Hill Country Estate Wines has announced a long‑term commitment to Cape Sanctuary, New Zealand’s largest privately owned mainland wildlife restoration project on the Cape Kidnappers Peninsula. Under the partnership, all profits from Hill Country Estate wine sales are directed to Cape Sanctuary, with every bottle sold also funding the planting of three native trees to accelerate habitat restoration.

Located just minutes from Havelock North, Hill Country Estate’s vineyard sits on rolling limestone hills that look towards the same coastline Cape Sanctuary is working to restore. The owners describe the partnership as a natural extension of their philosophy: wines that not only reflect the land but actively help repair and protect it for future generations.

About Cape Sanctuary

Cape Sanctuary is a large‑scale private conservation project spread across the Cape Kidnappers and Ocean Beach headlands, focused on restoring native ecosystems and re‑establishing vulnerable species in a predator‑controlled environment. It is known for intensive trapping and pest‑management programmes, large‑scale native planting, and the protection and reintroduction of threatened birds and other wildlife along the Cape coastline.

As a privately funded project, Cape Sanctuary depends heavily on donations, partnerships and ongoing community support to maintain predator control, plant natives, and monitor wildlife. The commitment from Hill Country Estate Wines provides a dedicated revenue stream that can be used directly for conservation operations, from traps and fencing to plant nurseries and field staff.

How every bottle gives back

Hill Country Estate Wines has built giving into the core of its business rather than treating it as an add‑on. All profits from wine sales go straight to Cape Sanctuary, meaning each purchase directly funds on‑the‑ground conservation work on the Cape Kidnappers Peninsula.

On top of the financial commitment, the winery has pledged that every bottle sold will result in three native trees being planted, supporting reforestation and habitat creation in and around the sanctuary. Over time, this tree‑planting pledge will translate into thousands of native plants in the ground, helping to stabilise soils, provide food and shelter for birds and insects, and lock more biodiversity into the landscape.

Ashton Scott on giving back to Hawke’s Bay

Ashton Scott, grandson of original Hill Country Estate visionary Andy Lowe and current Managing Director running the company as his own, shared his thoughts on the partnership: “Grandad Andy always saw this land as something to be cherished and shared – not just enjoyed by a few, but protected for everyone in Hawke’s Bay. Directing all our profits to Cape Sanctuary and planting three trees per bottle is our way of giving back to the community that’s supported us. Every glass poured becomes a vote for native birds, cleaner waterways and a stronger local environment. It’s the kind of legacy building that feels right for these hills.”

Wine with a purpose

The wines themselves are handcrafted in small batches from limestone‑rich slopes on the eastern side of Te Mata Peak, where warm days and cool evenings create concentrated, finely structured fruit. Hill Country Estate’s messaging emphasises that every bottle carries a “purpose beyond the glass” – a way for customers to enjoy Hawke’s Bay wine while supporting local conservation and climate‑positive planting at the same time.

For local customers, restaurants, and retailers, stocking or pouring Hill Country Estate Wines becomes a simple and tangible way to support Cape Sanctuary’s work while sharing a premium Hawke’s Bay product. For buyers further afield, each order connects them to a specific place and project – the Havelock Hills vineyard and the coastal sanctuary it helps fund – turning everyday wine purchases into ongoing support for the community and its environment.