Mother’s Day in Martinborough at Tirohana Estate – Sunday May 10th
Spoil the special lady in your life with High Tea or Lunch or Dinner at Tirohana Estate.
With views across the vines to the hills beyond, evocative music, wines created from the very vines you can see, cozy fire roaring (if the weather turns cold) and a warm welcome from the Tirohana team, you can be assured of a memorable visit.
If you can’t make it in person, perhaps you would like to send a bottle (or more) of wine or a gift voucher (available in any denomination and redeemable against wine, food, accommodation and Emporium gifts).
Please call the team for further information or to book a table or order a voucher or wine 06 306 9933
Mid-Winter Christmas Event in 2026 at Tirohana Estate (Lunch/Dinner)
We are pleased to announce that our iconic Mid-Winter Christmas Event (Lunch/Dinner) will be returning to Tirohana Estate for 2026 in June & July (weekend of 26th-28th June and the weekend of 24th-26th July). For more information or to make a booking, please contact the Tirohana team!
The restaurant will be transformed into a magical Christmas winter wonderland, with twinkling fairy lights, Christmas trees, evocative music, mulled wine, the warmth of the open roaring fire and potbelly stove.
2026 Harvest at Tirohana Estate
The 2026 Harvest Season has recently concluded in early April at Tirohana Estate in Martinborough
It’s always an exciting time of year, seeing the fruits of our hard work paying off, as well as the miracles of Mother Nature. It’s incredible witnessing the vineyard transform throughout the year, and amazing to think that a few months ago, the leaves were only just beginning to appear, and before we knew it, we were already picking.
Thanks to all involved for getting up so early and picking the grapes by hand. Our vines, planted decades ago, produce a new ‘story’ of each year with every harvest, unique to that year’s vintage.
The grapes looked lovely and we can’t wait for the next chapter of this year’s vintage – and of course finally tasting the finished result from the 2026 vintage!
New Wine release – ‘Pinot Noir LEGEND 2024 Special Reserve’
Many will know and remember our late founder, inspiration and guiding light, Ray, who sadly unexpectedly passed away a year ago.
Ray was passionate about wine and the natural world and so pivotal in creating Tirohana’s philosophy of producing boutique, handmade premium wines. He could often be seen on the tractor, or tending to the vines – and loved to interact and have a chat with visitors to Tirohana, be they repeat clients or first-time visitors.
So in honour and celebration of Ray – and in the spirit of honouring all ‘Legends’ everywhere – we are very proud and delighted to introduce an heirloom wine, our Pinot Noir LEGEND 2024 Special Reserve. Released almost two years after its own harvest this is a ‘one-off’ and a very limited edition wine (only two barrels were produced) available in hand-numbered labelled bottles.
Matured for over 18 months in the finest of French oak barriques with dark garnet; spicy oak. Ripe plum, berry with huge depth offering dark chocolate and cherry liqueur on the palate. Elegant, multi dimensional texture, full-bodied and a finish of endless length. This truly special wine is now available in the Cellar Door, restaurant and will be online through our website store (but is in limited quantity).
LATEST WINE RELEASE NOW AVAILABLE
We are excited to introduce our newest vintages to the ‘family’ of Tirohana’s boutique wines. Our Sauvignon Blanc 2025 is now available and is a classic premium Sav Blanc, and the last to be produced from our oldest home block Sauvignon vines (which were planted in the early 1990s). We will be replanting these vines so this is the final chance to enjoy this Sauvignon from our heritage vines before it’s too late! Available in our Cellar Door
and restaurant.
We also recently welcomed our Tirohana Estate Rose 2025 which we have named ‘Enchanted’. Produced from our Pinot Noir vines (the ones you see outside the restaurant), this Rose is perfectly drinkable now (or any moment for that matter! 
).
And for our regular clients who may not have yet tried it (as well as first-time visitors) we would recommend our Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc Dessert wine from 2025, a lovely ‘sticky’ without being ‘too sticky’ and which will turn to Golden Nectar.
Our other recent arrival, the Pinot Noir ‘Eternity’ 2024, is a classic boutique Martinborough Burgundy style Pinot Noir, with multiple layers and complexity, having been oaked for 12 months in the barrel, produced from our heritage Pinot Noir vines.
