Matt Connell Wines is built on a simple but powerful idea: to make honest, expressive wines that reflect where they’re from and who made them. Based in the dramatic, cool-climate region of Central Otago, this small-scale winery is the creation of Matt and Beth Connell — a couple with deep roots in the wine industry and a shared love for craftsmanship done right.

Matt’s journey into wine began in hospitality, where he learned the power of great wine to bring people together. That early connection led him to study viticulture and oenology, and eventually to years of hands-on experience across New Zealand’s most celebrated wine regions. But it was Central Otago — wild, textured, and full of character — that called him home. Beth, with a background in horticulture and business, brings her own depth and balance to the operation.

Together, they’ve built a label focused on quality over quantity. They work with a small group of growers across Bendigo, Bannockburn and Lowburn, selecting sites that naturally express a sense of place. In the winery, their philosophy is minimal intervention — trusting the vineyard to guide the wine, not the other way around.

The result is wines that feel thoughtful and grounded. They don’t chase trends or make noise — instead, they reward quiet attention. Each bottle carries the story of a season, a landscape, and two people dedicated to getting it just right. Matt Connell Wines isn’t about scale or spectacle — it’s about connection, clarity, and wines with a genuine sense of home.