Our Story
After setting up Volcanic Hills in 2009 and using borrowed winery space, we opened our Tasting Room with a gorgeous view overlooking Lake Rotorua, at the top of the Skyline Gondola in 2012. Our winery at the base of the Gondola opened for the 2013 winemaking vintage.
You’d be right in thinking there are no wine grapes in Rotorua! We are often asked why we are here. By being where the people are (both domestic and international visitors), we have brought the wine to the people, often saving a long drive to traditional wine regions. This allows us also to pick and choose where our grapes come from, not restricting us to the loyalty of one region.
We get to choose the best we believe each region has to offer, make our wines in Rotorua and share them with you. No supermarkets, just hand chosen outlets, restaurants and hotels.
In the Tasting Room we promise not to bamboozle you with wine talk, but we will help you learn which wines you like and why.
We are on a mission to inspire the world to drink better wine!
See you soon.
Brent Park – Wine Maker, Head of Sales
Having spent my school years in Rotorua before living and working around New Zealand and the world (including winemaking stints in South Africa, USA, Australia and France), it made sense to consider Rotorua when finding a home for Volcanic Hills. I’m proud of the global impact our local industry has and Rotorua is the perfect place to chat to the country’s visitors about the wine making scene in New Zealand.
Larissa Park – Everything Else!
Using my background in accounting and property finance, I am responsible for keeping the Volcanic Hills ‘ship’ on course. With my office in the back of the winery, I can often be found there or in the Tasting Room. I’m usually on hand to try out any new vintage before it hits the shelves too!
.
