At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Region
- New Zealand, Auckland
- Base
- Kumeu, West Auckland
- Main grape
- Chardonnay
- Signature wines
- Kumeu Village Chardonnay, Estate Chardonnay
- Defining feature
- Brajkovich family ownership and Burgundy influenced Chardonnay
The Producer
Kumeu River Wines is based in Kumeu, West Auckland, and remains owned and operated by the Brajkovich family. The winery produces around 250,000 bottles annually. Its range includes Kumeu Village Chardonnay and Estate Chardonnay.
Place
Kumeu River Wines is based at 550 Highway 16 in Kumeu, West Auckland. Estate Chardonnay is a Kumeu wine drawn from vineyards in the Kumeu region. Village Chardonnay reaches beyond that home region by including Hawkes Bay fruit.
Soil And Site
The Kumeu vineyards cover 30 hectares and lie predominantly on clay soils over sandstone. Those soils retain water at depth during summer, so the estate does not require irrigation. Lyre trellising improves light exposure and helps increase grape maturity and quality.
Story
The Brajkovich family's first generation in New Zealand came from Živogošće, a Croatian village where Mick and Katé Brajkovich tended vines and made wine. The family arrived in New Zealand in the late 1930s. By 1944, the Brajkovich family had established the Kumeu property.
During the 1980s, the winery changed its name to Kumeu River Wines and began producing a Burgundy influenced style of Chardonnay with extended lees ageing and malolactic fermentation.
Vineyards And Cellar
Milan Brajkovich is the vineyard director and manages 40 hectares, including 10 hectares belonging to regional growers who supply Kumeu River. All grapes are harvested by hand, allowing substandard fruit to be removed during picking.
The grapes are gently whole bunch pressed to extract the best possible juice, then fermented in French oak barrels. Fermentation relies on indigenous yeasts, with no added yeast. The 2024 Estate Chardonnay was wholly barrel fermented, completed malolactic fermentation and matured for 11 months in French oak.
Wines
Kumeu Village Chardonnay is the entry level Chardonnay in the range. Estate Chardonnay is drawn from six vineyard sites in Kumeu. Together, the two bottles set a regional blend beside a Kumeu selection from multiple sites.
In The Glass
Village Chardonnay has lime and lemon aromas, with fig and white peach behind a flinty mineral palate. The texture is sleek and tightly coiled around salty acidity, and the finish is crisp.
Estate Chardonnay is fragrant and toasty, with peach richness, refreshing acidity, preserved lemon, stone fruit, nougat, ginger and salt. Its palate is dense and layered, with lingering complexity.
A Bottle To Understand It
Choose the 2025 Kumeu Village Chardonnay. It is made from 42% Kumeu fruit and 58% Hawkes Bay fruit. Rays Road contributes 32% of the final blend and brings a limestone edge. An old barrel component adds richness while keeping overt oak influence low.
Anecdote
In 1989, Michael Brajkovich became New Zealand's first Master of Wine. He had trained in oenology at Roseworthy College in South Australia, where he graduated top of his class. The title came during the decade when the Brajkovich winery changed its name to Kumeu River Wines and began producing a Burgundy influenced style of Chardonnay. That style used indigenous yeasts, extended lees ageing and malolactic fermentation.
Final Word
Kumeu River Wines is a Brajkovich family winery in West Auckland. Its vineyards lie on clay over sandstone, and its Chardonnay is fermented in French oak.
Sources
https://kumeuriver.co.nz/pages/people-place-story https://www.nzwine.com/en/winery/kumeu-river https://kumeuriver.co.nz/products/kumeu-village-chardonnay https://kumeuriver.co.nz/collections/all/products/estate-chardonnay https://wilsondaniels.com/wine/kumeu-river/village-chardonnay-new-zealand/ https://wilsondaniels.com/wine/chardonnay-village-kumeu-2020/ https://kumeuriver.co.nz/blogs/news/wine-enthusiast-s-2026-buying-guide-is-out-with-christine-pickard-reviewing-our-2024-collection-of-chardonnays