Inside Selaks’ Hawke’s Bay site.
Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook
One of New Zealand’s biggest wine brands is celebrating its 90th birthday.
The Selaks brand began in 1934 when Croatian immigrant Marino Selak first sold wine made from the 300 grape vines growing in his West Auckland market garden.
Marino was the great-uncle of Michael Selak, who said the family only started making wine so they could drink it with friends.
“It sort of grew from there. People said ‘well this isn’t bad compared to what we can buy elsewhere – can you make some more for us’, so they started selling to friends and friends,” he said.
The company now sells more than one million litres of wine a year.
“It’s one of the largest wineries in New Zealand now, with grape holdings and size of production. It’s a value brand so I think people that buy the brand know what they are going to get.
“New Zealand wine now is completely different to … 90 years ago, but it’s heading in the right direction,” Selak said.
Back when the brand started, the family was selling mainly sherry and port.
Matija and Mate Selak.
Photo: Supplied
However, Selaks winemaker Kate Curd said consumers were demanding very different wine varieties now.
“So now we are seeing a lot more of a change over past several years. Rosé is becoming more popular and with the ‘no and low’ programme people are wanting a zero percent alcohol, they’re wanting that alternative,” she said.
Her career in winemaking stemmed from a desire to be outdoors, but also a passion for the lab.
Selaks winemaker Kate Curd.
Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook
“I’ve always really enjoyed science and chemistry and that kind of thing.”
That went a long way when creating no- or low-alcoholic wines, she said.
“It’s no easy task. It’s really missing bits so you’re trying to find alternatives [to] fill out that palate … and make those wines still taste appealing,” she said.