Recent social media posts
02/06/2026
Vintage 2026 is in the barrel.
The fruit is in exceptional condition and now rests in the hands of our winemaking team. What we’ve tasted so far is promising, and we’re looking forward to seeing this vintage evolve.
28/05/2026
A tasting fit for a king.
Join Te Motu founder Paul Dunleavy this Saturday at 12:30pm for an intimate seated tasting exploring mature vintages, rare cellar wines, and the occasional long-winded story from nearly 40 years of our family's winemaking history on Waiheke Island.
Limited to just 10 guests.
More details and booking info via the link below
24/05/2026
Sound checked, tables set. 🎵🍜 🍷
We’re fully booked for for tonight’s Ramen dinner, but join us a few records and red wine Charlito spinning vinyl all night long
Special thanks to the legends for lending us all the toys
21/05/2026
We recently spent a beautiful Sunday afternoon with the Dunleavy family at Te Motu on Waiheke Island, sharing a long lunch, tasting through current and older releases and walking the vines together ☀
There’s something very special about sitting with the people behind the wines and hearing the stories, philosophy and history that continue to shape an estate like Te Motu today.
In this week’s newsletter, Rory shares a handful of wines he’s been particularly enjoying lately, along with a short history of Te Motu and reflections from Paul on the roots of the estate and its journey on Waiheke Island 🍷
You can explore the full Producer Selection below.
https://www.greatlittlevineyards.com/wines/producer-selection-te-motu/
21/05/2026
Celebrating International Chardonnay Day the Te Motu way.
Seeing as we don’t actually grow any Chardonnay, we’re forced to improvise with one of the lighter vintages of Te Motu instead. This 2004 is currently looking beautiful - even if its cork did best the lot of us.
19/05/2026
Good day to be a New Zealand wine.
Honoured to see Te Motu included in The Real Review’s Top 50 Wineries of New Zealand for 2026, alongside so many producers we admire.
Special congratulations to our Waiheke neighbours Destiny Bay (number 6 💪), and to all the wineries recognised across the country. Some very serious company to be in.
Nice reminder too that New Zealand wine continues to punch well above its weight internationally.
Cheers The Real Review We’ll open something good tonight.
13/05/2026
Vintage 1999 at Te Motu.
Before The Shed became a restaurant, before polished cellar doors and wine tourism really found Waiheke, it was mostly just family, friends, dogs, tractors, and long days getting fruit processed before dark.
Plenty has changed since then. Thankfully, the wine they were picking grapes for is still looking great 🍷
08/05/2026
We’re adopting the French approach to winter:
cook beef in wine, then drink more wine with it.
Slow cooked beef bourguignon made using dry aged ‘Handpicked’ beef from , supplied by .
On the menu at The Shed
08/05/2026
🍷 Te Motu – Trust the Chef
Tucked away in the Onetangi Valley, Te Motu is all about relaxed vineyard dining done well. Their Trust the Chef menu invites you to sit back and let the kitchen lead the way, with a seasonal selection of dishes designed to be shared mid-table.
Expect fresh, locally sourced ingredients, thoughtful flavours, and plates that pair perfectly with Te Motu’s estate wines. It’s long lunches, good company, and food that reflects the land it comes from — simple, generous, and unmistakably Waiheke.
Perfect for groups, celebrations, or anyone who loves letting the chef do what they do best 🍽️🍷
08/05/2026
Ramen at The Shed. Two nights only.
Saturday 16 May
Sunday 24 May
Rowan’s leaning into slow broths, proper bowls, and a short run of dishes built for cooler evenings.
À la carte available, or settle in with the $75 set menu and let the kitchen take care of things.
Bookings now open. Link in bio
05/05/2026
The kind of place you come for a tasting and end up staying a little longer.
Fire on, glasses poured, and stories from the vineyard.
On the menu: our Classic Tasting Flight - from Dunleavy ‘The Shed’ Single Vineyard Rosé and Dunleavy ‘The Strip’ Merlot/Cabernet through to our flagship wines, Te Motu Kokoro 2021 (Merlot dominant) and Te Motu 2021 (Cabernet dominant).
Or settle in for a Vertical Tasting - a chance to taste through the years and see how time shapes our flagship wines.