Our Cellar Door is open 7 days per week where you can try a tasting ‘flight’ of our wines and purchase wines to take away exclusively directly from the Cellar Door in Martinborough.
Pinot Noir ‘Eternity’ 2024
We are very excited about our latest wine release from our 2024 vintage (and know Ray would have loved this variety)
Our 2024 Pinot Noir ‘Eternity’ is a rich and full-bodied Pinot Noir from Tirohana’s oldest heritage wines and has been aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. This is in many ways the ‘descendent’ (and very reminiscent) of Tirohana’s Gold Medal winning and Championship of New Zealand winning Pinot Noir (at the Romeo Bragato awards) from 2006, coming from the same vines and sharing a similar profile, properties and characteristics.
It has a stunning colour reflecting its depth and multilayers and while already perfectly enjoyable for drinking now, will only continue to reach even new levels in the passage of time so is great to either enjoy today, or to put away and cellar for a future occasion over the years.
We have a limited number of bottles available of this classic Burgundy Martinborough Pinot, now available for tasting and sales through the Cellar Door and restaurant and also available via the Online Store.
What’s Cooking in the Tirohana Estate Kitchen?
Our chef, Jagath has been hard at work under the Executive Chef, Saranne cooking up favourite iconic dishes but there are plenty of sumptuous new options and as well as our Dinner (3 courses for $69pp along with Petit Four and Amuse Bouche), our Lunch menu has a choice of one-course main, or a two-course or three-course special so you can mix and match starter, main and dessert – or have all three during lunch!
As always, the menu caters for plant-based, gluten free, dairy free and other dietary requirements – and with advance notice, the team can cater for any other allergy or intolerance.
We very much look forward to welcoming you to Tirohana Estate as the seasons change and you can be assured of a warm welcome at any time of the year.
To discuss matters or for further information please contact Toby on 06 306 9933 or email
IN LOVING MEMORY:
Raymond Thompson, MNZM
Beloved, respected and cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, confidante, mentor, motivator, inspiration and guiding light, Ray passed away suddenly but peacefully in his sleep in Australia on January 15th, 2025.
Ray had great respect and esteem for his friends and colleagues in the Martinborough community and the New Zealand wine industry (as well as the music, film & television entertainment industries). He will be familiar to many who have dined and visited Tirohana over the years (and always enjoyed meeting first-time visitors and having a chat with regulars). He also had an appreciation and love for the many fans around the world who were touched by his creative endeavours.
A passionate wine enthusiast and champion of the natural world, Ray was pivotal in establishing Tirohana Estate and its philosophy of boutique, handmade wines, as well as Tirohana’s dining and hospitality (the estate has received many awards for its wine and restaurant over the years).
A force of nature and larger than life, Ray’s passing is a catastrophic loss to his family and they respectfully ask for ongoing privacy during this very difficult time.
A private family service has been held but it would mean a great deal if in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the non-profitable charity founded by Ray in New Zealand, the Cloud 9 Children’s Foundation ( https://withyoueverystepoftheway.com ) which supports and assists children and teenagers (and their families) touched by Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Ray’s legacy lives on in us all and his music, works and projects will live on. Ray’s beloved Tirohana Estate will continue, as will Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment.
‘You cannot ignore the whisper of mortality that inhabits every fading sunset’.
Keep the Dream Alive.
For more information – https://www.entercloud9.com/cloud-9-company/people/
EMPORIUM SHOPPING
Next time you visit Tirohana, don’t forget to check out the Emporium which offers a range of artisan homemade jams, chutneys, relishes and wine jellies along with other goodies. There is so much to choose from and more coming in every week.
Our Emporium shop is open every day and has a range of sumptuous estate produced chutneys and jellies including Strawberry, Raspberry and Mixed Berry Jams, Pinot Noir Wine Jelly, Balsamic Mushrooms and more, as well as lots of gifts and goodies to take away (there’s some lovely chocolate and fudge).
