BRANCOTT ESTATE

Brancott vineyard was the original site of their Sauvignon Blanc plantings in Marlborough. Brancott went out to disprove the popular idea that New Zealand’s South Island was too cold to grow wine grapes. With a unique combination of soil, sun and climate, Brancott pioneered New Zealand’s first internationally-acclaimed Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Today, Brancott continues to believe in the philosophy that “anything is possible with a curious nature”.

Brancott Estate has also merged with Montana. The name used by Yugoslavian immigrant Ivan Yukich for the wines he made in the Waitakere Ranges in West Auckland. Brancott Estate was the home of Montana's flagship Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Patrick Materman

Chief Winemaker, Patrick Materman joined us in February 1990 - and with the experience of over 20 vintages, he has been part of the rapid growth and success of both Brancott Estate wines - and the New Zealand wine industry as a whole. Patrick spent the first four years with us as a cellar hand, then as a trainee winemaker, before moving to Marlborough in 1994 as an assistant winemaker. In 2001, Winestate Magazine awarded Patrick with the ‘New Zealand Winemaker of the Year’ title. At age six Patrick decided he would study horticulture at Massey University and embark on growing flowers, "a Dutch father’s influence" he explains. Floriculture turned into winemaking - and he now considers spending time in vineyards as one of the most important aspects of his job. This involves monitoring vineyard blocks, tasting fruit and determining the optimum harvest date. Eternally curious for opportunities to improve our wines, Patrick is fascinated with the effect of terroir on wine style - seeking to better understand and highlight Marlborough’s sub-regional differences, as well as the differences between regions.