Skyline spot proves perfect for wine

Volcanic Hills winemakers and co-owners Sean Beer (left) and Brent Park praise synergies of the Skyline location. Right, the gold award-winning sauvignon blanc.

Niche winery Volcanic Hills is celebrating its sixth year based at Rotorua's Skyline with a Pure Gold award for its 2015 sauvignon blanc at the latest national wine awards.

Co-owners and winemakers Sean Beer and Brent Park relocated from Auckland to the Bay of Plenty in part to embrace the lifestyle and be closer to family - Mr Park comes from Rotorua and Mr Beer was keen to live at Mount Maunganui.

"We wanted to bring a new offering to our customers and community in the form of a direct wine experience, cutting out the need for a supermarket channel," said Mr Beer.

"And we needed to locate our winery and tasting arm in a place where people could conveniently find us."

Tourist hub Skyline has proven to be the ideal location. The partners - who own 100 per cent of the business - began talking to Skyline's management about renting a vacant space at the foot of the mountain for the winery, then discovered space was also available at the top of the gondola.

"It's a large loft space with a panoramic view, so we turned that into a tasting room and it works really well."

The pair met while working at a commercial winery in Auckland, but decided they wanted to pursue a less commercial approach.

They set up Volcanic Hills initially in Auckland, but after 12 months made the move to the Bay.

"We've developed a strong local following in Rotorua. Local restaurants have got right behind us."

Volcanic Hills sources its grapes from Marlborough, Central Otago, Hawke's Bay and Martinborough. Production is about 4000 cases annually and the aim is to build up to around 10,000 cases over the next few years.

Mr Park said the Skyline location had given the winery great results.

"First, working with an iconic tourist attraction meant that on day one we could open our door and have a welcoming audience and foot traffic," he said.

Second, Skyline had great worldwide pulling power and had helped market the Volcanic Hills brand through its international channels.

"And they also gave us a great opportunity because they have a fantastic on-site restaurant, Stratosfare," he said.

That meant the winery could develop a symbiotic relationship by supplying the restaurant with wine, access food for wine tastings, and free them up to focus on the wine business.

Skyline general manager Bruce Thomasen said Volcanic Hills filled a niche that had been missing in Rotorua.

"For us it's a beautiful complement to our business. With our luge and attractions component, the wine tasting and winery on site just made sense. Their business philosophy works well, they are great winemakers, and it's wonderful to see them getting a national award."