Pernod Ricard NZ
Encyclopedia
Pernod Ricard NZ is New Zealand
's largest wine
-maker, formed when Pernod Ricard
took over Allied Domecq, which had previously taken over Montana Wines
. The companies operations and labels are still largely associated with Montana (and also Corbans Wines, itself taken over by Montana). The company has operations based in Marlborough
, Gisborne
, Hawke's Bay
and North Canterbury.
The company has a staff of around 750, which increases to over 1,000 during vintage
. The company itself is a division of Pernod Ricard Pacific
, which is a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard
, one of the world's largest makers of spirits
and alcohol
.
in New Zealand
until they were purchased by Montana Wines
in November 2002. Corbans now exists as a label of Pernod Ricard NZ following several takeovers of Montana. Corban Wines was started in 1902 by an Assid Abraham Corban; a Lebanese
immigrant who arrived in New Zealand in 1892. He purchased for £320 a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) block of land in Henderson
, Auckland
, although at the time this was quite some distance from what was known as Auckland. He named the block of land Mt Lebanon Vineyards.
The first vintage was in 1908, coninciding with the local electorate voting in prohibition
, meaning he was unable to sell wine from the property. Assid's son Wadier took over wine-making in 1916. By the 1920s the Corban family were the largest winemakers in New Zealand. Development of different vineyards by the five sons of Assid Corban continued until 1963 when the partnership of the five brothers was converted into Corban Wines Ltd. The family were unable to finance increasing competition with Montana Wines
, with Rothmans (later Mangnum Corporation) taking a shareholding. By 1979, Rothmans had taken full control of Corbans.
Assid Corban's original plantings were Black Hamburghs, Chasselas
, Hermitage, and Cabernet Sauvignon
. By the 1960s, Corbans produced New Zealand's first commercial Muller-Thurgau
, Pinotage
, and Chardonnay
wines.
By the 1980s, Corbans was producing wines under the label Corbans, but also Stoneleigh
and Robard and Butler. While Corbans are no longer associated with the Corban family, a descendant, Alwyn Corban, owns Ngatarawa Wines.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's largest wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
-maker, formed when Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is a French company that produces distilled beverages. The company's eponymous products, Pernod Anise and Ricard Pastis, are both anise-flavoured liqueurs and are often referred to simply as Pernod or Ricard...
took over Allied Domecq, which had previously taken over Montana Wines
Montana Wines
Montana Wines is New Zealand's largest wine company, owning vineyards in Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Marlborough, and Waipara.- History :Montana was founded by a Croatian immigrant, Ivan Yukich , who planted his first vines in 1934 in the Waitakere Ranges west of Auckland. The first wine was sold in...
. The companies operations and labels are still largely associated with Montana (and also Corbans Wines, itself taken over by Montana). The company has operations based in Marlborough
Marlborough, New Zealand
Marlborough is one of the regions of New Zealand, located in the northeast of the South Island. Marlborough is a unitary authority, both a region and a district, and its council is located at Blenheim. Marlborough is known for its dry climate, the picturesque Marlborough Sounds, and sauvignon blanc...
, Gisborne
Gisborne, New Zealand
-Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped...
, Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay is a region of New Zealand. Hawke's Bay is recognised on the world stage for its award-winning wines. The regional council sits in both the cities of Napier and Hastings.-Geography:...
and North Canterbury.
The company has a staff of around 750, which increases to over 1,000 during vintage
Vintage
Vintage, in wine-making, is the process of picking grapes and creating the finished product . A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year. In certain wines, it can denote quality, as in Port wine, where Port houses make and...
. The company itself is a division of Pernod Ricard Pacific
Pernod Ricard Pacific
Premium Wine Brands, formerly Pernod Ricard Pacific, is a large Australian wine, spirits, and beverage company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary and regional entity of wine and spirits producer Pernod Ricard, the co-leader of the global wine and spirits industry.In 1989 Pernod Ricard purchased...
, which is a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is a French company that produces distilled beverages. The company's eponymous products, Pernod Anise and Ricard Pastis, are both anise-flavoured liqueurs and are often referred to simply as Pernod or Ricard...
