14 | A true family affair... Amber and Tyler Soljans - fifth generation winemakers. SECTION Soljans Estate Winery T T Karen Phelps Cambridge Town Hall Upgrades for cherished historic building T T Sue Russell New Zealand’s only five-generation, family-owned winery has added further accolades to its distinguished history, with recent awards recognising both the quality of its wines and the enduring legacy of the Soljan family. Soljans Estate Winery’s Fusion Sparkling Moscato NV has been awarded a silver medal with 92 points at the 2025 New World Wine Awards, one of New Zealand’s most recognised wine competitions. The Kumeu-based winery has also been honoured by LuxLife’s Food and Drink Awards 2025, receiving recognition as Best Family-Run Heritage Winery 2025 in New Zealand, an acknowledgement of the passion, innovation and excellence that has defined the business since 1937. “We are proudly family-owned-and-operated now for five generations of Soljans.” says Amber Soljan, brand and marketing manager for the estate. “As the only New Zealand winery to have this amount of family heritage, we bring this passion, dedication and care from our table to our customers.” The awards arrive as Soljans prepares for its summer season of wine releases. The recently launched 2025 Kumeu Pinot Gris from An iconic piece of history is undergoing a significant refurbishment right in the heart of Cambridge, much to the delight of the town’s residents. Designed by architect A B Herrold and built on the site of the town’s saleyards, the Cambridge Town Hall was constructed by Chappell & Wooley, opening in 1909. For many decades, until 1977, it housed the town’s library; however, its main purposes since then have centred around the use of two rooms either side of the main hall — the Victorian and Edwardian rooms. Simon Brew, general manager of the Cambridge Town Hall Community Trust, says the work, programmed in two stages, was much needed to breathe new life into these rooms, which are used by community groups and as venues for functions. “We have just so many groups wanting to use the Town Hall and the rooms weren’t really fit for purpose in terms of decor, lighting and facilities. Last year, the hall was booked for 270 days by groups, organisations and for functions, which is wonderful to see,” says Simon. Both rooms are receiving substantial makeovers, including heating, new bar facilities and new flooring. “The Victorian Room is receiving a much more modern bar facility and kitchenette and additional toilets, and a significant upgrade to lighting to bring it up to standard to hold exhibitions.” In the Edwardian Room, similar attention is being given, with a bar upgrade and full refresh of decor. Rimu timber is purposefully being recycled and the room will also be home to a new commercial-standard kitchen. “The Victoria Room has a beautiful pressedtin ceiling, and we’re currently working on a lighting plan. It’s going to be tremendous when the work is completed,” says Simon. the Home Block showcases exactly what the variety should deliver. “Our 2025 vintage Home Block is fresh, vibrant, and exactly what people want in a pinot gris. This drop has an off-dry style, a crisp nashi pear and granny smith apple nose, and rounds off with a lovely peach and apple crumble flavour to fill the palate with a delicate finish,” explains Amber. Available now, the pinot gris will be followed by Two Daughters Rosé 2025 and Sauvignon Blanc 2025, both set for release in November. The Two Daughters Rosé takes its name from Tony Soljan’s daughters, Tonia and Lisa, reflecting the deeply personal nature of the family’s winemaking tradition. What truly distinguishes Soljans from other wineries is not merely its longevity, but the way it approaches the entire wine experience, says Amber. Located just 20 minutes from Auckland CBD in the Kumeu wine region, the estate operates as more than a production facility – it’s a destination where wine education and enjoyment take centre stage. “The way we approach wine is around the experience. It’s about creating an approachable space where people can ask questions, learn and enjoy wine,” says Amber. This inclusive approach extends throughout the estate, which features a cellar door, bistro and stunning grounds perfect for celebrations. Work on the Victorian Room commenced in January and demolishing work was set to get underway in early April. “All this work is stage 1 of a much larger upgrade. That will concentrate on the main hall, so we’ll be activating a fundraising programme, but in the meantime we had sufficient funding to undertake the work in the two rooms, which is great given how in demand they are.” And as a nod to its important place in the town and its history, Simon says there is a careful process underway of cataloguing all the genuinely historically significant items for eventual reuse. Funding for the current project was allocated in the Waipa District Council’s Long Term Plan in 2021-2022. “We’ve also received significant discounts from some of the local businesses, which have been very generous.” Both rooms are receiving substantial makeovers Garden Transformation Specialists 021 990 812 • cherie@forknhoe.nz forknhoe.nz • Concept & Design • Softscaping • Hardscaping • Tree Care • Commercial • Maintenance If you already have an established garden space but are struggling with the upkeep, ForknHoe can sort that out too. You can leave the grunt work to the team who can do all manner of things from pest control, weed control and disease control to pruning, trimming as well as fertilizing. Proud to be associated with Soljans Estate Winery PROJECT MANAGEMENT Commercial | Residential | Education Health and Aged Care | Heritage | Seismic Local and Central Government | Heritage Infrastructure | Industrial octa.co.nz office@hn.octa.co.nz 07 834 2497 AUCKLAND | HAMILTON | | TAURANGA | NAPIER | NEW PLYMOUTH | NELSON WELLINGTON | CHRISTCHURCH | QUEENSTOWN | DUNEDIN The team at CHP Electrical are proud to support Cambridge Town Hall Phone 07 848 2122 or 0800 245 368 Email: info@chp.nz www.chpelectrical.nz
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=