Australians buy Framingham

By SIMON HENDERY

Marlborough's Framingham Wine Company has been sold to Australian drinks giant Orlando Wyndham.

The latest sale of a winemaker to overseas interests marks a return to New Zealand wine production for Orlando Wyndham. The producer of the hugely successful Jacobs Creek brand last marketed a New Zealand sauvignon blanc under its Richmond Grove label in 2000.

Framingham was established near Renwick in 1991 by Rex Brooke-Taylor.

Last year it produced about 30,000 cases marketed under the Framingham and Tylers Stream brands.

Its major focus is the aromatic white varietals of sauvignon blanc, riesling, pinot gris and gewurztraminer.

It also produces pinot noir, small quantities of chardonnay and a merlot/malbec blend.

The sale to Orlando Wyndham, for an undisclosed sum, includes Framingham's brands, winery, cellar door business and a small amount of vineyard land.

Under the deal, most of the company's vineyards will be retained by its existing owners. The company will also continue to get grapes from its contract growers in Marlborough.

Orlando Wyndham chairman and chief executive Laurent Lacassagne said Framingham was a well-established premium wine business and the Australian company looked forward to taking advantage of immediate growth opportunities in New Zealand, Australia and, in the longer term, a number of other markets.

Brooke-Taylor, Framingham's chairman, will continue as a director of the company after the acquisition.

He said he was looking forward to remaining involved in the next phase of Framingham's development on the international stage.

The deal still requires approval from the Overseas Investment Commission.