Butterworth Estate vineyard a premier asset
A vineyard and winery for sale in Martinborough offers the opportunity to secure a premier asset in one of New Zealand’s most highprofile industries.
Butterworth Estate is a boutique winery established by the late Wim Julicher in 2000. The vineyard was first planted in 2001 and the most recent plantings of chardonnay and pinot noir were added in 2020-21.
Mike Laven, Rural & Agribusiness special projects director at Colliers, said the viticulture assets of Butterworth Te Muna Estate Limited for sale by tender, represented a unique opportunity to acquire the estate’s prime vineyard assets, including land, vines, buildings and plant, and equipment.
The brand, IP, and stock of this Martinborough wine company could also be purchased separately by negotiation, he said.
Located at 301 Te Muna Rd, approximately 7km south-east of Martinborough, Butterworth Estate consists of two freehold titles totalling 28.09 hectares of land.
The winery and vineyard block spans 19.44ha and Campbell’s Block, which comprises 8.65ha of bare land currently lying fallow, completes the site.
Laven said the vineyard could be expanded onto Campbell’s Block, and they could be purchased individually or as a combined offering.
At the winery and vineyard block, 15.361ha is planted with a mix of pinot noir (9.779ha), chardonnay (2.46ha), sauvignon blanc (2.827ha), and riesling (0.295ha). Frost protection is provided by four Orchard-Rite frost protection machines.
The vineyard is complemented by a 90-tonne winery and a newly constructed 340m2 four-bay Kiwispan implement shed for farm machinery storage, complete with offices and a workshop.
A refurbished, two-storey, three-bedroom, 180m2 property, known as Butterworth Cottage, is currently used for short-stay accommodation at the vineyard.
Laven said this property offered buyers the opportunity to purchase a well-established vineyard with mature pinot noir and chardonnay vines that has long-term growth potential.
‘‘Martinborough is internationally recognised as one of New Zealand’s premier wine regions, particularly for its pinot noir, and demand continues to rise,’’ Laven said.
Laven recently sold the Dry River Wines business and property assets, which attracted an array of international and domestic parties and put Martinborough in the spotlight.
‘‘There has been heightened interest in acquiring these wine estates in recent months and the region has continued to be an attractive location for overseas and domestic high net worth individuals and wine companies to invest,’’ he said.
‘‘We have a steady stream of buyers who are looking to invest in Martinborough, and Butterworth Estate is generating significant interest as investors recognise that this is a very rare opportunity to acquire a commercial scale vineyard with mature pinot noir and chardonnay plantings.’’