TRIPADVISOR TRAVELLERS’ CHOICE AWARD 2025
We are very proud and a massive thank you to all our clients and friends of Tirohana for your support in enabling Tirohana to be acknowledged with the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards. This is quite an accolade, given that it officially recognizes Tirohana to be in the top 10% of restaurants worldwide. So all who have supported Tirohana have also helped us achieve this.
We look forward to welcoming you next time you are in the area.
TIROHANA COLONIAL HOUSE
The vinestay is proving to remain very popular and our accommodation and dining packages will remain available throughout the spring and summer, which represents tremendous value with all that is included.
Throughout autumn and winter, many clients enjoyed a 1 or 2 night stay but with the holidays and spring and summer season, we will be introducing the option for extended stays for up to 7 nights.
If you are planning a Girl’s Night In (or a group of friends or family) to celebrate something extra special, why not consider our Girl’s Night In – Spring Into Autumn Celebration package?
Based upon a minimum of 6 guests up to a maximum of 16, for a cost of $195 per person, this includes 1 Night Accommodation, a bottle of Tirohana’s delicious Blush Pinot Noir (or bubbles equivalent), Dinner, and Wine Tasting.
If you wanted to savour extra time on this Spring and Summer break away, then for a cost of $295 per person, this bargain break can be extended for an extra night, with a bonus addition of our traditional Tirohana High Tea on either the day of arrival or the day of departure.
To discuss matters or for further information please contact Toby on 06 306 9933 or email
COMPLIMENTARY SHUTTLE SERVICE ALWAYS POPULAR
Don’t forget that if you are dining at Tirohana for dinner and are staying within Martinborough village you may utilise our complimentary shuttle service.
This service has been available for many years at Tirohana Estate and continues to be an extremely popular service.
Picking you up from your door and transporting you to Tirohana and home again in comfort. No need to use Google maps or find your way home in the dark.
To book your table (and courtesy shuttle if staying in Martinborough village) please email or book a table or call 06 306 993
GIFT VOUCHERS
If you are looking for a special gift for friends or family then a Tirohana gift voucher can be redeemed against a wide range of choices available at Tirohana Estate including:
- Accommodation at Tirohana Colonial House
- Lunches
- Dinners
- Tirohana High Tea
- Award-winning boutique wines
- Items and gifts in our Emporium gift shop
These vouchers can be purchased at the Tirohana Estate online store and emailed instantly, for you to print or forward to the lucky recipient, providing an opportunity to give a personal message with no postal or delivery delays.
All vouchers are valid for redemption for 12 months. Go on, spoil those special people with a festive gift from Tirohana Estate.
Our Gift Vouchers can be given a personal special message to give for the recipient.
TIROHANA HIGH TEA
We are excited to announce Tirohana Estate’s High Tea, which will be available between 11am and 4:30pm daily (reservations recommended). This mouth-watering treat is almost like a meal in itself, and can serve 2 people or more with extra tiers added.
But there is a light bite option for 2 people to share in a very cost-effective way, around $12.50 per person (compared to the normal $25 per person) – both prices excluding beverages.
The High Tea includes both sweet and savoury. Yes, there will be cream and preserves, along with butter for your scones! But also, other sweet treats, to satisfy even the most demanding sweet tooth. And savouries such as Cheese Tarts, Smoked Salmon Choux Pastry, and Crostini of the day.
To indulge and spoil yourself further, you might wish to replace your favourite Tea with a glass of Champagne or Bucks Fizz (Mimosa), let alone a glass of your favourite Tirohana Estate wine.
If you’re feeling extra peckish, you’re also able to order a Starter or Dessert from our Luncheon menu.
For further information or bookings, contact us via:
Phone: 06 306 9933
Email: makeabooking@tirohanaestate.com
General Enquiries: info@tirohanaestate.com
THE 13 ROWS CHARDONNAY REPLANT
After many years of producing fabulous wines, it was time to replace the Chardonnay that had served so well for over 30 years with new wines. Here is a commemorative video of the planting and posts being put in. The new Chardonnay vines that replace their predecessors from the 1980s will take a couple of years to grow fully and we can’t wait to enjoy the offerings from the Chardonnay block of 13 rows when the first vintage is ready!
