Edmond de Rothschild Heritage Wines buys the Otago vineyard, its second in New Zealand

The Akarua Estate vineyard in Central Otago has been sold to Bordeaux-based Edmond de Rothschild Heritage Wines.

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The Akarua Estate vineyard in Central Otago has been sold to Bordeaux-based Edmond de Rothschild Heritage Wines.

French wine producer Edmond de Rothschild Heritage Wines has purchased Central Otago’s Akarua Estate vineyard, which it hopes will eventually produce 60,000 bottles a year of premium organic Pinot Noir.

Edmond de Rothschild Heritage Wines, based in Bordeaux, has received approval from the Overseas Investment Office to buy the 52 hectare estate, with 34.5 ha of vines, in Bannockburn, central Otago, as well as the Akarua Estate vineyard of the New Zealand company Skeggs Group.

Ariane de Rothschild, president of the Edmond de Rothschild Group, which also owns the Marlborough Rimapere vineyard, said the region’s soil was world famous for its exceptional growing conditions for pinot noir.

The terroir, or environment, in Bannockburn was on par with the Burgundy region in eastern France, she said.

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“Adding our second New Zealand winery is part of our broader strategy to develop a portfolio of premium international wines from exceptional terroirs.

“Central Otago’s international reputation for Pinot Noir provides us with a unique opportunity to complement our range and move into organic wine production – one of the fastest growing categories,” she said. .

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Winemaker Ann Escalle, who was technical director at Rimapere before moving to Akarua Estate, said the soil had all the elements they were looking for and the slope was gentle enough for the vines to grow well.

The region’s climate was known for its extremes, both hot and cold, but the site was not too harsh. At the same time, it was dry and windy enough to keep disease away.

“We think what we have here at Akarua is really top notch potential, and we can bring that to the world. We would like to produce some of the best Pinot Noir in the world because it is possible,” he said. she declared.

The vineyard, which produced around 80% Pinot Noir along with small amounts of Chardonnay and Riesling, was not yet organic but conversion work began immediately.

The soil had all the necessary elements and the slope was gentle enough for the vines to develop well, explains Ann Escalle.

PROVIDED

The soil had all the necessary elements and the slope was gentle enough for the vines to develop well, explains Ann Escalle.

Once fully converted and certified organic, the vineyard would produce over 60,000 bottles of organic wine per year for international and domestic markets.

Wines would continue to be produced under the Akarua brand. Akarua Estate Winery was founded in 1996 by former Mayor of Dunedin, Sir Clifford Skeggs.

Skeggs Group Managing Director David Skeggs said the new owners have significant global influence and networks and will bring new opportunities to the Central Otago wine industry.

The Skeggs Group would continue to produce its Rua brand from its 90 hectares of established vineyards in the Bannockburn and Pisa sub-regions.

The nine Edmond de Rothschild Heritage vineyards in France, Spain, South Africa, Argentina and New Zealand produce 3.5 million bottles of wine per year.

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