Hospitality | Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant
Wonderland on Waiheke There’s a lot to be said about a vineyard and restaurant that produces good wine and good food. But then what’s a vineyard and restaurant without good people?
While good food and wine has ensured Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant a strong footing, it’s the good people which have made it a success. Accountants by trade, Robyn and Nicholas Jones longed for something different. They had
often talked about doing something different and one day Nick suggested setting up a vineyard. Having grown up on a lifestyle block, the thought of developing a property appealed to Robyn and she decided to look at some properties, just for interest’s sake. One day, she drove past a stunning property for sale in Church Bay Road, Waiheke Island. That night the couple sat down and talked seriously about a complete change of lifestyle — what that would involve, and as is so often necessary for change, both needed to agree to run with it.
Winning combination But they did, and in hindsight, one accounting mind and one creative mind was a winning combination for the huge adventure that was about to unfold. In 1992 at just 27 and 28, they purchased the lifestyle block on Waiheke Island — land bare but for hope and promise. A somewhat predictable plan, they aspired to set up a vineyard, live off the land, quaff the fruit of the vines and live happily ever after. They began by visiting the property at weekends, and planting, planting, planting was the never-ending story — planting shelterbelts, planting trees, planting vines. Most died, or were eaten by the neighbours’ cattle, which would periodically escape from their confinements and feast on all the hard work until they were caught, usually the following
weekend. One of the first skills Robyn and Nicholas developed was how to recognise both a satisfied and guilty look crossing a cow’s face. Anger management also proved useful. Robyn’s mother Ann already lived on Waiheke and helped to contribute to the large number of eccentrics the island was renowned for. She used to arrive on the property in her huge old Mercedes-Benz, spread out the picnic blanket and open her boot laden with pies, cakes and tarts she had been baking all week; she was a fantastic cook. Unfortunately, Ann suffered a fatal stroke while planting, planting, planting — digging a particularly difficult piece of clay, during the week, when Robyn and Nicholas were at work. Kiwis seem to thrive on the notion that if you can use one building three ways, all the better and sometime later, a barn/house/winery was completed, built out of mud bricks. Robyn loved the look and feel and Nicholas agreed solely on the principle that mud brick buildings do not vary their internal temperature by more than one degree in any 24-hour period perfect conditions for aging and storing wine. Robyn sighed with relief — she just liked the look and feel. The first vintage was expected in 1996 — three years later. Time passed — Robyn had a baby girl, followed by a baby boy and Nicholas continued to commute to his job in Auckland, while Robyn managed development.
Where Transformations Take Place
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