Tantalus Estate, a family-owned enterprise established by the Aitken Family, is a testament to a shared vision: crafting wines that embody the essence of our unique terroir and mirror the beauty of our surroundings. Inspired by the breathtaking landscapes and rich heritage of our region.
From its inception, our founders instilled in us a commitment to excellence and a deep reverence for the land. Their vision laid the groundwork for what Tantalus represents today – a celebration of craftsmanship, tradition, and the enduring bond between people and place.
The core philosophy driving our Estate is a dedication to biodiversity that positively impacts the ecosystem as a whole. This involves meticulous resource management, including water recycling, minimisation efforts, and the promotion of beneficial species. Through rigorous assessments of the vineyards and land, underperforming vines were replaced with a focus on Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Rhône clones. Embracing a dry farming approach, we encourage the vine’s roots to delve deep, resulting in robust plants resilient to diverse conditions, showcasing an authentic representation of our terroir. Thanks to this meticulous management and a steadfast commitment to crafting wines of the highest calibre, Tantalus Estate’s limited-release wines consistently garner commendations from both wine critics and guests alike.
The award-winning designs of Cheshire Architects grace the Tantalus Restaurant, Alibi Brewer’s Lounge, and the surrounding landscaped gardens. Since its grand opening in 2016, Tantalus Estate, with its array of boutique fine wines and craft beers brewed onsite by the Alibi Brewing Co., has continually garnered recognition through numerous awards, accolades, and tourism achievements. Uncover the secrets of Tantalus Estate on beautiful Waiheke Island, and create memories destined to endure.
THE VENUE
Tantalus Estate is a destination for travellers and locals alike. Diners in the main restaurant enjoy an expansive, light-filled venue fabricated from natural materials. Visitors to the private dining room step into the olde world, surrounded by hand-painted tile walls and intricate chandeliers crafted from old vines, creating an olde world feel that’s perfect for intimate groups.
From the mezzanine balcony you can peek into the craft brewery on the floor below. Everything is designed to leave an indelible impression: delicious fresh food to match our hand-crafted wines and beers.
Set amongst the vines, our beautiful restaurant offers guests a variety of areas to dine. Relax and enjoy spacious botanical courtyards, comfortable lounge areas, a bright, expansive tasting room and an elegant restaurant and function room. Hidden from the central dining area lies an intimate private dining room and wine library.
Our menu emphasises seasonality with a commitment to highlighting the provenance of our ingredients. Each dish will surprise you with textural delights. We offer refined, tantalising dishes with bold flavours – the combination of food and wine, alongside sweeping views of the vineyard and valley create an enchanting and unforgettable setting for your event.
Our sophisticated and striking private dining room has an exclusive patio overlooking Onetangi’s green hills. It caters for up to 20 guests seated and 30 for a cocktail function. Our downstairs brewer’s lounge seats 40 guests, or up to 60 for a cocktail function.
We offer private tours and wine tastings. If you would like to arrange a time for a tour and discuss your function requirements, please contact our Events Manager at events@tantalus.co.nz.
THE ESTATE
Tantalus Estate was founded in 2013 on 8.3 hectares of established vineyard land on Waiheke Island. The estate is in the Onetangi Valley at an elevation of 12 to 61 metres above sea level. The valley is the heart of winemaking on the island.
Waiheke lies 18km east of Auckland in the Hauraki Gulf, protected from the cold and often wet west and southwesterly winds. Ridgelines to our west and southwest provide further protection. Our climate is drier and hotter than the mainland and is ideally suited to premium grape growing.
Tantalus vineyard has been extensively replanted and re-grafted with meticulous attention to site-specific clonal selection. Our vines grow in sandy soil over weathered clay and clay-based rock, with deposits of iron and manganese oxide. We have significantly upgraded the wetland and forested areas, planting thousands of natives and pulling out exotic species and weeds. We’ll continue to improve the habitat for a welcome variety of birds and insects.
THE LOCATION
Tantalus Estate is in the heart of Waiheke Island’s Onetangi Valley. The estate is one of a number of top wineries within walking distance of each other, ensuring the valley is a great destination to spend the day. Waiheke Island is internationally recognised as a premium wine growing region, and Onetangi Valley is arguably the island’s top location.
OUR LOCATION
Tantalus Estate is a premium winegrower situated in the heart of the Onetangi Valley on Waiheke Island. The estate is situated amongst other reputable wineries within walking distance making the valley a great destination to spend the day. A part of Auckland’s Gulf Islands, Waiheke Island is internationally recognised as an iconic wine growing region in New Zealand and is accredited with numerous wine awards and accolades.
LUKE PARKER
GENERAL MANAGER
Luke is a valued member of the Tantalus family, having served as an integral part of our management team for the past seven years. With a background in Business Management and International Relations, Luke brings a diverse skill set and a global perspective to his role.
Throughout his career, Luke has demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence and a passion for fostering positive work cultures. His extensive experience working internationally in countries such as Australia, Canada, the Philippines, and Nicaragua has enriched his understanding of business operations and people management.
In his role at Tantalus, Luke has overseen our HR and Operations department with skill and dedication. Known for his approachable nature and ability to inspire others, Luke plays a key role in driving the success of our business.
Please feel free to reach out to Luke at luke@tantalus.co.nz
GWILIM EVANS
SALES AND DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
Gwilim’s journey in NZ started in 2001 when he was offered to come and play rugby in Auckland for a year. The country was everything he had dreamed of and he met his wife. They went back to France together and did a lot of traveling but the more countries he saw and the more he knew they would eventually settle in NZ one day.
Gwilim worked selling Champagne in France for a few years, and when they moved back to NZ in 2014, he worked with a French wine importer. He has now been at Tantalus since 2019 and feels very privileged to be involved with such an exciting adventure. Everything is done perfectly and attention to detail is everywhere. The team is humble but full of ambitions and he looks forward to helping build our history for the years to come.”
BRIX
Brix is everyone’s four-legged friend. She’s a gentle soul who will make you smile. She weaves in and out of our days, snuggling up in the office for endless cuddles. When Brix was just seven weeks old, she joined the vineyard team for pruning 2014. She was born into a farming family in Te Puke and headed for island life during the pruning season of 2014. What a life – loads of people snipping bite-sized pieces of vine for her to run away with. She understood the stressful load her new family Carrie and Campbell were shouldering – renovating and opening a new hospitality venture that produces world-class wine, so she’d take them off for walks along the beach or a ramble around the property to maintain their spirits and sanity. She’s still doing that – but her family has grown. Her days are filled with making sure that her staff have their dose of Brix; that the grape-snacking birds know her powers; that the roses are smelling sweet; that her Estate is all-abiding and when everyone is gone, that just a quick sweep of the remains of the day give flavour and fervour to her busy endeavours. She’s the light of our lives – in life you get what you give.