 2007. Outside the Gimblett Gravels, Trinity Hill works with contract growers at sites within Hawke's Bay and throughout New Zealand.

• 125 Gimblett ('Tin Shed'): 10 hectares on Gimblett Road, mostly Chardonnay; home of the Single Vineyard 125 Gimblett Chardonnay and a predominant element of the Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay
• Gimblett Stones: behind Roy's Hill; Malbec, Tannat, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Tempranillo and the Prison Block's Clone 337 Cabernet Sauvignon
• Gimblett Estate: 18 hectares off Gimblett Road; 95% of the estate's Syrah and some of its oldest vines
• Thomson's Block: elevated, north-facing hillside on Roys Hill behind the winery; sandstone over limestone; planted to Syrah in 2007
• Contract growers outside the Gimblett Gravels, within Hawke's Bay and throughout New Zealand

New Zealand architect Richard Priest designed the farm-structure inspired winery, whose first stage was ready in time for the 1997 harvest. The building also houses the Cellar Door, with views of the white barrel room, at 2396 State Highway 50 (Roy's Hill Road), Hastings. Trinity Hill is certified by Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.

• Winery designed by Richard Priest; first stage ready for the 1997 harvest
• Cellar Door at 2396 State Highway 50 (Roy's Hill Road), Hastings
• Certified by Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand

The current lineup includes Hawke's Bay wines (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Rosé, Merlot, Syrah and The Trinity), the Gimblett Gravels Range, the Single Vineyard Range and Homage. The Trinity 2021 is predominantly Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with smaller amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Gimblett Gravels wines include a Chardonnay, a Marsanne Roussanne, a Syrah, a Tempranillo, The Gimblett and Nacional, a Vintage Port-style wine made from Touriga Nacional. The Gimblett 2022 is 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Tempranillo, all from Gimblett Stones. The Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2024 comes from three vineyards on the Gimblett Gravels and was matured in 5,400-litre French oak ovals for 18 to 20 months. Single Vineyard wines include the 125 Gimblett Chardonnay (the 2024 is the sixth single vineyard release), the Prison Block Cabernet Sauvignon, the Gimblett Estate Syrah and the Thomson's Block Syrah. For Homage 2021, hand-harvested Syrah was de-stemmed and fermented in small open-top fermenters with a high proportion of whole berries and 30% whole cluster; 75% was matured in 228-litre French oak barriques (54% new) for 18 to 21 months and 25% in seasoned 5,400-litre French oak ovals. In 2019 the Homage parcels from the Gimblett Stones and Roys Hill vineyards were fermented with 100% whole bunches, the Roys Hill parcel also with Viognier skins. The range also includes a 12 Year Old Tawny Port Style Wine, an NV Touriga and the Lost Garden 0% Alcohol Rosé.

• Hawke's Bay wines: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Rosé, Merlot, Syrah and The Trinity (2021: predominantly Merlot and Cabernet Franc)
• Gimblett Gravels wines: Chardonnay, Marsanne Roussanne, Syrah, Tempranillo, Nacional and The Gimblett (2022: 80% Cabernet Franc, 20% Tempranillo)
• Single Vineyard wines: 125 Gimblett Chardonnay, Prison Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Gimblett Estate Syrah and Thomson's Block Syrah
• Homage Syrah 2021: 30% whole cluster; 75% in barriques (54% new) for 18 to 21 months, 25% in seasoned ovals

Trinity Hill describes a philosophy of 'Quality rather than Quantity', with controlled yields. The estate's own account is that it crafts 'especially food friendly wines' from the classic varieties Hawke's Bay has become internationally recognised for (Syrah, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon), along with varieties it calls rarely, if at all, planted in New Zealand, such as Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Tempranillo, Touriga Nacional and Touriga Francesa, made using traditional techniques that sometimes include foot stomping, or pigeage. Quoted in a 2010 Decanter feature on New Zealand Syrah, John Hancock said: 'We don't want those warm, juicy flavours that you see coming out of warmer areas.' In 2024 Warren Gibson called the district's Chardonnays its dark horse: 'They're not flamboyant or fruit-forward but far more Burgundian, textural and very interesting.'

• Stated philosophy: 'Quality rather than Quantity', with controlled yields
• Single Vineyard Gimblett Estate Syrah 2021: Bailey's clone Syrah, 20% whole clusters, plunged by traditional pigéage, 20 days on skins, then barriques (50% new) and seasoned ovals
• Single Vineyard 125 Gimblett Chardonnay 2024: 100% indigenous yeasts in 228-litre and 500-litre French oak (54% new), 12 months in barrel and a further 5 months in tank on lees

Primary sources (producer's own site): https://trinityhill.com/history/, https://trinityhill.com/history/vineyards/, https://trinityhill.com/history/team/, https://trinityhill.com/history/winemaking/, https://trinityhill.com/sustainability/, https://trinityhill.com/wines/, https://trinityhill.com/news/2025-syrah-winery-of-the-year/, https://trinityhill.com/news/the-top-wineries-in-hawkes-bay-trinity-hill/, and the winery's online store product data (Commerce7), https://api.commerce7.com/v1/product-for-web?cartId=&limit=100. Secondary sources: Decanter (Emma Jenkins MW, last updated 25 November 2024), https://www.decanter.com/premium/gimblett-gravels-from-wasteland-to-celebrated-wine-region-543220/; Decanter (12 February 2014), https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/former-screaming-eagle-co-owner-to-take-control-of-new-zealand-s-trinity-hill-29913/; Wine Spectator (MaryAnn Worobiec, 13 February 2014), https://www.winespectator.com/articles/charles-banks-group-invests-in-new-zealand-winery-49609; Decanter (Tim Atkin MW, 2 August 2010), https://www.decanter.com/features/tim-atkin-mw-on-new-zealand-syrah-246293/; Harpers Wine & Spirit (23 July 2008), https://harpers.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/2114/The_Interview_-_Robyn_and_Robert_Wilson,_Owners,_Bleeding_Heart_Restaurants,_London.html. Last verified 2026-10-21. Where the producer's site and a secondary source disagree, the producer's site governs.