In conversation with Duncan McTavish, Winemaker for Man O War

Man O War winery is located on the beautiful island of Waiheke, just south of Auckland in the Northern part of New Zealand. We've been lucky to sell their wines for many years. Their Winemaker, Duncan McTavish takes timeout to talk to us about Man O War...

What’s the best thing about making wine on Waiheke? 

Our ability to make adventurous wines in an incredibly beautiful and unique environment. It’s a small region making up less than 0.5% of New Zealand’s planted vineyard area, so it brings huge satisfaction to see our wines doing well internationally. 

And what is your biggest challenge? 

We have 60 hectares of vineyards planted across 76 separate vineyard sites. They are isolated, dry farmed, hand harvested, steep sites… an ongoing challenge but also our greatest strength.

What grape variety performs best for you? And why? 

Syrah consistently performs amazingly well, possibly because it is my favourite wine to drink….

Your beachfront tasting room and vineyards look like paradise, but a lot of work must go in to achieving this. What’s your secret? 

An incredibly dedicated and hard working team with a collective passion for sharing our wines with visitors from all over the world. Our Tasting Room & Restaurant is nestled in the breath-taking Man O’ War Bay, a scenic 90-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland. It is an absolute haven and a must-do if you are planning an Auckland itinerary.

Our customers love the Valhalla Chardonnay. What food would you pair with it? 

Grilled fish or anything cooked over charcoal, smoky characters work really well with the Valhalla

Dreadnought and Ironclad look like wines that could age well. Is this true? 

100%. We tasted through a vertical of Dreadnought Syrah back to 2007 only last week, beautifully aged across the board.