Tasting Room open from 12pm, 7 days a week.
Restaurant ‘The Shed’ open from 12pm, Friday-Tuesday.
Walk-ins welcome, bookings encouraged.
28/04/2026
This Saturday, a feast from the garden.
A seasonal vegetarian dinner at The Shed, celebrating the last of autumn’s harvest. Grown here, gathered fresh, cooked simply.
A few tables left for Saturday night, book in via our website
24/04/2026
Grandma Dunleavy (Margaret) always baked Anzac biscuits.
We grew up on them. Family lunches, harvest days, cousins gathered around the table, always a fresh batch somewhere nearby.
We came across an old photo this week. Grandma, proudly holding one up, with Uncle John & Auntie Hera beside her. Standing in the Shed, long before it became what it is today.
It felt like the right moment to bring it back.
It’s ANZAC Day today. We’ve got a full day ahead, but Papa Paul’s been baking up a storm this morning.
A small treat, from our family to yours, for those joining us (while they last)
24/04/2026
A garden grown alongside the vines.
From first plantings to full harvest, our market garden has quietly taken shape over the past few years.
A few snapshots from along the way, ahead of next week’s garden-to-table dinner.
23/04/2026
No surcharge here this weekend.
ANZAC Day, Saturday at Te Motu Vineyard.
Open from 12pm for lunch, tastings, and a place to settle in for the afternoon.
From 3pm, Charlito & Friends take over the Cellar Door terrace, easing into a deep, soulful soundtrack as the light shifts across the vines, with a few drink specials along the way.
Free entry before 5pm for walk-ins, or RSVP online for free entry at any time.
19/04/2026
ANZAC Day Saturday at Te Motu.
We’ll be open from 12pm for lunch and wine tastings, so you’re welcome to settle in early and make a day of it.
From 3pm, Charlito & Friends (Te Motu DJs) take over the Cellar Door terrace with a deep, soulful house soundtrack into the evening.
Autumn light over the vines, fine wines flowing, and sexy snacks from The Shed.
Drink specials rolling.
Free entry before 5pm or with booking rsvp
09/04/2026
Vintage 2026! How good!
Lee is a man who knows his grapes, so if he’s this excited about this year’s fruit you can be sure great things are ahead 🍷
02/04/2026
The Easter Bunny’s come early… and brought better laws with him 🐰🍷
We’re closed Friday + Monday, open for lunch Sunday as planned.
But thanks to today’s rule change, tastings are back on (no more confusing Easter rules 🙌)
We weren’t expecting to be able to offer them, so there’s still space on Sunday.
Guests who pre-book for Easter Sunday will get an extra pour of something special.
17/03/2026
There's a new butcher in town.
For one night only, we’re teaming up with The Waiheke Butcher for a special set menu.
Exceptional cuts, expertly prepared and paired with Te Motu reds.
Friday 27 March
Limited seats and filling quickly.
20/02/2026
Straight from our chefs camera 📸 The boys have a Yellow fin tuna for the weekend, and as you could expect they’re a bit excited about it 🎣
Yellowfin Tuna, ponzu, burnt orange and fennel pollen.
On till it’s gone
19/02/2026
Sunday Session: Join us on the Cellar Door terrace from 3pm as Charlito (Te Motu DJs) goes all night long with a deep, soulful house set soundtracking your Sunday session.
Think balmy summer air, golden light over the vines, fine wines flowing, and sexy snacks from our team at The Shed.
Drink specials rolling, free entry before 5pm.
17/02/2026
Quackity quack! 🦆
House-cured duck breast prosciutto has just hit the menu.
This season’s garden rock melon came in a little underripe, so Kohel and Rowan leaned into it. Lightly pickled to bring it into balance, layered with a chilled rock melon gazpacho that carries that freshness right through the dish.
Salty, sweet, savoury and bright in equal measure.
We’ve been pairing it with our Te Motu 2021, Cabernet Sauvignon dominant. The structure and dark fruit sit beautifully against the richness of the duck and the lift of the melon.
On now at The Shed - but only till the melons are gone ⏱️
07/02/2026
🍷 ONETANGI NOUVEAU 2025 | NEW RELEASE 🍷
I’ve always thought there’s something extra playful about making this wine.
