As the sun sets on 2024, it’s time to raise a glass and reflect on a year that’s been nothing short of extraordinary. This year has been a blend of cherished moments, hard work, and the kind of stories that make us smile long after the glasses are empty.
Let’s rewind the highlights of 2024… a year that’s been as much about family as it has been about the wine.
The Heartbeat of Brockenchack: Our 2024 Vintage
This year marked the second vintage in our state-of-the-art winery and bottling plant, and what a season it was! From bud burst to bottle, the vineyard once again proved why Eden Valley is home to some of the finest wines in the world. Our 2024 vintage delivered in spades, showcasing vibrant whites and rich, structured reds – a testament to our vineyard’s unique terroir and the passion of our team.
Honouring Archie and Marilyn: New Wines Announced
2024 was a special year for new wines, with two announcements stealing the spotlight in our Aussie market. First, we unveiled the Archie Scott Mataro, a tribute to the youngest member of our family, whose boundless energy and cheeky grin inspire us every day. While it won’t be released until 2025, it promises to be as vibrant and full of character as its namesake.
And after years of waiting, our matriarch Marilyn finally had a wine named in her honour. The Marilyn J Reserve Chardonnay is a masterpiece worthy of her grace, strength, and unwavering support.
We don’t know if or when these two wines might become available here in NZ, but you’ll be the first to know if do we have enough to send over.
Gatherings That Feed the Soul
This year brought us together in ways that remind us why we do what we do:
Brother Members’ Barrel Room Dinner: A brand-new tradition kicked off in 2024 with our first-ever Brothers Barrel Room Dinner in our winery. A cozy, intimate evening filled with incredible wines, delicious food, and even better company.
Annual Members’ Long Lunch: Our annual long lunch at the vineyard drew a crowd of 50, with laughter echoing across the bocce court as the competition heated up. There’s something magical about sharing food, wine, and good times under the Eden Valley sun.
While our following here in NZ isn’t quite big enough yet to introduce memberships and member events, Megan and Darren are working hard at bringing Brockenchack to you – with Darren booked in to present to 9 private wine club evenings around the country across 2025 already.
> If you’re part of a wine club and would like us to showcase our wines to your group, please reach out to Megan. We’d love to bring our wines to you.
> Megan and Darren also be at Winetopia Wellington again in June 2025 so mark that in your calendar!
Sharing Brockenchack Around the World
The Brockenchack name continued to travel far and wide in 2024.
Our wines delighted wine lovers not just in NZ and Australia, but also in the UK, USA, Malaysia, China, and beyond, proving that the love for Brockenchack knows no borders.
Mack took his talents to the UK this year, hosting wine events, getting our wines onto luxury private jets, and sharing our little slice of paradise overseas, while Darren (after visiting the US and Malaysia last year) turned his focus to NZ this year.
Family at the Heart of It All
At Brockenchack, family isn’t just a value—it’s our foundation. This year, we’ve seen exciting changes within the family:
- Charli joined us full-time, moving from Queensland to the vineyard and threw herself into the business with enthusiasm and heart, and has absolutely shone at it.
- Jack, ever the rock of our operation on the ground, continued to lead our viticulture, winery and cattle operations with a steady hand. This year also saw Jack marry his beautiful bride Laura, and we couldn’t be happier for them.
- Mack transitioned into a business development and export role, helping share our beloved wines with the world, which has been a perfect fit for his skill set.
- Bronte reached a milestone of her own, completing her university studies and making us all so proud.
- Darren has been in constant motion, undertaking innumerous trips to host a myriad of wine events around Australia and NZ, and manned the bottling line like a pro. He has clocked up hundreds of kilometres and frequent flyer miles, all in the pursuit of selling wine – and still managed to coach Surf Rescue’s youngest recruits! At this point, we’re not even sure if we’ve seen him stand still for more than five minutes. His busy schedule doesn’t leave room for slowing down, but he somehow manages it all without even breaking a sweat.
Looking Ahead – The Next Generation Steps Up
As we close the chapter on 2024, it’s clear that the next generation of the Brockenchack family is gearing up to eventually take the reins. The grandkids have stepped up in a big way this year, and I’m immensely proud of them all. I’m getting a little teaser of what retirement life might look like – but I’m not going anywhere just yet!
With visitors to our region at an all time low we’ve had to make the tough decision to temporarily close our B&Bs to holiday bookings next year, and lease out the properties on more of a long-term basis. Whilst we do intend to open them up again sometime down the track, if you’ve ever considered hopping across the ditch for a wine-cation, now is the time – be sure to book in before April 2025. Stay before the end of January to benefit from 50% off.
We’re excited for what the future holds, and with the next generation leading the way, steered and guided by Darren and myself for years to come yet, imparting our collective knowledge, wisdom and advice on them, we know Brockenchack will continue to thrive for many years to come.
All of us at Team Brockenchack genuinely thank you for following our journey, and being part of our story here in New Zealand. Here’s to more unforgettable moments, more glasses poured, and more memories made.
Cheers
Trev – and the Brockenchack Clan