This month, we head back up to Kumeu near Auckland, to visit Soljans Estate Winery. Family owned and operated since 1937, The Soljan family are proud to be the only New Zealand winery to be family owned and operated for five generations.
Part of the Kumeu wine region in West Auckland, Soljans Estate is a short drive from Auckland CBD, offering a cellar door, bistro, and stunning atmosphere for all types of celebrations.
THE PEOPLE
The Soljans story begins centuries ago in the little town of Stari Grad, on the island of Hvar in Croatia. It was here in this beautiful, historic township that our family’s winemaking tradition began. In 1927, Bartul Soljan and his wife Rakelina, and their children sailed to the ‘New World’, with the art of winemaking stowed neatly in their hearts.
After breaking in the land and planting the first vines, their dream of bringing winemaking to New Zealand became a reality. In 1932, Bartul established the first Soljans Family Vineyard, Pergola Wines, and planted some of the very first vines for the area, in Henderson, West Auckland. In 1937, Bartul’s eldest son, Frank, eager to own his own winery, purchased a property also in Lincoln Road, Henderson, and Soljans Wines was born. Frank and his wife Rona spent the next 30 years building up the business.
As the 1970s came along, it became time for Frank and his wife Rona to pass the reigns of the company down to his two sons Tony and Rex. Tony Soljan and his brother Rex Soljan joined the family winery after leaving school. With a bold vision, Tony successfully brought Soljans’ wine onto New Zealand’s dinner tables.
Today there are currently three generations of Soljans involved at the winery, Tony Soljan and his wife Colleen, their daughters Tonia and Lisa and Tonia’s children, Tyler and Amber Soljan. Read more about the family here. https://soljans.co.nz/pages/our-story
THE VINEYARD
The Soljans vineyard on the estate is a very small, boutique production covering only about two hectares. On the estate they grow three varieties – Pinot Gris, Pinotage and Chardonnay. Their other varieties are grown on contract vineyards throughout the rest of the country, sourcing the best grapes from the most ideal region.
Auckland as a region is quite wet – they receive over 1,000mm of rain annually. The climate is also quite warm, and the most difficult thing to contend with is the humidity. This increases disease pressure quite drastically when compared to other regions and makes growing sensitive varieties like Chardonnay and Pinot Gris difficult.
That being said, Kumeu in particular, is known for producing world-class Chardonnay and when disease pressure is managed properly the quality of the crop is outstanding. The rich clay soils in the region and sunny aspect they enjoy combine with the surrounding farms and orchards to create the perfect terroir for a uniquely ripe, tropical Chardonnay.
The Chardonnay is looking just as great quality just like last year with an increase in volume. The Pinotage, and Pinot Gris are both looking healthy and ready to become stunning wines. All of their Kumeu grapes are hand-picked and travel a maximum of 500 metres directly to the winery, from the vine.
WINE-MAKING
In terms of winemaking, the Pinot Gris is crushed and de-stemmed then gently pressed with the free-run juice separated from the pressings to preserve the quality of the juice. This is then cold-settled overnight, racked off the lees and fermented in stainless steel to preserve freshness and the delicate aromatics of the variety.
Their Chardonnay grapes, if they are of exceptional quality, are usually made into their premium Fifth Generation Series. They press the Chardonnay as whole bunches to avoid over-pressing the grapes as well as preserving acid levels and adding more structure and complexity in the wine. The juice is then cold-settled overnight and racked into French oak barriques and fermented.
The slightly warmer fermentation in the barrels produces a rich, full-bodied wine with ripe fruit characteristics. Full malo-lactic fermentation enhances that further, as well as lees stirring at least once a day during fermentation. The Chardonnay is then stored in those barrels for at least 18 months to extract the oak tannins and add further to the structure of the wine.
Their Pinotage is quite a robust grape and largely requires very little intervention in the vineyard. When it comes to harvest time, the grapes are crushed into an open-top vat and fermented quite warm over a few days. They punch down the cap by hand twice per day for a few weeks during malo-lactic fermentation before transferring the wine to French oak barriques where it is stored for another 18 months.
Previous vintages have resulted in a concentrated wine full of ripe fruit characters with good acidity and a backbone of smoky, savouriness that is typical of the variety. They have also successfully produced a delicious rosé from that block during vintages that have not met our quality standards.
The grapes they source from other vineyards are each treated with care to get the best possible wine into every glass.
THE WINES
Soljans produce a range of wines from their own Kumeu vineyards, and from selected vineyards in Marlborough, Gisborne and the Hawke’s Bay regions. White varieties include, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer & even Muscat. Red varieties include Pinot Noir, Merlot, Malbec, Syrah and Pinotage.
They also have a range of both Methode Traditionelle bubbles and Rosé wines, and a couple of Ports as well – so they really do have something for everyone’s taste buds and budget – from under $10.00 to $60.00.
Shop for the current releases here: https://soljans.co.nz/collections/
THE CELLAR DOOR
Step into history and sip your way through Soljans at the Cellar Door, the only place in the world you will find the full range of wines for sale. Experience a Wine Tours often run by either Tony (3rd Generation) or Tyler Soljan (5th Generation), and visit the gift shop containing items curated and hand selected by Colleen Soljan herself (3rd Generation).
Winery Tours are a wonderful way to learn about the art of wine-making, the Soljans history, or even just to taste a range of different wines. Their wonderful guides will take you through their winery and answer any questions you have, ensuring you enjoy your tour, leading you back to our Cellar door where you will enjoy a guided tasting of some of their ranges. https://soljans.co.nz/pages/cellar-door
THE BISTRO
In the Soljans Bistro, their award-winning Chefs develop seasonal dishes in a Mediterranean style menu with a kiwi twist, a lovely nod to their Croatian heritage and New Zealand home. The Bistro is open 6 days a week, and caters to all ages, with a children’s menu available, and a fantastic outdoor area with a playhouse for kids to burn off some energy. Check out the Food, Drinks & Kids menus here:
https://soljans.co.nz/pages/the-bistro
THE VENUE
The Soljans Winery is also a fantastic venue for your Wedding or that Special Celebration: Their modern country heritage vineyard blends the timeless beauty of family heritage with a fresh, modern flair to create the perfect setting for your special day. Whether your vision is a romantic vineyard wedding, an intimate gathering, or a grand celebration, their spaces are designed to bring your dreams to life.
They have a dedicated Wedding Coordinator, bringing expertise and genuine care to help bring your vision to life. They also have a handpicked a list of trusted local vendors to take the guesswork out of planning, so you can focus on what matters most; celebrating your special day with the ones you love.
Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering or a grand event, Soljans is just 20 minutes from the city, and offers the perfect blend of elegance and comfort. With plenty of parking, an accessible one-level venue, and a range of menu options to cater for everyone, Soljans estate is perfect for your next gathering.
Their private function rooms can host up to 80 guests for lunch or up to 150 for dinner, with options to add live music, entertainment, or our built-in sound system to bring your celebration to life. Their dedicated function coordinator will be by your side, ensuring each detail is crafted just as you envisioned.