West Brook Winery
The founder of West Brook, Mick Ivicevich, first came to New Zealand from Dalmatia in 1908 and like many of his country men worked the gum fields of Northland. Whilst visiting his homeland he was caught up in World War I but managed to escape across the Italian frontier to join up with the British forces finally returning to New Zealand in 1933. In the wake of the Great Depression and worked on the big Hauraki Drainage scheme. Within a year he had managed to save enough money to purchase a two hectare piece of land in Awaroa Road in rural Henderson.

Here in the foothills of the bush-clad Waitakere ranges he established a vineyard (initially planted to classic European vinifera varieties) and market garden. The vineyard, like the rest of Henderson was isolated from the city of Auckland, just twenty kilometres away but from the hill above the property, the city could be clearly seen. Mick appropriately called his new vineyard "Panorama Vineyards".

In 1937 a winery was added and the first wines, sherry and port was produced and sold in unlabeled beer bottles at the gate for the princely sum of one shilling and six pence. Following World War 11 Mick's son, Tony who had worked with his father since the beginning, assumed the wine making duties and for the next twenties concentrated in producing award winning ports and sherries, the wine styles then in demand throughout New Zealand.

By the 1990's the historic vineyard and winery had become engulfed by the relentless sprawl of suburbia and made relocation inevitable. In January 2000 West Brook moved away from its 60 year old home into a new purpose built winery in time to process the first vintage of the 21st Century. The new winery complex boasts superb facilities, including a designated tasting gallery that overlooks the inner winery on one side and lovely rolling country vistas on the other.

The complex with its adjoining 20-acre vineyard (already underdevelopment) is located in the Ararimu Valley, in Auckland's Waimauku wine district. This tranquil valley just 25 minutes drive from downtown Auckland will prove to be an exciting visitor destination.

West Brook's aim is to produce premium quality regional wines, true to varietal character and an appreciation of their unique regional origins.

New Zealand's growing conditions are as diverse as those of Bordeaux and Moselle. Its premium wine regions, ideally suited to a wide range of classic grape varieties such as, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Noir, produce quite different styles.

To capture these unique flavours and achieve its aims the company is taking an active role in the development of vineyards in the premium wine regions. At its new home, the first vines, Malbec, Merlot and Chardonnay have already planted been planted and in time the whole 20 acre site will be developed.

These estate-grown grapes are destined for ultra premium, single vineyard wines. West Brook will continue to bring in grapes from Hawkes Bay and Marlborough, long a source of their award winning wines. It is currently working closely with leading Marlborough growers Sandi and Charles Wiffin developing a further 10-hectare vineyard.

Whatever the source, all grapes are rigorously graded and handcrafted, combing modern technology and traditional techniques.
Contact
Phone: +64 9 4119924
Fax: +64 9 4119925
Postal
Address: 		PO Box 21443, Henderson
Staff
Owner: Anthony Ivicevich
Producer Details
Opening Hours: Mon - Sat 10.00am - 5.00pm Sun 11.00am - 5.00pm
Winery Tours: No
Newsletter: No
Wineclub: No
Sales
Cellar Door: Yes
Internet: Yes
Direct Mail: Yes
Via Retailers: Yes
Wines from this Producer
West Brook Barrique Chardonnay | 2000
West Brook Barrique Fermented Chardonnay | 2002 | 2002 | 2001
West Brook Blue Ridge Chardonnay | 2001
West Brook Blue Ridge Late Harvest Riesling | 2002 | 2000
West Brook Cabernet Franc Merlot Shiraz | 2001
West Brook Cabernet Merlot | 2000
West Brook Hawke's Bay Chenin Blanc | 1999
West Brook Henderson Cabernet/Merlot | 1997
West Brook Late Harvest Riesling | 1999
West Brook Marlborough Chardonnay | 2000
West Brook Marlborough Pinot Noir | 2004
West Brook Marlborough Riesling | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 1999
West Brook Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2000 | 1999
West Brook Merlot | 1998
West Brook Merlot Cabernet Franc | 2002
West Brook Merlot Malbec Cabernet | 2004
West Brook Unoaked Chardonnay | 2004