Robyn and Nicholas Jones are the owners and operators of Mudbrick, a vineyard and restaurant located on Waiheke Island in New Zealand. They have been in business for over 27 years, having started the venture in 1992 with the goal of establishing a vineyard and living off the land. Despite having no previous experience in winemaking or hospitality, the couple has successfully grown their business with a customer-focused approach. They began planting vines on the property in 1992, and over the past 29 years, they have expanded to four different vineyard sites on Waiheke Island. These sites, the Mudbrick Vineyard, Hawke’s Crest, Shepherds Point, and Sea View Road, are home to a variety of red and white grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Syrah. In addition to these, they also grow Cabernet franc, Malbec, Pinot Gris, Viognier, Albariño, and Petit Verdot. In order to produce a diverse range of wines, they also source grapes from other regions in New Zealand, such as Marlborough and Central Otago.
At Mudbrick, the Joneses prioritize traditional winemaking techniques in order to produce high-quality wines with unique flavors and aromas. This includes handpicking their grapes, which they believe allows them to select only the ripest and most flavorful fruit. They also use hand plunging, a method in which they manually mix the fermenting wines and break up the grape skins to extract flavor and color, rather than using mechanical pumps. Finally, they use gentle basket pressing, which helps to minimize the amount of sediment and tannins in the wine. They believe that these methods, while more labor-intensive, result in wines with greater depth and character. In addition to their traditional techniques, they also utilize modern technology, such as temperature-controlled fermentation tanks, to ensure consistency and quality in their wines.
In addition to their winery, the Joneses also operate a restaurant on the Mudbrick property, offering a menu featuring locally-sourced ingredients and dishes paired with their wines. They strive to create a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere for their guests and have received praise for the high quality of both their food and their wines. Over the years, Mudbrick has become a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, and the Joneses are proud of the reputation they have built for their vineyard and restaurant. As they approach retirement age, they reflect on the past 27 years of running the restaurant and 29 years of planting and nurturing their vines. Despite the challenges they have faced, such as the loss of Robyn’s mother, Ann, who was a key figure in the early days of Mudbrick and a source of support and inspiration, they remain passionate about their work and are grateful for the opportunity to share their love of fine wine and food with others. They hope that their guests will also come to appreciate the dedication and care that goes into every bottle of wine and every dish served at Mudbrick.
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Sylvia Wilson
a week agoBeautiful surroundings. The food was good, but my lamb was not hot. Must have been sitting under the lights too long. The service was poor. We had to ask for our drinks as they didn't arrive. Too long between courses. Twenty-five minutes. When the mains arrived, there were no fries. We had to ask again, and they arrived after we had eaten our mains. We had planned to have dessert but didn't bother. This day out was a birthday gift from my son. Unlikely to return.
Kit Johnstone
a month agoAlways a pleasure to dine here. The menu is superb, the staff are skilled and personable. The fireplace enhances the ambiance and the view is stunning.
Mellusita Blanco
6 months agoWe only visited the installations for a wine tour. Very well maintained and beautiful property. The views are incredible and very peaceful place. The red wine was pretty good.
Carmen K
2 years agoBeautiful place! We had a brunch here, the food was a bit on the higher end but delicious. Paired with the gorgeous view and beautiful grounds was definitely an experience. The service was also very good. The wines were lovely, wide range of selection for all different taste palates. We did the wine tasting as well, this was great as they explain everything to you and then allow you to take it out and discover and enjoy the scenery as you taste, you can take you time and go back whenever you’re ready for the next one! Would recommended a visit!
Tamami Naito-Badessa
a year agoWas here on our holiday during last Xmas. We saw a YouTube video of 2 guys from the US doing a feature on Waiheke Island and visiting this winery so we decided to give it a try on our outing to Waiheke. The Hop-On-Hop-Off bus took us directly to the winery which was really convenient. We expected to be a tourist trap for that reason since it was on the bus route but the wine and food blew us away! This place was legit! We enjoyed our lunch at the restaurant so much, we decided to return the next day for dinner which happened to be X'mas Eve and setting our expectation low since it was so late in making a booking. However the staff was so accommodating and squeezed us in! They also have a casual outdoor eatery (Bistro) aside from the restaurant which we would give it a try if we ever return. It was a stunning winery with a panoramic view of the gulf. We loved the wines so much we brought back couple bottles back with us to California. Do visit here!