About Okahu Estate
About Okahu
A land of ancient forests, people and legends.
A beach that stretches further than you can imagine. Sunsets too beautiful for words. This is New Zealand’s Northland, the country’s warmest region, the home of Okahu Estate and a unique and challenging location for winemaking.
The layers of complexity in Okahu wines reflect the layers of soil, sandstone, ancient kauri forest and clay in which the grapes grow. The Knight family has been coaxing the very best from these “Kauri Sands” since 1984, creating award-winning wines with inner strength and enduring spirit.
Monty Knight
"...the Captain Kirk of New Zealand winemaking" - Karl de Fresne - Cuisine Wine Country 2005
When Monty Knight first planted vines at Okahu Estate in the Far North of New Zealand in 1984, many people were very sceptical about producing fine wine from the area. These detractors had to eat their words in 1996, when Okahu’s Kaz Shiraz 1994 won Gold and the trophy for other reds at the 1996 Auckland Royal Easter Show. Since then, the winery has gone on to become Northland’s most awarded winery, winning more gold, top of its class and countless silver and bronze awards, not only for wines from their own Estate vineyards, but also contract grown fruit from Hawkes Bay, Gisborne, Te Kauwhata and other Northland vineyards.
Monty, was a high profile Kaitaia retailer and entrepreneur, with diverse interests in the business world and a record of public service for Northland. He was the pioneer of the renaissance of wine making in Northland, following on from the legacy established by Croatian settlers in the early 1900’s.
A colourful, controversial and entertaining public speaker, Monty travelled New Zealand and the world with his wine and wine making stories. He headed the viticultural and wine making team at Okahu Estate.