OVER 90 YEARS OF WINEMAKING TRADITION
From humble beginnings in the Northland kauri gum fields early last century, Babich Wines have become one of New Zealand’s most respected wineries. Their reputation for making excellent wine extends beyond New Zealand’s shores.
Link To Biography of company founder - Josip Petrov Babich
Early History Timeline:
1895: Babich Wines’ founder Josip Babich was born in Dalmatia (part of modern-day Croatia).
1910: Fourteen year-old Josip emigrated to New Zealand to join his brothers who were earning a living by digging and selling kauri gum in New Zealand’s far north.
1912: Josip planted his first vineyard on the terraces above the Kaikino Swamp gum field.
1916: Josip made his first New Zealand wine, selling it in cask and bottle under the name Babich Brothers.
1919: Josip and his brothers moved to a 29 hectare (72 acres) wilderness property in Henderson Valley (West Auckland) that they had bought in 1911. Initially they established a small orchard and planted classical meunier vines.
1929: Josip married Mara Grgic and they had five children over the following years.
1960-70: Expansion of winery and vineyard, mainly for table wine products.
1977: First purchase of grapes from Gisborne for table wine production. Winery re-equipped and turned into a table wine producing facility.
1980: First exports to Europe - a highlight of Josip's winemaking career.
1983: Josip Babich dies aged 87 years.
1991: Babich Wines processes 1,000 tonnes annually. Wines are marketed nationally and exported to UK, Australia, USA, Canada, Switzerland, Denmark and Germany. 75th Anniversary celebrated.
1994: Death of Matriarch Mara Babich - aged 91 years.
1996: 80th Anniversary - Introduction of new label "The Patriarch", in honour of founder, Josip Babich. Peter Babich honoured as Fellow (Life Member) of the Wine Institute of New Zealand Inc. Babich family homestead sold and removed from property (area required for expansion). New bottling hall built and new bottling line installed (on homestead site). Joe Babich appointed Chief Wine Judge for Air New Zealand Wine Awards, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997. Change in management, Peter Babich, Chairman, Joe Babich, Managing Director.
1998: Company purchases Wakefield Downs, a 42 hectare vineyard in the Awatere Valley, Marlborough.
2000: Shareholding in Raupara Vintners Winery in Marlborough purchased, thus enabling the Company to maximise quality by producing the wines close to the South Island vineyards.
2001: David Babich (3rd generation, Peter's middle son), R.B.Oe (Roseworthy Batchelor of Oenology), B.Com, (Double Major Marketing & Management), joins the company as Assistant General Manager.
2006: 90th Anniversary. Black-tie dinner held at the winery on 2nd December for 260 guests, including Prime Minister Helen Clark and husband, Professor Peter Davis.
2007: Babich takes over Rongopai Wines and transfers wine production to the Henderson winery.
Babich Wines’ Transformation into a World-class Winery
From the late 1940s the family increasingly focused on winemaking. Josip’s sons also became involved in the business, with eldest son Peter joining in 1949, and Joe Jnr joining the company in 1958 and taking over winemaking responsibilities in 1962.
With Peter and Joe Babich at the helm, Babich Wines was transformed from a small, predominantly fortified wine producer into a modern winery that is renowned for producing world-class wines.
Today Babich is one of New Zealand's largest family-owned wine companies, and a new generation is continuing what Josip began. In 2001 Peter’s second son, David Babich, became the first member of the third generation to join the company.
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