TRADING HOURS
As always, our Restaurant and Cellar Door remains open 7 days per week from 11:00am.
High Teas are available from 11:00am – 4:30pm as are tastings in the Cellar Door.
Lunches commence at 12 noon (unless otherwise arranged earlier).
Dinner commences at 6:00pm.
As always, we are very grateful for your support and interest in Tirohana Estate.
We look forward to being of service to you very soon.
ROSE 2022 – ENCHANTED
The latest edition in the Tirohana family – Enchanted. An elegant, sophisticated Pinot Noir Rosé. A limited edition, this beautiful wine is available exclusively in 375ml bottles, which makes it perfect to enjoy on a picnic, for lunch or in the afternoon. This will be a big summer hit and won’t last long.
PINOT NOIR 2021 – ILLEENEA
In memory of someone very special indeed, Illeenea is a sophisticated and memorable wine.
Black Doris plums with the freshness of Boysenberries. Hints of toasted vanilla, dark chocolate and cigar on the nose. Silky smooth tannins, warming and full bodied. Long finish with an oaky aftertaste.
Come and taste in the Cellar Door, open daily.
TRIP ADVISOR – TRAVELERS’ CHOICE AWARD
The entire team at Tirohana Estate is delighted to have been awarded the Trip Advisor Traveler’s Choice Award for 2022.
Our guests are of the upmost importance to the team and it means a great deal for Tirohana to be the recipient of this award, particularly after the difficulties of the past couple of years during the pandemic.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our guests who choose to spend their time with us and we very much look forward to meeting new friends in the future.
TIROHANA IN THE NEWS
6th June 2020
The team are always delighted when Tirohana is mentioned in the press – the latest article on the marvellous Martinborough suggests Tirohana as best lunch option in the village.
THE GRAND MARQUEE
Featuring a starlit glow underneath the silk ceiling, clear window walls overlooking the surrounding heritage vines, a flagstone concrete floor, and a courtyard with an Italian fountain, the Grand Marquee offers an elegant atmosphere complementing the existing restaurant, terraces and Cellar Door in which to celebrate your wedding, birthday, anniversary or corporate event. The team look forward to discussing your requirements and how the Grand Marquee can enhance your Special Day or event. Please email for further details.
ONLINE STORE
You can now purchase Tirohana Estate wine, a Gift Box, wine jellies, music from the vines or a Gift Certificate (for redemption against wine, food or accommodation at Tirohana ) via the Online Store using secure method of payment via PayPal.
FAMOUS FACES AND PLACES
Tirohana Estate is the chosen venue for not only our friends and clients within New Zealand but tens of thousands visit the Estate each and every year from all over the world and all walks of life.
It is forever a source of delight to be of service to all who walk up the driveway and through our doors for either wine tasting, lunch or dinner.
And quite often we are surprised to see famous faces from interesting places. A recent visitor to the Estate was John Bell, who plays Bain in the Hobbit The Desolation of Smaug which will be coming to our screens very soon continuing the famous Hobbit saga. Less than an hour later we played host to the Ambassador of Germany, Dr Anne-Marie Schleich. Hardly surprising that Tirohana has become a renowned place to see or be seen.
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE AND CUISINE
We are very proud that TIrohana Estate has won the distinctive Wairarapa Won award for excellence in service and cuisine by MoreFM and Wairarapa Chamber of Commerce. Thanks to all our clients who voted for Tirohana.
WE HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE (on National Radio, New Zealand)
The owner of TIrohana Estate (Raymond Thompson) took time out from his busy schedule to talk about his love of the Estate, the natural world and his beloved vines during an interview broadcast nationally on Radio New Zealand http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/countrylife/audio/2501897/through-the-grape-vine
AARON JEFFREY AND ZOE NAYLOR
Tirohana Estate was pleased to host McLeod’s Daughters stars Aaron Jeffery and Zoe Naylor during a recent visit to New Zealand. The Tirohana team enjoyed meeting this lovely celebrity couple.
FACEBOOK FRIEND PAGE
Tirohana has recently started a Facebook page. So if you would like to join then please visit the page and like. We certainly like our clients and appreciate all your support so for every member, are pleased to offer a 10% discount through the cellar door! Also don’t forget to become a friend of Tirohana to keep up to date with all the latest developments.
