matakanafeature
bentornato
September 17, 2014
Mahurangi Matters
21
A S C EN S ION
Alex Sipka (left) and Gino Gurshin hope Ascension will stay in their families for generations.
Italian and Serbian flavour to Ascension makeover A new look Ascension Wine Estate in Matakana will officially reopen this month with more than a hint of the European backgrounds of its new owners. An extensive nine-month makeover has included everything from chandeliers to car parks. Serbian brothers Alex and Mick Sipka and Italian brothers Gino and Kiro Gurshin purchased the restaurant and winery last December. Gino and Kiro are renowned for the Portofino restaurant chain which has nine restaurants in Auckland, Hamilton, Taupo, New Plymouth and Wellington. Alex and Mick have an electronics and sound system business, and are involved in property investment. But Alex has been coming to Mahurangi to work in vineyards since the day he
arrived in New Zealand 20 years ago. His family moved to NZ to get away from the civil war unfolding in Serbia in the 1990s. “I wanted my kids to grow up with their grandparents. For 150 years, we have lost family members to war in the region. That’s something I wanted to change.” When he arrived, he was picked up from the airport by Providence vineyard owner and fellow Serbian, Jim Vuletic, and stayed to work on the grape harvest. “I’ve come back to help with the harvest almost every year since,” Alex says. “I fell in love with the wine industry and the region. It became a new passion in my life. Since then I’ve dreamed of having a vineyard here.”
When Ascension came on the market, Alex could see the opportunity to make his dream a reality. “I knew I was going to buy it no matter what. But I thought with Gino’s experience in hospitality, we could work together to make great wine and a great restaurant.” Alex and Gino had already worked together, establishing Osteria restaurants in Mt Maunganui and Matamata. Alex says his investment in Mahurangi is “for the long haul”. “We hope Ascension will stay in our families for generations. We all have kids and hope they will grow up to become a part of the lifestyle here.” The new owners are doubling the size of the winery, expanding production to include everything from barrel
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aging to bottling. A large portion of the wine was previously produced off site, and it has never had a bottling line before. They also intend to plant more vines, including some Italian red varieties. “We want to make premium quality reds, in the style and quality of Bordeaux Grand Cru,” Alex says. “We also want to produce a red blend of merlot, malbec and cabernet sauvignon. This region is quite good for those three.” The vineyard produces about 30,000 bottles a year and all wine will be sold locally at the restaurant, functions and selected outlets, as well as online. Jim Vuletic from Providence will be one of the winemakers. continued page 22
INNOVATIVE KITCHEN DESIGNS DESIGN MANUFACTURE & INSTALL
We are pr oud to have wocerknsedion on the make over of As