, one of the world's largest makers of spirits
Distilled beverage
A distilled beverage, liquor, or spirit is an alcoholic beverage containing ethanol that is produced by distilling ethanol produced by means of fermenting grain, fruit, or vegetables...
and alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
.
History
Corbans Wines was the second largest producer of wineWine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
until they were purchased by Montana Wines
Montana Wines
Montana Wines is New Zealand's largest wine company, owning vineyards in Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Marlborough, and Waipara.- History :Montana was founded by a Croatian immigrant, Ivan Yukich , who planted his first vines in 1934 in the Waitakere Ranges west of Auckland. The first wine was sold in...
in November 2002. Corbans now exists as a label of Pernod Ricard NZ following several takeovers of Montana. Corban Wines was started in 1902 by an Assid Abraham Corban; a Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
immigrant who arrived in New Zealand in 1892. He purchased for £320 a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) block of land in Henderson
Henderson, New Zealand
Henderson is a major suburb of Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 13 kilometres to the west of Auckland city centre, and two kilometres to the west of the Whau River, a southwestern arm of the Waitemata Harbour.-Description:...
, Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, although at the time this was quite some distance from what was known as Auckland. He named the block of land Mt Lebanon Vineyards.
The first vintage was in 1908, coninciding with the local electorate voting in prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
, meaning he was unable to sell wine from the property. Assid's son Wadier took over wine-making in 1916. By the 1920s the Corban family were the largest winemakers in New Zealand. Development of different vineyards by the five sons of Assid Corban continued until 1963 when the partnership of the five brothers was converted into Corban Wines Ltd. The family were unable to finance increasing competition with Montana Wines
Montana Wines
Montana Wines is New Zealand's largest wine company, owning vineyards in Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Marlborough, and Waipara.- History :Montana was founded by a Croatian immigrant, Ivan Yukich , who planted his first vines in 1934 in the Waitakere Ranges west of Auckland. The first wine was sold in...
, with Rothmans (later Mangnum Corporation) taking a shareholding. By 1979, Rothmans had taken full control of Corbans.
Assid Corban's original plantings were Black Hamburghs, Chasselas
Chasselas
Chasselas or Chasselas Blanc is a wine grape variety grown in Switzerland, France, Germany, Portugal, Baja Norte, Mexico, Hungary and New Zealand.Theories of its origin vary. Pierre Galet believes it is a native Swiss variety....
, Hermitage, and Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...
. By the 1960s, Corbans produced New Zealand's first commercial Muller-Thurgau
Müller-Thurgau
Müller-Thurgau is a variety of white grape which was created by Hermann Müller from the Swiss Canton of Thurgau in 1882. It is a crossing of Riesling with Madeleine Royale. It is used to make white wine in Germany, Austria, Northern Italy, Hungary, England, in Australia, Czech Republic, Slovakia,...
, Pinotage
Pinotage
Pinotage is a red wine grape that is South Africa's signature variety. It was bred there in 1925 as a cross between Pinot noir and Cinsaut...
, and Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
wines.
By the 1980s, Corbans was producing wines under the label Corbans, but also Stoneleigh
Stoneleigh
Stoneleigh may mean the following places:* Stoneleigh, Queensland, Australia* Stoneleigh, Surrey, England* Stoneleigh, Virginia, Stanleytown, Virginia, USA* Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, England...
and Robard and Butler. While Corbans are no longer associated with the Corban family, a descendant, Alwyn Corban, owns Ngatarawa Wines.
Further reading
- Cooper, Michael. (1988). The Wines and Vineyards of New Zealand (3rd Ed.); photography by Robin MorrisonRobin MorrisonRobin Morrison was a New Zealand documentary photographer, best known for his unpretentious portrayal of New Zealand countryside, everyday life and quirky architecture....
; foreword by Jancis RobinsonJancis RobinsonJancis Mary Robinson OBE, MW is a British wine critic, journalist and editor of wine literature. She currently writes a weekly column for the Financial Times, and writes for her website jancisrobinson.com...
. Auckland: Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 0 340 431377.