Orapiu Grove Farm Partnership

Orapiu Grove Farm Partnership

Orapiu Grove is a farm partnership established in the early 1990’s on Waiheke Island.  The group of eight people who formed the partnership and bought the land were attracted by the large pockets of regenerating native bush on the 120 acre property. They have since established organic horticulture and a winery on the land while also protecting and enhancing significant tracts of native bush.

The property has been developed significantly over the past 14 years. Access roads have been established, five dwellings have been added to the original one, 600 olive trees have been planted for oil production, 1.5 hectares have been planted in grapes, a lavender field established for pure essential oils and orchards developed.

Prometheus has provided development finance for this organic farm partnership on several occasions. The most recent loan was to help develop their own on-farm boutique organic winery. Their Awaroa labelled wines have won several awards over recent years. However, there is no point looking in retail outlets for their label, to date all their wine has been sold through direct sales and is likely to continue to be sold in this way.

We approved a further development loan in early 2006 to finance a purpose-built barrel room. Their Awaroa Vineyard is going from success to success, and despite only being a relatively small operation was invited to participate in the Waiheke Island Wine Festival in early February this year. We wish them continuing success in their ongoing development

For information about Winery opening hours and to order wines please contact manager Steve Poletti on 09 372 6779 or email: s.poletti@auckland.ac.nz