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 now referred to as Brancott Estate, is New Zealand's largest wine company, owning vineyards in Hawkes Bay, Marlborough, and Waipara.
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.
Montana was listed on the , 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, after trumping Lion Nathan's takeover offer. Allied Domecq was then subsequently bought by Pernod-Ricard in 2005, and Montana now operates under the name Pernod Ricard NZ Ltd.
Montana has five wineries spread around the country.
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.
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. In recent years, the winery has increased its operation (with the closure of the Corbans Hawkes Bay winery) and the expansion of the Church Road brand portfolio.
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Wikipedia