Description:

Māori natural wine presents a unique opportunity in cultural heritage, sustainable practices, and global wine trends. Natural wine, identified by minimal intervention in both vineyard and winery, is gaining popularity worldwide due to its authenticity and environmental benefits. In Aotearoa, incorporating Māori cultural values into winemaking creates a compelling story that resonates with consumers looking for deeper connections to the land and its traditions.
The approach to Tawhiti Wines involved honoring traditional Māori knowledge and practices while embracing modern, sustainable viticulture. This includes aspects such as choosing vineyard sites that align with Māori and environmental sustainability principles. For example, Tawhiti wines only uses Biogro certified organic vineyards as we can guarantee the viticulturalists have traditional land use and the health of Papatūānuku as the top priority. This also includes implementing organic or biodynamic farming methods respected by Māori traditions, such as using natural fertilizers and pest-control techniques. We also employ minimal intervention practices in the winery which is important in keeping the product’s authenticity, natural fermentation with wild yeasts, minimal sulfite use, and avoiding additives.
Māori natural wine offers a distinct market position, differentiated by its cultural authenticity and sustainable practices, appealing to eco-conscious consumers seeking unique, ethical products that supports traditional land use, tikanga processes, Maramataka and toi Māori.
In a market where there is growing popularity of natural wine and indigenous cultural products in international markets, Tawhiti wines contribute to Aotearoa’s reputation as a premium wine-producing region. Beyond commercial success, Tawhiti Wines contributes positively to promoting biodiversity, soil health and sovereignty in sustainable viticulture practices. We want to safeguard and promote Māori cultural heritage, fostering pride and economic opportunities within Māori communities. Finally and most importantly, the brand aims to raise awareness about indigenous knowledge and environmental sustainability among consumers, potentially influencing broader industry practices.
Tawhiti wines represent more than just a product; it weaves the sacredness of the whenua within all processes from start to finish. It holds abundance within each bottle and the mauri of Tawhiti. We want to embrace the interconnectedness between tangata and whenua, as we aim to create greater awareness of our integral Māori beliefs.
Winemaking is not a Māori process, but our connection to the whenua enhances our process. Proud to be Māori!