Tironui Estate

Located in the heart of Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, Tironui Estate is a relatively new vineyard of five acres, established by Richard & Jennifer Brown on virgin hillside in 2002.  Specializing in Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Red Wine and a delicious Rosé wine.

The vineyard is nestled just below “Sugarloaf” in Taradale, overlooking New Zealand’s oldest winery “Mission Estate”, with views across Napier and out to Cape Kidnappers in the distance. A stylised version of the view from the winery, forms the prominent part of our distinctive label design.

All grapes are sourced exclusively from our own vineyard, where they are hand picked and aged in oak barrels. The wines go well with a wide variety of cuisine. For relatively young vines, the vintages are especially pleasing.

We hope you enjoy both this site and our wines.  Have a look at our social media sites and we are always pleased to receive any feedback that you may have.

red wine

Our Philosophy

We have always enjoyed drinking wine and when the opportunity arose that enabled us to produce our own wine, it was too good to turn down. We wanted to produce a wine that would be enjoyed and appreciated, with distinct characteristics.

There are hundreds of wines from which to choose, so as a customer “why should I select Tironui over and above anything else?”

Most importantly, you must like it and at the same time there must be perceived value (which does not simply need to be restricted as to how much it costs).

Hopefully the following reasons will also tempt you to try Tironui, if you have not already done so. 

  • With no more than 5000 bottles being produced every year, you will be one of only a comparatively few people enjoying Tironui.

  • All our grapes are from our own vineyard. We do not buy in grapes in bulk.

  • Our grapes are barreled in French Oak, which adds to the flavour.

  • Malbec is the prominent grape variety in the vast majority of our vintages. Malbec has a softer smoother finish than many red grape varieties and is still a not so common grape variety within New Zealand.

  • Reviews of our wine have been very positive – many at the five star level.

  • And of course, we like it and very much hope you will!

Tironui Estate Reviews

Tironui Merlot Malbec 2022 - 4.5 Stars

The attractive 2022 vintage (4.5*) was estate-grown and hand-picked in a Taradale hillside vineyard. Merlot-based (90 per cent), with a splash of Malbec, it was matured for a year in seasoned French oak barrels. Full-coloured, it is mouthfilling and supple, with generous, ripe, berryish, distinctly spicy flavours, a subtle oak influence, good complexity, supple tannins, and a very harmonious finish. Still youthful, it should be at its best 2025+.

Michael Cooper

Tironui Rosé 2021 - 5 Stars

Made with Malbec, Merlot and Cabernet Franc – presented in a refreshing pink and raspberry shade of red with aromas and flavours of cranberry and red apple skin then peach and cherry. Flavours of roses and stone mineral complexities along with super fine fruit tannins and acidity add mouthfeel, texture and length. Balanced and well made, a refreshingly different style of rose well suited to food or on its own drinking. Best from day of purchase and through 2024.

Cameron Douglas

Tironui Malbec/Merlot/Cabernet 2020 - 4.5 Stars

From an elevated site at Taradale, the single-vineyard 2020 vintage is a blend of Malbec (51 per cent), Merlot (42 per cent) and Cabernet Sauvignon (7 per cent). Hand-picked and matured for 20 months in seasoned French oak barrels, it is full-coloured, with a fresh, spicy bouquet. Mouthfilling and vibrantly fruity, it has berryish, plummy, spicy, slightly nutty flavours, showing very good ripeness and concentration, and a well-rounded finish. Best drinking 2023+.

 

Michael Cooper

Tironui Malbec/Merlot/Cabernet 2019 - 5 Stars

This absolute mouthquake of a blend is comprised of 78% Malbec, 14% merlot and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and I am absolutely in love with it! Scented with cedar, blueberry, black doris plum and smoky vanilla vavoom, the palate is saturated with boysenberry, licks of dark cocoa and bouquet garni herbs, a dusting of pepper accentuates tannins that grip around the gums in spectacular fashion. The label might be monochrome, but the wine inside is a peacocks tail of punchy dark fruit and spice. 2019 is the best vintage of this wine yet. Love it!

Yvonne Lorkin