KEY POINTS:
They're not exactly champagne socialists, but they do make a cracking good syrah by all accounts.
A group of politically like-minded and mostly "leftie" friends, including union secretary and former Alliance and Labour Party stalwart Laila Harre, are dedicated to the good life on Waiheke Island.
They produce
organic wine on Orapiu Grove Farm, a 48ha
co-operative, aren't bothered they have yet to post a profit and are pleased as punch with the good reviews their wine has been getting.
Their Awaroa Vineyard Reserve Syrah - $65 a bottle - has made a particular name for itself among a limited client base.
And when they're not tending the vines or attending farm meetings, they could well bump into each other at political protests - like the one last month over Israeli attacks on Gaza.
While the vineyard sells all the wine it can make, self-taught winemaker and shareholder Steve Poletti, who also works at the University of Auckland's economics department, says the volumes aren't big enough to turn a profit.
Harre, who didn't want to be interviewed about the farm, released her shareholding after entering Parliament in the mid 90s.
But she remains involved through her partner Barry Gribben, who is a shareholder.
Several of the co-operative members worked for the Alliance Party, helping Harre with her campaigns. Another is Unite union advocate Alex Muir.
Polleti's partner, Waiheke doctor Rebecca Potts, is active with the Green Party, and Green co-leader Russel Norman lived on the farm for four years in the early days.
The farm was the brainchild of Waiheke rubbish recycling expert and political activist John Stansfield, who fancied running an "organic
co-operative" in which people could live in harmony with nature.
Back then, in the early 90s, he worked for the Bakers Union and knew Harre and Gribben.
Now there are seven shareholders on a chunk of land bought for $160,000 but now worth between $3.5 million and $5 million, Stansfield estimates.
Members can't sell their share to an outsider; instead, the co-operative has a year to pay the shareholder out.
Stansfield says based on today's land values, one of two members pulling out could cause a problem but is philosophical about the vineyard's lack of profit.
"We produce great wine and great red ink to go with it."
Most members have regular jobs and contribute time or money to the venture. Whoever puts in the most labour or money at the end of the year earns the greatest stakeholding.
Visiting shareholders and their families have "squatting rights" in a house on the property.
Apart from wine, the project produces olives and olive oil, and one member, Eleanor Bauarschi, grows lavender to produce oil for Waiheke Blue, a range of skincare, oil and soap products.
The rest of the land, with views north to the Hauraki Gulf and south over Awaawaroa Bay and out to Maraetai Beach, is in regenerating bush.
