Plenty happening at Brix and Co
Brix and Co is West Auckland’s very own beverage hub.
New Zealand owned and operated it was established in July 2016 at the historic Matua Valley vineyard site in Waimauku - renowned for New Zealand’s first Sauvignon Blanc vines.
“Our passion for all things beverage drives us to produce an array of products, including wine, non-alcoholic drinks, and ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages in various formats,” says Brix and Co.
‘Today, we have combined our manufacturing facilities and passion for creating exceptional drinks to expand our portfolio across a wide range of brands and products.”
Production lines are capable of handling glass, cans, screwcaps, crown seals, carbonated, and pasteurised beverages “leveraging the expertise of our skilled, fantastic, bubbly team - predominately locals,” the company says.
The site also boasts two artesian water bores 500 metres deep, a rare water source mineral-rich and naturally high in alkaline.
The Hunting Lodge is all about the land/site for the award-winning winery and restaurant.
It offers more relaxed dining that the silver service it used to have and is now fit for every occasion - not just celebrations.
The restaurant also has a lawn bar/cellar door, weddings/function events site.
The Hunting Lodge is dedicated to providing exceptional hospitality, food, and beverage experiences.
Brix & Co is the operational side of the business.
“Our umbrella of brands includes The Hunting Lodge wine, Alba tequila sparkling margarita, Bar307 premium ready-made cocktails, Floridays wine coolers, Reason premium bourbon RTDs and partner brand Grog Japanese sochu vodka RTDs.
Alba Sparkling Margaritas are a great success in New Zealand, experiencing a staggering growth rate of over 300% in its second year. Now the brand's sights are set on international expansion and reaching overseas markets.
“Our products, rooted in a quintessentially New Zealand story, are made for the global stage, embracing innovation and creativity."
“We aim to create products that resonate with a loyal following of customers across multiple countries, segments, demographics, and lifestyles."
“At the heart of our philosophy is the New Zealand spirit of ingenuity and improvisation, driving us to achieve the best possible outcomes without being constrained by old-world conventions.”
Brix and Co suggests a perfect day includes driving through the Riverhead Forest and arriving at the picturesque site set above the vines, enjoying a wine tasting and charcuterie board at the lawn bar, watching children running around and exploring the child-friendly site suitable for dogs too, seeing busy production workers coming and going, strolling through the vines, enjoying a seasonally-created menu using the highest quality local produce at the restaurant, and visiting the Cellar door – taking some wine home.
In the vibrant community’s heart lies a treasure trove of experiences that cater to every taste and interest.
“We're dedicated to crafting engaging events that not only enrich the lives of our locals but also beckon visitors from the bustling cityscape to savour the charm of the west,” says Brix and Co.
Some of the events held on site include the “Hound Hangout” involving local vendors, dog washing, pet portraits, off leash time – free to the public, a drag queen show with set menu, “Grape vs Grain” – a collaboration with other local wineries and breweries to bring a fun interactive showdown with a four-course set menu and a beer and wine match so the audience picks a winner.
The site is also available for larger event companies for concerts and festivals such as the North West festival and British-born house and techno DJ Carl Cox are held at the Brix and Co site, with some awesome ones in the pipeline for the rest of this year and 2025.
They linked in with George FM to create Wine Down Summer Series, a free monthly event from November to April where visitors can park up on the lawn and enjoy some groovy house tunes.
There are also “Paint & Sip” nights, “Cocktails & Tapas” nights, children’s activities such as pizza-making classes, kids’ paint and sip classes, colouring competitions and pasta-making classes.
Upcoming events include a selfcare session such “Yoga in the Vines”, live music in the restaurant, and a Saturday DJ session while you dine about to be launched.
Explore @drinkalba @sipfloridays @drinkreason for a taste of something new.
Plenty more fun things are coming, so make sure you follow The Hunting Lodge on Instagram @the_hunting_lodge or Facebook and check out the website/what’s on page through www.thehuntinglodge.com/whatson, or go to www.thehuntinglodge.com for more information.