A fresh look for Montana – creators of the original
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Montana wines will appear with newly designed packaging in the coming weeks – giving wine lovers reason to take a fresh
look at these outstanding, award-winning New Zealand wines.
It’s now more than 30 years since Montana’s original 1979 vintage Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc introduced the distinctive
flavours that established New Zealand’s reputation on the world wine stage. As part of the commemorative celebrations,
Montana took the opportunity to freshen up the look of the brand.
“Our new look for Montana wines, being rolled out in New Zealand and around the world, helps us to convey Montana’s
quality and New Zealand heritage,” says Jeff Clarke, chief winemaker.
“Montana has achieved significant milestones in the history of New Zealand wine and we are extremely proud to tell these
stories on our new labels. Our hope with the new look for Montana is that wine lovers will taste and continue to enjoy
the wines and flavours of New Zealand, whilst being reminded of their outstanding quality.”
The new look packaging features a graphic depiction of mountains to accentuate the link between the Montana name and the
mountains that help give the wines their character.
The name Montana was chosen by the brand’s founder, Croatian immigrant Ivan Yukich, after the mountainous location of
his first vineyard in the Waitakere Ranges. His sons, Maté and Frank, retained it when they founded their wine company
in 1961.
It was Frank Yukich who led Montana’s pioneering venture into Marlborough in 1973, which was then a sheep-farming region
considered too cold for grapes. At the time, he correctly predicted, “wines from here will become world famous.” By
1990, Montana Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was named Best Sauvignon Blanc in the world at the influential International
Wine and Spirits Competition in London, heralding the arrival of a new region and wine style on the world stage.
Jeff Clarke says “We think of ourselves as a large boutique winery. To get our wines to people around the world we have
to think big. But we have to act small to continue to make great wines with hands-on care and love. The spirit of
exploration that led Montana to venture into Marlborough is still evident in what we do and the character of the wines
themselves.”
ends