Matt Connell Wines is a boutique Central Otago label built on instinct, site, and a winemaker’s quiet pursuit of detail. Founded in 2016 by Matt and Beth Connell, the project reflects Matt’s deep experience across New Zealand and Oregon, distilled into small-batch wines that capture the nuance and structure of Central Otago’s subregional diversity. With a focus on single-site Pinot Noir, and a commitment to transparency and terroir, Matt Connell Wines sits confidently in the space where craft meets clarity.

Fruit is sourced from a tight selection of vineyards in Bendigo, Lowburn, Pisa, and Gibbston — each offering different expressions of soil, altitude, and climate. These sites are managed sustainably and hand-harvested, with yields kept low to ensure concentration and phenolic balance. Matt works closely with growers, believing that detail begins in the vineyard and that minimal intervention only matters if the groundwork is precise.

In the winery, Matt applies a gentle, hands-on approach. Pinot Noir is typically fermented with indigenous yeast, partial whole-bunch inclusion, and slow, careful extraction. The wines are aged in French oak (usually around 30% new), with élevage tailored to the individuality of each vineyard. Whites — particularly Riesling and Pinot Gris — are handled with cool fermentations, extended lees contact, and a focus on freshness, structure, and balance rather than overt fruit expression.

The wines are precise and quietly expressive. Pinot Noir is the heart — lifted aromatics of red cherry, wild herb, and spice, underpinned by fine tannins and mineral tension. Each single-vineyard release — such as Moorcroft, Black Rabbit, and Long Gully — tells a distinct story of site and season. Riesling is crisp, textural, and dry-edged, while Pinot Gris balances orchard fruit with gentle grip and drive. The style is confident but restrained, with each wine shaped to reveal, not impress.

What defines Matt Connell Wines is its calm precision — a producer that favours insight over excess, and believes in letting the vineyard do the talking.

These are wines that move with focus and light — quietly expressive, deeply rooted, and crafted with the kind of intent that lets place shine through.