At Te Motu we’re best known for serious, age-worthy reds built to evolve slowly over time. Onetangi Nouveau sits at the other end of the spectrum. It’s lighter on its feet, made to be chilled, opened young and enjoyed in the moment.
This small-lot, experimental chilled red has long been a quiet favourite at our cellar door. Each vintage is shaped by our vineyard and winery crew, with Matt at the helm, using this wine as a space to explore, experiment and have a bit of fun.
The 2025 release is no rosé. It’s a chilled red in its own lane. A warm summer, expressive fruit, and a slightly warmer ferment than previous years, still cool, but just enough to bring out richer fruit character than previous iterations. One portion cold soaked, another carbonic. 100% Merlot.
For me, this wine captures that moment during harvest when fruit is being pressed and the winery is full of energy. Bold, pure fruit flavours, but with a calm, polished resolve that keeps you coming back for another sip.
Matt’s done a bloody good job with this one. But don’t take my word for it.
Chill it down. Open it on a summer afternoon. Pair it with our house made parfait and see what happens.
Onetangi Nouveau 2025 is out now, in very limited quantities.
02/02/2026
Valentine’s Dinner at The Shed 🍷✨
This Valentine’s Day, join us for a special candlelit evening at The Shed featuring a multi-course set menu created by our kitchen team.
Expect seasonal dishes, Te Motu wines, and relaxed summer dining overlooking the vines.
$120 per person
Optional add-ons include oysters on arrival, our famous chicken liver parfait donut, and curated wine matching.
Limited tables available.
Address
76 Onetangi Road, Waiheke Island
Auckland
1971
To reach your destination on Onetangi Road in Auckland, here are the travel options:
**By Public Transport:**
1. **Bus:** Take the bus route that services Waiheke Island. Depending on your starting point, you may need to catch a ferry from downtown Auckland to Waiheke Island first.
2. Once on Waiheke Island, board the bus heading towards Onetangi. Check local schedules for specific routes and times.
3. Disembark at the nearest stop to Onetangi Road and walk a short distance to your destination.
**By Car:**
1. From central Auckland, take State Highway 1 towards the ferry terminal at Devonport or Downtown Auckland.
2. Board a ferry to Waiheke Island (ferry services run regularly).
3. Upon arrival at Waiheke Island, follow signs for Onetangi Road.
4. Drive along Onetangi Road until you reach your destination.
**Parking:**
- There is parking available on-site or nearby, but it can fill up quickly during peak times, so consider arriving early if possible.
Enjoy your visit!
Opening Hours
| Monday |
12pm - 5pm |
| Tuesday |
12pm - 5pm |
| Wednesday |
12pm - 5pm |
| Thursday |
12pm - 5pm |
| Friday |
12pm - 9pm |
| Saturday |
12pm - 9pm |
| Sunday |
12pm - 5pm |
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What people say
Te Motu - Vineyard Restaurant & Cellar Door is a hidden gem nestled in the picturesque Onetangi Valley on Waiheke Island. This boutique, family-owned vineyard not only boasts an award-winning restaurant but also offers a delightful selection of wines that reflect the rich heritage of the region.
The rustic charm of the estate creates an inviting atmosphere where guests can savor exquisite dishes crafted with care. One standout offering is the ginger mirin gravlax, beautifully complemented by a Riesling orange dressing, spicy honey, and miso avocado—an absolute treat that leaves plates licked clean!
For those looking to immerse themselves in the history of Waiheke’s wine scene, Te Motu hosts extraordinary wine dinners that celebrate its legacy. Guests have the unique opportunity to enjoy a banquet-style evening led by founder Paul Dunleavy, featuring selections from their inaugural 1993 vintage to iconic releases like the 1999 vintage. Each event promises a bespoke menu designed by their talented culinary team at The Shed, ensuring an unforgettable dining experience.
Additionally, Te Motu embraces culinary diversity with special events such as Trattoria Veneta, where guests are taken on a flavorful journey through Northern Italy. With great wine flowing and rustic Italian cuisine on offer, it’s an experience not to be missed.
Whether you’re indulging in their exquisite dishes or exploring their remarkable wines, Te Motu - Vineyard Restaurant & Cellar Door is sure to leave a lasting impression on your palate and heart.
