Red Hut Wines is a tale of friendship, frustration and fine wine, only in this case it's also relatively affordable wine, which was launched this month by Mike Farrugia and Corey Ryan. 

The pair have collaborated on other winemaking enterprises so there is a high level of trust. And they both acknowledge that sometimes the best ideas are born out of frustration as well as out of friendship. For Corey Ryan, a winemaker with decades' of experience under his belt, and Mike Farrugia, a long-time wine professional, importer and distributor, the spark for Red Hut Wines came from a bit of both.

They have shared the same gripe for several years: a significant number of New Zealand’s finest wines are either hard to find, due to low volumes, or not easily affordable to the majority of wine drinkers. The formation of Red Hut wines is their way of addressing both high quality wines and a (relatively) affordable price. The brand also brings New Zealand’s best wine regions into the spotlight across the initial launch of five wines. These includes Albarino from Gisborne, Chardonnay from Hawke's Bay, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough   and Pinot Noir from Central Otago.

The name Red Hut Wines is a nod to New Zealand’s landscape, which is dotted with red huts, particularly at the top of mountain ranges.  

Red Hut wines priced for retail between recommended $24.99 for the Albarino, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc to $35.99 for the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. 

The wines

2025 Red Hut Gisborne Albariño RRP $24.99
Fresh from Gisborne’s coastal maritime climate, this Albariño is a vibrant nod to the grape’s Spanish and Portuguese roots. Bright and tangy, it bursts with citrus flavours, unfolding into a lightly tangy tasting wine that virtually begs for seafood. Medium-bodied and youthful, it’s authentically varietal, carrying the unmistakable zingy taste of Albariño.

2025 Red Hut Awatere Valley Pinot Gris RRP $24.99
Sourced from the coastal Awatere Valley, this Pinot Gris is a lively, light bodied wine with aromas of pear and apple, giving way to a hint of white peach on the palate, finishing with a crisp, clean lift that makes each sip refreshing and moreish.  

2025 Red Hut Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc RRP $24.99
If ever a variety could deliver the taste of bottled sunshine, then Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is it. Tropical fruit salad notes of passionfruit, guava and pineapple cut through a flinty fresh style in a medium bodied wine from a very good vintage; 2025.

2024 Red Hut Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay RRP $35.99
Hawke’s Bay has long been Chardonnay country and this one shows exactly why. Creamy in texture, it brings generous aromas of peach and nectarine with subtle nutty notes. An excellent match for roast chicken or a platter of cheese and crackers.

2024 Red Hut Central Otago Pinot Noir RRP $35.99
Pinot Noir is Central Otago’s calling card and this wine delivers it with flair; fragrant red cherries and ripe redcurrants take centre stage in a medium bodied wine with gentle spice and a whisper of wild thyme on the finish —a signature of the region’s majestic landscapes. It was matured in older French oak for 12 months, prior to bottling.