It feels like there are few places in Auckland where the pace and pressure of the city can melt away. But just twenty minutes from the CBD, Soljans Estate Winery in Kumeu seems to be one of those places. You feel it as soon as you drive through the gates. The air just shifts.
Part vineyard and part gathering place, Soljans has been quietly shaping New Zealand’s wine story for nearly ninety years and is proudly the only winery in the country with five generations still involved.
This is a story of a family who have made it their life’s work to turn fruit from the vine into something that really celebrates life’s moments. And it’s a story that began centuries ago in Stari Grad, a small town on the Croatian island of Hvar, where generations before them tended to vines and learnt the rhythm of the land.
In 1927, Bartul and Rakelina Soljan carried that tradition, along with their young children, across the world to New Zealand. The art of winemaking stowed carefully in their hearts.
By 1932, Bartul had broken ground in Henderson, planting vines and establishing Pergola Wines, one of the first vineyards in the area. But it was his eldest son Frank, eager to forge his own path, who in 1937 purchased land on Lincoln Road and founded Soljans Wines. Frank and his wife Rona steadily grew the winery and laid the foundation for what would become a defining family legacy.
The mantle later passed to the next generation, brothers Tony and Rex. With Tony’s vision and determination, Soljans became a household name, appearing on dinner tables across the country. For more than 60 years the winery remained on Lincoln Road, but as the city spread, suburban streets closed in, and the area became a little more… grey, it became clear that the time had come to find a new home.
That move came in 2002, Tony and his wife Colleen found the perfect site in Kumeu. Surrounded by open countryside and still only twenty minutes from the CBD, Soljans Estate Winery was reborn. The move marked not only a change of address but a renewal of spirit. A commitment to remain family-first, connected to the land and welcoming to everyone who visits.
Today, three generations of Soljans work side by side at the estate. Tony and Colleen remain involved, with daughters Tonia and Lisa contributing to the running of the winery. Tonia’s children, Tyler and Amber, represent the fifth generation. Their passion began early too. Tyler made his first bottle of wine at just five, while Amber became the first female Soljan winemaker at seven, both bottles still displayed proudly in the family memory cabinet. And yes, they even designed the label.
Now grown, Amber leads the brand with the same pride and conviction that her great-grandfather once did when he planted the family’s first vines. “Wine, like storytelling, is all about creating connections and memories. Our family has spent 90 years crafting wines for life’s important moments. Big and small,” says Amber.
Walking into Soljans today you really do feel the history. The Cellar Door offers a chance to taste premium award-winning wines. The Legacy Méthode Traditionnelle, the Fifth Generation Series Kumeu Chardonnay and the Barrique Reserve black label range, as well as approachable everyday favourites. Each bottle carrying the weight of nearly ninety years of family heritage.
The Bistro feels like an extension of the family table too. Unpretentious, generous and crafted to be enjoyed with wine and great company. The estate has also become part of countless personal stories. Weddings, anniversaries and celebrations where Soljans’ story is woven into those of others.
It’s perhaps no surprise then that Soljans has found a natural partner in New Zealand’s arts and entertainment scene. This year, the winery has been announced as the exclusive wine sponsor of the 2025 New Zealand Screen Awards. It’s a partnership that feels like a celebration of storytelling in all its forms. On screen and in the glass.
At the awards, guests will raise glasses of Soljans’ Legacy Méthode Traditionnelle while celebrating the country’s film and television talent. And just as the Screen Awards honour New Zealand’s storytellers, Soljans honours the quiet enduring story of its own family legacy.
The Kumeu estate has already played its part on screen, appearing in productions such as The Brokenwood Mysteries and Shortland Street. Now, with the Screen Awards partnership, Soljans steps into a new spotlight with not only its own story, but New Zealand’s broader legacy of creativity and connection.
Despite the accolades, the winery really does retain its heart. You come for a tasting, and stay for the conversation. Each experience is a reminder that Soljans’ true success lies not just in the wine but in the people who gather to enjoy it.
With nearly a century of history poured into every glass, Soljan’s story is still being written with each new generation.
Visit Soljans online or experience it for yourself at 366 State Highway 16, Kumeū, Auckland.