You climb the drive off Onetangi Road and Waiheke falls away into vines and olive trees, with the original farm goatshed now the cellar door. They planted Te Motu in 1989, which makes it one of the island's oldest family-run vineyards, and the Bordeaux-style reds they grow here are made to age rather than rush at you. Book the classic flight of four current releases, including the flagship Te Motu blend, or do the vertical tasting to compare three vintages and taste how the years change the wine. They also pour older vintages by the glass.
The Shed is the restaurant, a relaxed room and covered outdoor tables among the vines where lunch runs long and plates are for sharing. The menu changes with the seasons and uses a 685 square metre kitchen garden, plus Waiheke growers and local fishers, so you're eating food from the garden out the back. Order the focaccia while you decide, because it arrives warm with olive oil and balsamic and is the thing you'll want first, then settle in for lamb ribs or whatever is cooking over fire. The cellar door and restaurant are open 12pm to 5pm daily, so book a tasting at weekends and book a table ahead for lunch.
Written from 520 Google reviews, every one we could get, on 12 November 2026. Rated 4.7 from 489 Google reviews.
Te Motu is a standout Waiheke stop, with serious reds, tables among the vines and food that goes well beyond a cellar door snack. The feel is relaxed and family run rather than polished, and the vineyard dog and goatshed tasting room give it real character.
Order the focaccia, the lamb ribs and the beef carpaccio, because they're the plates to build lunch around. The focaccia comes warm with olive oil and balsamic and has a gluten-free version, while the lamb ribs fall apart and the beef carpaccio is fresh and simple.
Service is warm and knowledgeable when it clicks, with staff talking you through each wine and its vintage rather than leaving you with a tasting sheet. When the room fills, though, the pace drops and a big group at one table can pull the team's attention away from yours, so you may wait longer between courses than you'd like.
The setting is the reason to linger, with tables among the vines, olive trees on the ridge and a covered outdoor area that works in sun or drizzle. You can sit under the canopy, move indoors when the weather turns or taste in the old goatshed, and the vineyard dog adds to the relaxed feel.
Value depends on what you're buying, because the tasting is a fair way to try serious reds before committing to a bottle. The food is where the bill can climb, with small plates that are beautifully made but leave you wanting more, so order a couple of larger dishes alongside the focaccia.
Best for a long lunch that stretches into the afternoon, from a couple marking an anniversary to a group catching up over shared plates. It suits families and wine lovers alike, with room for kids, a vineyard dog and staff who make a fuss of birthdays.
Watch out for the uphill walk from the bus stop, which is longer and dustier than it looks, especially on a hot day. The food can feel expensive for the portion size, and service can slow when a large group has the team's attention, so don't book a tight ferry.
Every fact on this page was checked on 8 November 2026 against Google, Te Motu Vineyard's own website and 520 of its Google reviews. The photo is from the eatout library, not taken here, and no venue pays to be listed or ranked. Something out of date? Tell us
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