Tantalus Winery & Brewery – Waiheke (Auckland)

One not to miss when visiting Waiheke Island is Tantalus Estate.

Diners in the main restaurant enjoy an expansive, light-filled venue fabricated from natural materials. Visitors to the private dining room step into the olde world, surrounded by hand-painted tile walls and intricate chandeliers crafted from old vines, creating an olde world feel that’s perfect for intimate groups.

From the mezzanine balcony you can peek into the craft brewery on the floor below. Everything is designed to leave an indelible impression: delicious fresh food to match hand-crafted wines and beers.

Set amongst the vines, the beautiful restaurant offers guests a variety of areas to dine. Relax and enjoy spacious botanical courtyards, comfortable lounge areas, a bright, expansive tasting room and an elegant restaurant and function room. Hidden from the central dining area lies an intimate private dining room and wine library.

The menu emphasises seasonality with a commitment to highlighting the provenance of our ingredients. Each dish will surprise you with textural delights. Tantalus offers refined, tantalising dishes with bold flavours – the combination of food and wine, alongside sweeping views of the vineyard and valley create an enchanting and unforgettable setting.

The downstairs brewer’s lounge seats 40 guests, or up to 70 for a cocktail function.

A little bit about the estate –

Tantalus Estate was founded in 2013 on 8.3 hectares of established vineyard land on Waiheke Island. The estate is in the Onetangi Valley at an elevation of 12 to 61 metres above sea level. The valley is the heart of winemaking on the island.

Tantalus vineyard has been extensively replanted and re-grafted with meticulous attention to site-specific clonal selection. The vines grow in sandy soil over weathered clay and clay-based rock, with deposits of iron and manganese oxide. We have significantly upgraded the wetland and forested areas, planting thousands of natives and pulling out exotic species and weeds. We’ll continue to improve the habitat for a welcome variety of birds and insects.