Purchased in 1986, the neglected but historic Vidal's No.2 Vineyard at Te Awanga, Hawke’s Bay was set to become Clearview Estate. Tim Turvey with business partner Helma van den Berg took on the challenge of bringing it back to life. Together they hand grafted and planted the first vines in the winter of 1988. Clearview Estate Winery Ltd was established for the first red wine vintage in 1989, following some experimentation in prior years. Chardonnay began in 1991 with the release of the first Reserve Chardonnay.
Over the next several years, Tim and Helma went on to plant thousands of trees including avocado, olive, bay, citrus, gums, and melia. And they didn't stop there. Together they expanded the vineyard by three acres each year, grafting and planting vines, ramming posts, running wires, training young vines, and for many years completing all of the pruning themselves.
Today the business proudly remains owner-operated. Tim oversees the vineyards and works with chief winemaker Matt Kirby and assistant winemaker Rob Bregmen to create legendary much-awarded wines. Helma manages the finance, restaurant, gardens and her extraordinary team. Steeped in history, Clearview Estate Winery Cellar Door and Clearview Estate Restaurant have become an iconic and awarded destination for both locals and visitors from afar.
"Clearview Estate Winery is the realization of a dream; a passion grown from a love of travel, authentic food & extraordinary wine. We strive for excellence & best practice in all aspects of our business environment, determined to settle for nothing less."
Tim Turvey and Helma van den Berg designed and built the winery, adding the cellar door and restaurant in 1992 as the business grew.
Cellar door visitors enjoy a bespoke wine tasting experience in what has become an acknowledged Hawke’s Bay visitor experience, while Clearview Estate’s rustic ‘Red Shed’ restaurant pioneered Mediterranean style dining in a leafy, vineyard setting.
Clearview Estate continues today as it began nearly three decades ago; in the same hands, an owner-operated company, with a strong commitment to sustainability in all aspects of the business, producing iconic wines of great fruit intensity by people with passion.
