Winemaker expands to meet overseas demand

By SIMON HENDERY liquor writer

Despite winning international acclaim and a lucrative overseas following, few locals have heard of Tauranga-based Thornbury Wines.

"We've got people who are our immediate neighbours who haven't heard of us and wonder what the hell we do," says company director Bruce McCutcheon.

The company expects to produce about 21,000 cases of "ultra-premium" wine this year. But its local profile is low because 90 per cent of its production is exported.

In December, Thornbury's Marlborough sauvignon blanc was the top-rated New Zealand wine on United States-based Wine Spectator magazine's list of top 100 international wines.

The company's main headache is not being able to meet demand for its wines, especially in its biggest market, the US.

"Basically, [buyers] have slapped in orders for everything we have to give them," says McCutcheon. "My guess would be that if we had five times as much wine they would still be asking for more."

To alleviate the problem Thornbury is working with Auckland investment adviser Waitiri Capital to raise $3.5 million from private investors to fund an expansion.

It wants to add to its 25ha of vineyards in Hawkes Bay's Gimblett Rd and in Marlborough by buying and leasing more Marlborough property and building more production facilities.

By 2006 it hopes to more than double production to 46,500 cases, with a focus on Marlborough sauvignon blanc. "That's what the world wants," McCutcheon says.

As well as exporting to the US, Thornbury also sells its wine in Canada, Britain, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong Switzerland and Brazil.

Thornbury

Waitiri Capital