Media Release

12 May 2020

With a long-standing reputation for crafting distinctive quality wines, Selaks introduces 1934 – a premium range of Hawke’s Bay wines crafted to celebrate the year founder Marino Selak sold his first vintage and honour the winery’s tradition. Launched in March 2020, Selaks 1934 comprises of four varietals: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé at $16.99 (RRP), and Merlot at $18.99 (RRP).

Selaks 1934 Chardonnay boasts a smooth and creamy texture complimented by well-integrated toasty oak characters, while Selaks 1934 Sauvignon Blanc displays a crisp, refreshing palate highlighted with tropical fruit and lemon and lime flavours. Elegant and finely flavoured, Selaks 1934 Rosé exhibits a crisp natural acidity, fresh berry flavours and a dry finish, and Selaks 1934 Merlot is rich and mouth-filling, delivering a superb balance between fruit sweetness, acidity and tannins.

Selaks Head Winemaker Brett Fullerton, who has been part of the Selaks extended family for almost 30 years, says 1934 is crafted for the modern palate while paying homage to Selaks’ 85-year winemaking tradition.

“As one of New Zealand’s earliest wineries, Selaks is steeped in tradition and expertise, coupled with a thirst for winemaking excellence that has been passed down through many generations. Today, the Selaks winemaking team is committed to producing consistently elegant wines that reflect our heritage and honour our founder, while still appealing to today’s wine consumer and their taste preferences.”

The year 1934 is when founder Marino Selak sold his very first vintage, creating a winery that became a New Zealand favourite. Shortly after in 1939, Marino’s nephew Mate arrived from Croatia to join the growing family business and was involved until the 1980s.

Brett continues, “It’s a privilege to craft a wine that symbolises Selaks’ humble beginnings and celebrates the preservation of quality and tradition. Both Marino and Mate Selak saw wine as the centre of the table and a way to bring family and friends together. This sentiment continues to guide our winemaking philosophy to this day.”

The new Selaks 1934 range bottle label features innovative augmented reality (AR) technology, designed to bring to life the Selaks story in an engaging way. Selaks is one of the few New Zealand wine brands currently offering this technology. Consumers who have a smartphone can simply download the free Selaks 1934 application from the Google Play Store or Apple Store for an interactive experience and to discover the winery’s rich brand history, 1934 tasting notes and food pairing advice, as well as stockist details.

The Selaks 1934 range is available in all major supermarkets and liquor stores nationally starting at RRP $16.99. For more information on Selaks 1934, visit www.selaks.co.nz.

To download the Selaks 1934 application, visit Google Play Store or Apple Store.