Vinoptima vineyard in receivership
A Hawke’s Bay vineyard that has gone into receivership has raised questions about the marketability of the gewu¨ rztraminer wine variety.
The Vinoptima Estate vineyard and winery at Ormond, near Gisborne, was established by wine industry pioneer, Nick Nobilo, in 2000 to produce gewu¨ rztraminer wine only.
Receiver Andrew Mackay said he had commissioned Bayleys to call for tenders for about 100,000 litres of the aromatic white wine, and it was attracting interest.
Marlborough-based Giesen chief winemaker Nikolai St George said his company’s The Brothers Gewu¨ rztraminer 2014 was one of the most awarded wines but had still proved difficult to sell.
‘‘Vinoptima is a beautiful vineyard. But sauvignon and chardonnay seems to be where the world has pigeonholed a lot of New Zealand wine,’’ he said.
Nobilo was unavailable for comment but his vineyard manager strongly disagreed that the variety had fallen from favour.
Gewu¨ rztraminer grapes account for less than 0.5 per cent of vine plantings in New Zealand, and 0.1 per cent of wine exports.
Bayleys agent Damian Campbell said: ‘‘The vineyard might be purchased by a bigger competing wine label for its gewu¨ rztraminer plantings, or for the land, infrastructure, and winery plant – with the option of planting a new grape variety.’’
Mackay’s first receiver’s report revealed debts secured by a general security agreement of $11.9 million, with another $3.1m owed to unsecured creditors.
‘‘The key sales market was intended to be China. The wine produced has received critical acclaim, but sales have been slow,’’ Mackay said.
The vineyard comprised two blocks of 5.35 hectares and 5.1ha.
The 533-square-metre winery was built in 2003, and includes a crushing plant, a sterile bottling room, a walk-in chiller, storage facilities, and a self-contained winemaker’s residence.