144 Islands Wines was born from a deep connection to land, place, and the wild beauty of New Zealand’s far north.

For generations, my family has farmed these rolling hills outside Kerikeri, overlooking the Bay of Islands — a landscape shaped by ancient volcanic soils, coastal winds, dense native bush, and the ever-changing light of the Pacific.

In 2014, after beginning my career in viticulture, I returned home with a growing belief that with incredible volcanic soils and a uniquely challenging maritime climate, this remarkable corner of New Zealand had the potential to produce wines of genuine distinction. Around that same time, my family acquired a neighbouring block of land adjoining our farm. Hidden within a stand of native forest, we discovered something unexpected: abandoned grapevines that had grown wild for decades, climbing high into towering tōtara trees, still producing vibrant, intensely flavoured fruit.

That discovery became the beginning of 144 Islands Wines.

What started as a small experimental planting soon evolved into a long-term pursuit to understand this unique site and the varieties best suited to it. Over the years, the vineyard has expanded gradually and intentionally — each block planted with a focus on site expression, balance, and quality above all else.

Today, our Home Block vineyard remains a deeply personal project: family-owned, organically minded, and shaped by hands-on viticulture from vine to bottle. Every season continues to teach us more about this extraordinary place and the character it can impart to wine.

The wines we produce are a reflection of the Bay of Islands itself — coastal, vibrant, textured, and unmistakably of the far north. They are crafted not simply to taste good, but to convey a sense of place, season, and story.

This is a small vineyard at the edge of the Pacific, creating wines that could come from nowhere else in the world.