Montana Wines

Not to be confused with Montana wine.
Montana Wines
Wholly owned subsidiary
Industry wine
Founded 1961
Headquarters Auckland, New Zealand
Number of employees
 750 (permanent)
Parent Pernod-Ricard
Website http://www.montana.co.nz

Montana Wines is New Zealand's largest wine company, owning vineyards in Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Marlborough, and Waipara.

History

Montana was founded by a Croatian immigrant, Ivan Yukich (Jukić), who planted his first vines in 1934 in the Waitakere Ranges west of Auckland. The first wine was sold in 1944, and by 1960, 10 hectares were planted. Ivan's sons, Mate and Frank, had become involved, and they set up the company Montana Wines in 1961. By the end of the 1960s, the company had expanded further, planting land south of Auckland.

In 1973, the company expanded into Gisborne and Marlborough. Montana exported its first wines in 1980.

Corporate history

Montana was listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange, initially as 'Corporate Investments Limited', and then as Montana Wines. Montana successfully purchased Corbans Wines in November 2002, New Zealand's second largest producer. Montana was then itself bought out by Allied Domecq in 2001,[1] after trumping Lion Nathan's takeover offer. Allied Domecq was then subsequently bought by Pernod-Ricard in 2005,[2] and Montana now operates under the name Pernod Ricard NZ Ltd.[3]

Wineries

Montana has five wineries spread around the country.

Brancott Winery

Located on State Highway 1, just south of Blenheim, the Brancott winery predominantly produces Sauvignon blanc, and makes wine from Waipara and Marlborough regions. Many of the grapes for Montana's sparkling wines are pressed here, but secondary fermentation is carried out at the Tamaki Winery. It was opened in 1977.

Church Road Winery

Founded in 1897, the Church Road Winery is one of the three oldest in the Hawkes Bay. The first commercial Cabernet Sauvignon in New Zealand was produced here in 1949 by Tom McDonald. The Church Road facility was purchased by Montana in 1988. It continues as a relatively boutique operation compared to the other wineries, mainly contributing to the Church Road brands.

Corbans Winery

The Corbans winery was established by McWilliams Wines in 1981, changing hands to Cooks in 1984, Corbans in 1987, and Montana in 2000. It is a more commercial scale facility than Church Road and contributes to Longridge, Corbans, Verde, Huntaway and Robard & Butler brands.

Montana Gisborne Winery

Montana Gisborne Winery has the largest wine-making capacity in the country. Montana's original facility was acquired in 1973, from the business established by Fredrich Wohnsiedler (whose name lives on in a Montana product line). Two further adjacent facilities have been incorporated, from Penfolds NZ in 1986 and Corbans in 2000.

Tamaki Winery

All Montana wines are bottled at the Tamaki Winery in Auckland, opened in 1975. This also means that all sparkling wines undergo secondary fermentation (in the bottle) in Auckland.

Key Brands

Some of Montana's different brands.

Montana operates a large number of different brands. Ranked approximately in order of prestige

Church Road

The Tom McDonald Winery on Church Road which is now Church Road Winery, represents a flagship brand, although not obviously associated with Montana. It is located in Taradale near Napier, and produces Cabernet blends, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon blanc. Church Road sub-labels are:

Montana

Montana has several levels under the label Montana. The most prestigious 'estate' label consists of a single vineyard wine deemed to come from the premium growing area for that variety, labelled by the first letter of that vineyard.

Deutz

From 1988, Montana's premium sparkling wine brand has been a collaboration with Champagne Deutz of France.

Lindauer

A standalone brand for sparkling wine.[4] Lindauer has won recognition internationally, and is New Zealand's most exported wine.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Brand stays but Montana name to go". The New Zealand Herald. 19 August 2004. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  2. ↑ "New Zealand wine to remain French". The New Zealand Herald. 13 January 2006. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  3. ↑ http://www.beveragedaily.com/Financial/Diageo-rejects-Montana-wines-buyout-deal
  4. ↑ Ray, Jonathan (27 November 2009). "Where to buy your wine for Christmas". The Daily Telegraph. London.

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