Beginning life as a Catholic mission in 1838 Mission Estate is the oldest winery in New Zealand and they have been growing grapes on the site since the missionaries first began tending vines at Meeanee in 1851 and their current site in the Taradale Hills above Napier in 1909.
Today the winery is housed in the restored seminary buildings overlooking the vines and there are three vineyards (Greenmeadows, Mere Road and Gimblett Road) making up the holdings totalling 35 hectares or so. Chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot gris, semillon, viognier, merlot, syrah, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and petit verdot are all grown.