Brancott Estate

Brancott Estate is a winery in Marlborough, New Zealand, first established in 1977 by Frank Yukich. It was the first winery in Marlborough to plant Sauvignon Blanc, which is now the region's signature variety, and dominates in acreage planted. Brancott Estate wines were originally sold under the label of Montana Wines, a winery established by Yukich's father, Ivan Yukich, in 1934 in Auckland. Montana's initial focus was growing grapes for liquor distilling, but it began releasing wine in 1944.

The road to Montana's name change began in 2001 when it was purchased by the British company, Allied Domecq, after establishing itself as one of the largest wine producers in New Zealand. Soon after, Montana wines being sold in the United States took on the label of Brancott Estate, to avoid confusion with the state of Montana. In 2005, Allied Domecq was bought by Pernod Ricard, one of the largest alcoholic beverage companies in the world. It was under this new ownership that Montana finally became solely known as Brancott Estate Wines. Pernod Ricard also owns other significant New Zealand wine producers including Church Road and Stoneleigh.

The first plantings at Brancott Estate were Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling and Silvaner in 1973. It had been thought that New Zealand's South Island was too cold to grow grapes for making wine, so few attempts had been made. In 1975 the first Sauvignon Blanc was planted, with 1979 seeing the first bottled vintage. Brancott Sauvignon Blanc soon found international success, paving the way for Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and the New Zealand wine industry itself. The 1989 Brancott Sauvignon Blanc won the Marquis de Goulaine award at the 21st International Wine and Spirits Competition, and in 1990 Queen Elizabeth II visited the estate while in New Zealand, and planted a vine.

Although Brancott Estate is synonymous with the first Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, the 1979 vintage also saw the first Pinot Noir of the region, now the signature red grape variety of Marlborough.