PITA AND MEGAN ALATINI
The wonderful Megan and Pita Alatini made a visit to Tirohana Estate amidst a busy visit to New Zealand. A delightful couple and a pleasure to see them at the Vineyard.
TIROHANA PROUD TO HOST THE EX-GOVERNOR GENERAL OF NEW ZEALAND AND HIS WIFE AND DELEGATION
Tirohana was proud to host recently the recently retired Governor General of New Zealand, Rt Hon Sir Anand Satyanand, and his wife, Lady Susan Satyanand, who visited the estate for lunch with their delegation of guests.
GOOD AMBASSADORS
Tirohana Estate considers itself to be a proud ambassador for New Zealand cuisine and the finest boutique wines, and prides itself on giving overseas visitors the highest standards of service so that they can enjoy a memorable visit to not only Tirohana Estate but New Zealand overall and the beautiful Wairarapa region and Martinborough township in particular.
It is of great delight to welcome official ambassadors of various countries and recently, Tirohana Estate was pleased to host the ambassador of Chile and the ambassador of Thailand.
GOURMET SURPRISE
The Tirohana team were thrilled to host New Zealand icon Alison Holst and her delightful husband Peter recently. Alison and Peter dined in the Tirohana Cellars restaurant (which was a particular thrill for Saranne and her catering department to be of service to such an esteemed and highly respected celebrity chef within the industry).
Alison literally ‘wrote the book’ – along with her many books on cuisine, which have sold millions.
The entire Tirohana team were flattered by Alison’s tremendous feedback and hope to be of service again very soon.
BREAD AND BUTTER PUDDING EVOLVING INTO A SUPERSTAR
Another highly respected celebrity chef Annabelle White recently dined at Tirohana Estate and Saranne and her team were very honoured to provide the distinctive recipe for Tirohana’s renowned bread and butter pudding, which featured in Annabelle’s column in the Sunday Star Times and will soon feature in a prominent New Zealand woman’s magazine.
In addition, Saranne’s unique recipes have been gathering a lot of press lately, which formed the basis of Saranne’s recent interview with Newstalk ZB. If you want to see what the fuss is all about then come and sample Tirohana Cellars for yourself (and don’t forget to order the yummy bread and butter pudding for dessert, which Saranne will continue to place on the menu by popular demand!).
A MEETING WITH MURRAY MEXTED
Winners of a recent charity auction enjoyed their time at the five-star Tirohana Colonial House with rugby legend Murray Mexted.
Murray wore the Number 8 jersey for some of his time in the All Blacks, playing 34 test matches, 38 non-test matches and captaining seven of them.
Now a television and radio commentator, Murray is a well loved sporting great who devotes a lot of time to charity work.
Whilst at Tirohana Estate, Murray and his beautiful wife savoured a five-course dinner in the Tirohana Cellars restaurant and sampled many of the award-winning Tirohana wines.
To find out about future charity auctions and celebrity evenings at Tirohana, join as a Friend.
LUNCH WITH LEE DONOGHUE
Eight lucky guests received the opportunity to meet and lunch with Lee Donoghue (Hunter McKay, the wayward son of Callum McKay and Justine Jones on the iconic television program, Shortland Street).
Lee thoroughly enjoyed meeting these Friends of Tirohana and made the most of the glorious sunny weather on the terrace with his gorgeous girlfriend Courtney.
Tirohana Estate wishes to thank Lee and Courtney for generously supporting the Cloud 9 Children’s Foundation (in aid of those with Asperger’s Syndrome) at Tirohana’s Love in the Vines event in February at which time this lunch date was auctioned in aid of the charity.
CHAINE DES ROTISSEURS
Tirohana Estate is a popular venue for special events (from conferences to weddings, birthday parties to anniversary celebrations) and hosts many interesting parties. Recently the estate was proud to be the chosen venue for the prestigious Chaine Des Rotisseurs luncheon (of which our Executive Chef, Saranne, was appointed Maitre De Rotisseur) and it was a joy to share the special Tirohana experience with peers within the world of cuisine.