Tohu Wines is the world’s first Māori owned wine company.
Since 1998, Tohu has focused on creating internationally acclaimed wines from sub regions in New Zealand’s premier grape-growing regions.
The Tohu winemaking philosophy is to create wines that capture the flavours of each region’s unique environment, while upholding respect and protection of the land for future generations.
Today, Tohu is acknowledged as He mātāmua taketake - the original, the first Māori-owned and operated wine label. Our wine is enjoyed by people all over the world. Its quality has been recognised through many prestigious awards and accolades.
Tohu Wines is part of Kono, a Māori, whānau-owned company based in Te Tauihu , the top of the South Island. With approximately 4000 owners, who descend from the customary Māori land-owners, the whānau and hapū of the Whakatū, Motueka and Mōhua rohe, our purpose is to preserve and enhance our taonga for present and future generations.
Thoughtfulness, kindness and hospitality are central to our identity as Māori. We value people above all things.
One of our core values, manaakitanga, encapsulates care and respect for people and relationships, including the natural environment. It governs the way we interact with one another. An essential part of Māori culture is our desire to feed and nurture people. Sharing food is a traditional way of bringing people together. We demonstrate our love and respect for people by providing them with outstanding food and wine.
Our wines are made to share. they honour people, culture and the land.
the meaning of Tohu
Tohu has many translations; it can mean a sign, a symbol, distinguishing feature, signature. Our wordmark is our signature and a symbol of intent as a company —a people committed to excellence, set on delivering the very best we can for our land and the people we serve.
Now and in the future.
Our bespoke wordmark has been crafted to include the carved patterning known as rauponga, characterised by a row of notched chevrons. It pays tribute to Māori carving and its imbued meaning.
As a people, Māori developed the skill of carving to create elaborate and artistic objects, including jewellery, pou (carved posts), whare whakairo (carved meeting houses) and tekoteko (carved human forms). Powerful carvings found in the meeting house depict ancestors and their history, while pou whenua, strategically placed on the land, acknowledge and represent the relationship between Tangata Whenua (the people of the land), their ancestors and the environment.
The symbolism of our Koru
In Māori culture, the koru or spiral symbolises growth, life and the natural world. For us, our koru represents the growth of our company and the journey of our people from the past to today.
This koru signifies our long-term intergenerational goals and has become our tohu, our signature.
The koru featured in our logo comes from the painting He Mihi Aroha ki a Koe by renowned Māori artist Sandy Adsett. Sandy Adsett’s koru is a classical motif from the kōwhaiwhai depicted in his painting.
Kōwhaiwhai is the ancient Māori tradition of painted patterns. These symmetrical designs decorate the rafters of the elaborately adorned whare tupuna—house of ancestors—and represent lineage, ancestry and the story of generations.
Milestones
1998
Tohu Wines launched in partnership between the South Island-based Wakatū Incorporation and Ngāti Rarua Atiawa Iwi Trust, and Gisborne-based Wi Pere Trust. First vintage of 3200 cases sold domestically
2000
In the year 2000, we exported our first wine to London.
2002
Our vineyard in the Awatere Valley, Marlborough vineyard was purchased, and first vines planted by board members James Wheeler, Rore Stafford and Mugwi MacDonald
2005
Whenua Matua, Moutere vineyard planted first vines
2008
Bruce Taylor starts as Tohu Chief Winemaker
2010
First trophy awarded - Tohu Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010 wins Champion Sauvignon Blanc and New Zealand Wine Cellars Spence Brothers Trophy
2010
Wakatū Incorporation buys out NRAIT (Ngāti Rārua Ātiawa Iwi Trust) and the Wi Pere Trust to become the sole owner of Tohu
2012
Winery purchased in the Awatere Valley
2017
Tohu Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2016 named in Air New Zealand Fine Wines of New Zealand list – a compilation of the country’s most prestigious wines
2018
Tohu Single Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc selected to be served at former United States President Barack Obama’s invitation-only dinner in Auckland
Launching Tohu Whenua Single Vineyard wines. Our Whenua Single Vineyard wines are a gift from the land, our tūrangawaewae, the place where we stand
2019
2022
Tohu, alongside parent businesses Wakatū and Kono, achieves Toitū certification
2023
Regenerative farming commences in Whenua Awa vineyard. 13ha of the vineyard to work towards BioGro certification