Thomas Estate Vineyard & Winery
Thomas Estate: Our Vineyard
Purchased in 2009 with established vines, our special piece of land encompasses 15 acres under vine. We meticulously tend to four distinct grape varietals — Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Flora, and Syrah.
As the highest vineyard on Waiheke Island, sitting well above the Onetangi Valley, our unique elevation gives us distinct and unique growing conditions. While we enjoy the same long sunshine hours that make Waiheke wines famous, our vineyard can stay 1–2°C cooler than the valley floor. The slightly cooler nights and ocean breezes allow our grapes to undergo a slow, even ripening process, locking in fresh acidity, structure, and intense flavour concentration and phenolic ripeness, while minimising disease pressure.
What Sets Our Vineyard Apart
Our seasonal rhythm takes us from precise hand-pruning in July, through spring budburst, and into the sun-drenched ripening months before the excitement of harvest each February, March and April.
Our north-facing slopes maximise the daily sun, while the rich clay soils act like a natural sponge, holding onto vital water during dry summers to help the vines thrive. This specific combination of high elevation, ocean airflow, and clay soil allows us to create balanced, elegant wines with a true sense of place.
Whether you are discovering us for the first time or returning for another vintage, every bottle reflects the unique character of our island vineyard.
Waiheke Wine, Crafted On-Site
Completed in 2008, our custom-built facility makes us one of the few places on the island with a fully functioning, on-site winery.
What does that mean for your glass? Everything happens right here under our roof—from processing the grapes immediately after harvest, through fermentation and barrel aging, all the way to the final bottling. Nothing leaves our winery until it is perfectly ready to be enjoyed.
Built over two distinct levels, our gravity-fed winery design allows us to let nature do the heavy lifting. Instead of aggressively pumping our wines, gravity gently moves the juice, perfectly preserving the delicate aromas, textures, and vibrant flavours that define premium Waiheke wines.
Inside Our On-Site Waiheke Winery
Triple-Sorted for Quality
Our fruit is meticulously sorted three times—once in the vineyard and twice more on our sorting table. Think of it like preparing a gourmet meal; we treat our harvest like premium ingredients, hand-removing anything that isn't absolutely perfect. This ensures that only pristine, flawless grapes make it into the fermenter, protecting the pure, clean fruit flavours of our estate-grown harvest.
Fermentation Techniques
Once sorted, the grapes begin the fermentation process, which varies depending on the style. For our Syrahs and Waiheke Blends, we use open-top fermenters and traditional hand punch-downs—we even foot-stomp at times, as a gentler way of extracting colour and flavour without pulling out harsh tannins. These reds undergo a dedicated period of skin contact during fermentation to extract deep colour, rich flavours, and supple tannins, all before the fruit is gently pressed.
While some aromatics are kept in stainless steel to lock in crispness, our Chardonnay and Pinot Gris are pressed and moved straight into oak barrels to undergo fermentation, adding rich texture, complexity, and structure. Our Sparkling Cuvée Rosé is crafted in specialised Charmat pressure tanks to create delicate, refreshing bubbles.
Charmat Tanks
Our Charmat tanks play an important role in producing Batch Winery’s sparkling wines. Using the traditional Charmat method, secondary fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks rather than in individual bottles, allowing us to preserve freshness, purity and vibrant fruit character.
This process captures the delicate aromas and lively effervescence that define our sparkling wines, creating a crisp and elegant style that reflects the unique conditions of Waiheke Island.
Estate Bottled and Labelled
Batch Winery is one of the few vineyards on the island with a fully functioning, on-site winery. Our boutique bottling line can seal approximately 1,300 bottles per hour using either cork or screwcap closures. From processing the fresh fruit straight after harvest to the final labelling, nothing leaves the property until it is perfectly aged, beautifully packaged, and ready for your table.
Our Barrel Cellar
Hidden within Batch Winery, our barrel cellar is where time and craftsmanship come together. Home to carefully selected French oak barrels, this temperature-controlled space provides the ideal environment for our wines to mature slowly and develop complexity, texture and character.
It is here that our winemaking team carefully monitors the ageing process, allowing each vintage to evolve and express the distinctive qualities of the vineyard. The gentle influence of oak enhances structure and depth while preserving the purity of the fruit, resulting in wines that truly reflect their Waiheke Island origins.
As part of Batch Winery's fully integrated winemaking operation, guests have the unique opportunity to step inside the cellar and experience this often unseen stage of production firsthand—gaining an appreciation for the patience, precision and passion that go into every bottle.