Talk:Mission Estate Winery

TODO
History: vineyards first planted by French Marist brothers in 1851 for making sacramental wine, at the original mission station in Pakowhai. The mission moved 5 km north to Meeanee in 1858, taking its cottage with it using steam traction engines and building residence halls, a school, and St Mary's Church (built 1863). More vineyards were planted at Meeanee and Mission Estate records the first commercial sale of New Zealand made wine, in 1870. In 1880 the mission built its seminary at Meeanee, the two-storey La Grande Maison building (Fr. "the big house"), and purchased a large 320 ha plot of land on Church Road in Taradale in 1897, where more vineyards were planted. The vines were tended by travelling from Meeanee, however disastrous flooding in 1909 prompted the mission to move its operation to the Taradale land. In 1911 the wooden La Grande Maison building was sawn into 11 separate pieces and transported 5 km over two days using traction engines. (insert public domain pic of move... commons, knowledgebank.org.nz, digitalnz, Te Papa, ...) The 1931 Napier Earthquake destroyed the stone chapel. Recent history: 21st century expansion; new production facilities were opened in 2007 and increased the pressing capacity to 2000 tonnes. Mission bought 100 hectares of Marlborough vineyards in 2012 from Cape Campbell winery (which failed in fallout from the 2008 GFC), and purchased Ngatarawa Wines from Corbans in 2017. Mission Estate Winery remains wholly New Zealand owned.

Mission Concerts since 1993 now attract international crowds; use as a restaurant and wedding venue; etc. — Jon (talk) 12:47, 9 December 2019 (UTC)