| 105 T T Rosa Watson Family business spans five generations The winery and vineyard is a magnet for wedding couples. Soljans Estate Winery COMMUNITY A Kumeu-based winery with proud Croatian heritage holding a special place in the wine growing region, with fifth generation family members all involved in its success. Soljans Estate sits at the gateway to the Kumeu Wine Country – one of the pioneering locations for the New Zealand wine industry. “You are greeted by traditional stone at the entrance, showcasing our Croatian heritage, surrounded by lush vines and an abundant space for a range of events,” fifth generation family member Amber Soljan explains. The history of Soljans goes back to 1927 when Bartul Soljan and his wife Rakelina, along with their children, sailed to New Zealand, bringing their wine making expertise with them. In 1932, Bartul established the first Soljans Family Vineyard in Henderson, West Auckland. Bartul’s eldest son, Frank, was eager to own his own winery, so in 1937 he purchased a property also in Lincoln Road, Henderson, marking the beginning of Soljans Wine. In the 1970s, his sons Tony and Rex joined the family winery after leaving school, taking on the wine making responsibility from their father. Before moving to Kumeu, the winery was hosting many weddings, and so when building the new site, it was important to enhance this offering, Amber said. “Taking what we learned from last century and applying it in a new, modern way.” She said couples were drawn to the romance of the winery and vineyard, the personable staff and of course the wine. “We have welcomed hundreds of couples through our doors, many of whom are still important regulars in our Bistro today.” Soljans Estate was also a popular venue for corporate events, with a unique setting for meetings, conferences, and team-building activities. “We pride ourselves on providing a unique blend of quality food, cultural heritage, and exceptional hospitality,” Amber said. “Soljans is far more than just a venue, with passionate staff in every section, functions and events are made easy. “There’s no such thing as no.” The rich Croatian heritage and winemaking expertise made it a memorable experience, she said. Along with the bistro that is open for lunch daily, Soljans can host functions for up to 180 guests, and provide catering with an in-house culinary team, with around 20 staff in the wider front of house team. “We’re proud to say we are the only New Zealand winery with five generations of family being involved in the business, showcasing our dedication and hard work over many decades.” Tony Soljan is still running the show, with grandchildren Tyler and Amber also working in the business alongside their parents When they started functions back in the 1980s, Tony’s wife, Colleen, was the sole chef, managing the kitchen and menu by herself and catering to hundreds of guests each season, Amber said. “Now we have a full kitchen and front of house team who continue to provide world class food and service to tens of thousands of guests each year.” During Covid-19 the industry had extreme challenges to try and manage, which Amber said Soljans did successfully by hosting monthly themed dinners that showcased flavours of the world. “Along with offering a temporary “pop-up wedding” package for intimate groups when we had tight number restrictions in place.” The café was rebranding to The Bistro at Soljans in 2021, which had been well received. There was plenty of successes to celebrate also. Soljans gained international recognition when they were included in Canadian Wine Access Magazines Top 20 Winery Restaurants in the World. “A great achievement we are all very proud of.” “We pride ourselves on providing a unique blend of quality food, cultural heritage, and exceptional hospitality.” 021 990 812 • cherie@forknhoe.nz forknhoe.nz Garden Transformation Specialists 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 teamwho can do all manner of things from pest control, weed control and disease control to pruning, trimming as well as fertilizing. • Concept & Design • Softscaping • Hardscaping • Tree Care • Commercial • Maintenance Proud to be associated with Soljans Estate Winery
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