About Rongopai Wines
The name Rongopai means “good taste and good feeling” in the Māori language. That’s what we seek to create with every vintage. Good taste, good feeling and an authentic reflection of the vibrant and colourful landscapes of New Zealand in which we plant our vines.
The uncurling Koru design proudly displayed on the Rongopai label is a symbol of creation and growth, perpetually growing yet always curving back towards its source. Rongopai Wines proudly look both forwards and back; to the next vintage of sustainably produced, fresh, and vibrant New Zealand wines, and to the expertise gained over a 90-year history as one of New Zealand’s oldest wine brands.
Our story
The roots of the Rongopai wine story are intertwined with the history of the New Zealand wine industry. It is a story of the winemaker’s art and pioneering science.
Rongopai started in 1932 in the picturesque town of Te Kauwhata, at the home of New Zealand’s first viticultural research station. Prior to being repurposed as the Rongopai Winery, it was here that the secrets of New Zealand soil were unlocked, and grape varietals that would thrive in the local climate were established
Since then, Rongopais team of artful winemakers have sought to create “good taste and good feeling”, with the pioneering spirit of the original New Zealand wine research station infused into their work. And while the winery operations have since moved elsewhere, the results speak for themselves – the Rongopai name remains one of the most cherished and celebrated in New Zealand wine.
Sustainability
As the first wine industry to establish a national sustainability programme, New Zealand has always led the way on giving back to the ground we grow on. At Rongopai, it’s in our very essence. We look back to the way nature once was and forward to the way it can be for future generations. All our vineyards follow established sustainable practices and seek out innovative new ones. Because what’s good for the earth is good for our wine
– and good for tomorrow.
