The perfect blend: Luxury accommodation meets vineyard splendour at Matawhero Wines

10 Jul 2023

Matawhero Wines, a renowned vineyard and winery in Gisborne, is expanding its offerings beyond wine production. Owners Kirsten and Richard commissioned Pamela Tietjen from iDWorkshop, a design firm specialising in luxury accommodations, to create four exquisite cabins nestled within the stunning vineyard, each with their own theme, flawlessly decorated with Resene paints and products.

The aim of including accommodation is to provide a unique and memorable experience for travellers and locals alike, while also promoting local tourism and highlighting the exceptional features of the Tairāwhiti region. 

The Matawhero journey began with two pioneers of New Zealand wine in the 1960s. Today, Kirsten and Richard continue the legacy as the trusted Kaitiaki (guardians) of Matawhero. They acquired the vineyard and winery from the late Denis Irwin in 2008 and have since dedicated themselves to developing the iconic estate. Their mission is to share the distinctive wine styles of the Tairāwhiti -Gisborne region, including renowned New Zealand Chardonnay, aromatic varieties like Gewürztraminer, and delightful red wines.

The luxury cabins at Matawhero Wines offer guests a chance to immerse themselves in the vineyard's rich history and breath-taking surroundings. Set against a backdrop of magnificent vines and sprawling landscapes, each cabin boasts private decked areas and modern amenities. With just a 10-minute drive from Gisborne City, these studios provide an ideal location for both leisure and business stays.

Inside each of the cabins, iDWorkshop has taken inspiration from the vineyard's unique characteristics to create simple yet sophisticated interiors.

The first cabin, named Noir, draws its colour scheme from the dark Pinot Noir berries, featuring deep black walls painted with Resene Lustacryl tinted to Resene Black. The OSB board, chosen for its texture is reminiscent of Muka and flax fibres used in traditional Māori weaving, is enhanced with the black shade, adding an unexpected finish to the space. Luxurious burnt orange velvet curtains and a petrol blue velvet armchair provide a striking contrast against the black backdrop, while the OSB ceiling painted in Resene Merino adds warmth and height to the compact cabin.

The second cabin, aptly named Blush, takes inspiration from Matawhero Wines' single vineyard Pinot Rosé. Birch ply-lined walls and ceiling create a light, natural, and grainy interior. The delicate pink undertones of the wood are showcased by clear coats of Resene Aquaclear, allowing the timber’s natural beauty to shine through. Resene Black is used for stunning negative detailing, complementing the overall aesthetic. A refurbished Cane Collective Malam Headboard, finished with Resene Lustacryl tinted to Resene Despacito, adds a touch of elegance to the blush-themed interior. Luxury cushions by Bev Sandoy and quality linen provide the final touches, while floor-to-ceiling velvet curtains and blinds by Teal Tree Design bring warmth and texture to the space.

Since Noir and Blanc in 2022, two new cabins have since been designed in 2023, called Blanc and Harvest. The Blanc cabin offers a simple, crisp white palette, drawing inspiration from the white wine varieties offered at Matawhero. This luxury cabin is designed to draw in the natural elements surrounding its small but comfortable space, and is painted in Resene Triple Alabaster with the ceiling in Resene Alabaster. The elegant tongue-and-groove headboard is painted in Resene Breathless, a cool blend of blue, lilac and grey with an inspirational and airy ambiance. The baseboards to the exterior decking are stained in Resene Woodsman tinted to the striking shade of Resene Tiri.

The Harvest cabin is adorned with green and golden tones to represent the different colours of the vineyard during harvest and into the autumn season. This cabin features battened walls and is painted in the smoky neutral, Resene Double Ash, which perfectly complements the Laminex headboard painted in the fresh green of Resene Bay Leaf. For the ceiling, Resene Alabaster was chosen to brighten and give an illusion of further space in a smaller area.

Throughout the design process, iDWorkshop worked closely with Kirsten and Richard, who deeply appreciate the land and vineyard they oversee. Historical stories regarding colour played a significant role in the selection process. For example, the luxurious burnt orange velvet curtains in the Noir cabin were inspired by the late Denis Irwin's cultivation of an orange rose, a tribute to his father's love for roses. Resene Black was the perfect backdrop for these curtains, allowing their softness to shine through.

Various Resene paint products were chosen to enhance the cabins' aesthetics and ensure durability. Resene Aquaclear was used on the walls to seal and accentuate the textured nature of the OSB board. Resene AquaLAQ was selected for the cabinetry, providing a robust and easy-care finish that matched the walls and ceiling. The Blush cabin’s headboard was refinished with Resene Lustacryl to cover damaged sections, harmonising perfectly with the cabin's colour scheme. The ceiling in the Noir cabin features Resene Ceiling Paint over the texture of the OSB board, and for the exterior baseboards, Resene Woodsman, a trusted choice for exterior timber, was used, providing reliable tones that could be built up to the desired depth of colour.

Matawhero Wines' luxury cabins offer a distinctive and immersive experience for those seeking a unique place to stay in Gisborne. Guests can now indulge in the beauty of the vineyard, enjoy wine tastings and platters at the on-site cellar door, as well as relax on their private decks overlooking the vines. The thoughtful design and attention to detail in these cabins ensure a memorable and luxurious stay, reflecting the spirit of Matawhero and the Tairāwhiti-Gisborne region as a whole.

design Pamela Tietjen, iDWorkshop www.idworkshop.co.nz

images Brennan Thomas www.strikephotography.co.nz

visitwww.matawhero.co.nz

The exterior of these cosy and luxurious cabins is stained in Resene Woodsman tinted to Resene Natural, with baseboards framing the structures perfectly against the landscape and vines painted in Resene Black.

The Noir cabin, drawing its inspiration from the dark Pinot Noir berry, is painted in Resene Black. Luxurious burnt orange velvet curtains provide a striking contrast against the black backdrop. The OSB ceiling painted in Resene Merino adds warmth and height to the compact cabin.

In this cosy, lush cabin painted in Resene Black, a finish of Resene Aquaclear was used on the walls to seal and accentuate the textured nature of the OSB board, as well as Resene AquaLAQ for the cabinetry, providing a robust and easy-care finish. The ceiling in the Noir cabin also features Resene Ceiling Paint tinted to Resene Merino on the OSB texture board.

The fabulous Blush cabin takes inspiration from Matawhero Wines' single vineyard Pinot Rosé, as seen on the elegant ‘beige meets pink’ headboard painted in Resene Despacito. The delicate pink undertones of the birch ply-lined walls and ceiling are protected with Resene Aquaclear, allowing the timber’s natural beauty to shine through. Resene Black is used for stunning negative detailing, complementing the overall aesthetic.

You can’t miss the beauty inside the Blush cabin, even when you are outside. The light pink tones on the walls and headboard painted in Resene Despacito, create a calming and romantic feel in this space. The exterior is stained in Resene Woodsman tinted to Resene Natural with baseboards and frame in Resene Black.

The elegant tongue-and-groove headboard in the Blanc cabin is painted in Resene Breathless, a calm mix of blue, lilac and grey. The walls are painted in Resene Triple Alabaster and ceiling in Resene Alabaster.

The feature battened walls in the tranquil Harvest cabin are painted in the smoky neutral, Resene Double Ash, which perfectly complements the Laminex headboard and cabinetry painted in the fresh green of Resene Bay Leaf. For the ceiling, Resene Alabaster was chosen to brighten and give an illusion of further space and height in a smaller area.

Published: 10 Jul 2023