Life among the vines

There is a particular quality to mornings in vineyard country. The rows run out from the house in clean lines, the light catches the canopy differently depending on the season, and the land around you is always doing something. It is a working landscape and historically, it has drawn some of the most elegant residential architecture in the world. Perhaps it is no coincidence. Winemaking and architecture are both slow crafts, ones that demand patience, precision, and a deep reading of the land they work with.

Across the world, people have long sought homes within working vineyards - in Bordeaux, in Tuscany, in the valleys of California. But New Zealand's vineyard regions are each framed by a remarkable natural setting: alpine schist and high-country light in Central Otago, rolling hill country in Martinborough, coastal hinterland in Hawke's Bay, and the dramatic backdrop of the Marlborough Sounds. Within the vineyard, life is genuinely self-contained, and beyond it, one of the world's great natural environments waits to be explored.

Cromwell, Central Otago: the distinguished home of Bannock Brae Vineyard and an exceptional lifestyle residence positioned in one of Bannockburn’s most sought-after rural settings. View the property>

Our Favourite Wine Regions

Martinborough is the Wairarapa's jewel, a village with a bustling café culture, a celebrated food and wine scene, and an international reputation for incredible Pinot Noir. The surrounding landscape is defined by rolling plains, the Aorangi ranges to the south, and one of New Zealand's only certified Dark Sky Reserves.

Opaki, Masterton: a special 'bud to bottle' boutique vineyard and winery, equipped with full event and hospitality infrastructure and an architecturally designed private home. View the property >

Hawke's Bay offers the most temperate climate in the country and a wine culture that has been maturing for over a century. The Kaweka and Ruahine ranges form a dramatic inland backdrop, while Te Mata Peak rises sharply above the plains. To the east, the Pacific coast is never far. The towns and villages between the mountains, plains, and sea are full of character and warm vibrancy.

Marlborough and Tasman together form New Zealand's most expansive wine country and some of its most precious environments. The Marlborough Sounds reach deep into ancient valleys, while Golden Bay opens to the north in extraordinary seclusion. Inland, the diversity of the Richmond Ranges and the wide Wairau Valley terrains is the reason the wines are held in high regard.

Hope, Tasman: 24 hectare of the finest grape-growing land in the area, this property offers a 270 sq m main residence, second guest house, irrigation shares and superb views to the Mt Arthur Ranges. View the property> 

Central Otago’s vineyards are among the most elevated in the world, and the alpine, high-country landscape has inspired some of the most extraordinary residential design in the country. Architects and owners alike have risen to the challenge of building within it, producing homes as impressive and distinctive as the wineries they sit among. Venture beyond the vineyard and the rewards keep coming: freshwater lakes, high-country trails, snow sports, and some of the South Island's most dramatic scenery. The region offers no shortage of places to plant yourself: Gibbston Valley, Cromwell, Alexandra, Tarras, Wanaka and beyond.

Cromwell, Central Otago: Set along one of Central Otago's busiest tourist routes between Cromwell and Wanaka, Ata Mara is a 25.13 hectare site planted with 15.98 ha of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Reisling and Gruner Veltliner. View the property>

New Zealand's wine map extends further into some equally compelling corners. Waiheke Island, just a short ferry ride from Auckland, has built a reputation for boutique wine production and is home to some superb stately vineyard residences. Northland, still emerging as a wine region, offers subtropical warmth, ancient kauri country, and a coastal character that draws those looking for something off the beaten track.

Waiheke Island: a 15 ha homestead of pasture and virgin native Kauri and Pohutakawa, the area is celebrated for its vineyards with neighbours including Passage Rock Vineyard, Poderi Crisi, and Man O’ War Bay. View the property>