Kumeu River
Kumeu River is a New Zealand wine estate located just outside the town of Kumeu, 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) northwest of central Auckland. It is particularly known for its Burgundian-style Chardonnay, of which it makes several expressions. The wines are critical favourites, and the 2014 Maté's Vineyard Chardonnay was named one of the 50 best releases of 2015 by The Wine Advocate.
Despite being well north of New Zealand's other viticultural regions, Kumeu is kept cool by its proximity to the Tasman Sea to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east. This helps the estate develop aromatics in its early-ripening varieties such as Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. The Kumeu River portfolio also includes varietal Merlot, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris wines.
The estate was founded by the Brajkovich family in 1944, seven years after they had emigrated from Croatia. In the 1980s, it moved from growing hybrid grape varieties for basic reds and whites and fortified wines to more internationally known varietals.