About Kumeu River Wines
Kumeu River is the Brajkovich family's winery on State Highway 16 at the edge of Kumeū, in Auckland's northwest. Mick and Katé Brajkovich came to New Zealand from the Croatian village of Živogošće, and in 1944 the family bought a Kumeū property with a small vineyard; the winery has used the Kumeu River name since 1986. Their grandson Michael Brajkovich, the winemaker, became New Zealand's first Master of Wine in 1989.
Chardonnay is the heart of the place. The single-vineyard bottlings, such as Maté's (named for the founder's son), Hunting Hill and Coddington, come from about 30 hectares of estate vines on clay over sandstone that are not irrigated and are picked by hand. The style leans toward lighter, flinty, age-worthy chardonnay made with native yeasts and long lees aging. You can usually also find pinot gris and pinot noir, including wine from Rays Road, the family's Hawke's Bay vineyard.
The cellar door is a tasting and sales room at a working winery, not a restaurant, so plan it as a focused stop of half an hour or so. It opens Monday to Friday 9am–4pm and Saturday 11am–4:30pm, and closes on Sundays and public holidays. Their website mentions winery tours hosted by Melba Brajkovich but gives no schedule, so call ahead if you would like one. Several neighboring wineries along the same highway serve lunch.
Lavender Hill in Riverhead is about 10 minutes' drive east. A booked morning tour there and a weekday tasting at Kumeu River make an easy half day out of Auckland's northwest.
What to do
- Taste single-vineyard chardonnays such as Maté's, Hunting Hill and Coddington
- Compare Kumeū chardonnay with pinot noir and pinot gris from the same family
- Buy bottles, including small releases, at the cellar door
- Ask ahead about a winery tour with the Brajkovich family
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Cellar door open year-round, Monday to Saturday; closed Sundays and public holidays
- Hours
- 2026: Mon–Fri 9am–4pm, Sat 11am–4:30pm; closed Sundays and public holidays
Good to know
- Age
- 21 or older to taste or drink alcohol
- Reservations
- Walk-in
Tips for your visit
- The cellar door is closed on Sundays and public holidays, so plan a weekday or Saturday visit.
- It has closed on occasional Saturdays for private member tastings; call before a Saturday trip.
- There is no food on site; pair it with lunch at one of the nearby State Highway 16 wineries.
- If you are visiting several wineries along the highway, plan a designated driver.
Pair it with a lavender farm
Lavender Hill · about 10 minutes away
Lavender Hill is about 10 minutes east in Riverhead, so a booked farm tour there pairs easily with a tasting here on the same morning or afternoon.
Getting there
Questions
Is Kumeu River open on Sundays?
No. The cellar door is open Monday to Saturday and closed on Sundays and public holidays.
What is Kumeu River known for?
Chardonnay, especially single-vineyard wines such as Maté's, Hunting Hill and Coddington grown around Kumeū.
Is there food at the cellar door?
No restaurant is listed; it is a tasting and wine sales room.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of the Auckland Countryside, New Zealand
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
