Vineyards tonnages increase four-fold

Australian multi-national Treasury Wine Estates (Matua) is selling Matheson Vineyard and the pictured Dartmoor Vineyard. Photo/Supplied

Tenders close on April 20 for two vineyards being sold by Australian multi-national Treasury Wine Estates (Matua).

Matheson Vineyard, on the corner of State highway 50 and Maraekakaho Rd, is a 41ha property with 36ha planted in merlot, malbec, syrah, cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay.

Total tonnage has more than tripled over the past four vintages - from 110 tonnes in the 2013 harvest to 340 tonnes last year.

Its first vines were cabernet sauvignon and malbec, planted in 1996 and 1997 respectively, with the balance planted between 2000 and 2003.

Dartmoor Vineyard, on the Tukaekuri River in Puketapu, is a 33.18ha viticulture parcel with 28.6ha planted in sauvignon blanc.

The first sauvignon blanc vines were planted in 2001 and steadily added over the following four years. About 6ha of sauvignon blanc vines were planted at the end of last year after the removal of chardonnay.

Like Matheson, Dartmoor's output has risen dramatically over the past four years - from 146 tonnes in 2013 year to 373 tonnes last year.

Bayleys Napier viticulture specialist Glynn Rees-Jones said both were being sold without ongoing supply contracts and could be tendered for individually or as a pair.

"Dartmoor Valley is renowned among viticulturists for being virtually frost-free - meaning the land is prime for replanting into pip fruit production or other crop land usage," he said.

"Surrounding properties within the valley are extensively utilised for orcharding and cropping purposes, and given the high dollar values currently being derived for apples and kiwifruit on the export market, there is every potential the vineyard could be repurposed to produce an apple or kiwifruit crop.

"Conversely, located within the highly fertile Ngatarawa sub-region, the quality of grapes harvested from Matheson Vineyard are primarily used for award-winning single block wines, with consequential premium prices being achieved on the retail shelves."

Both vineyards were irrigated and accredited under the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand programme.

Matheson features a refurbished three-bedroom home converted into an administrative office and a pair of large lockable four-year-old four-bay equipment and machinery storage sheds. The vineyard has three frost-management wind machines on site, and draws its irrigation from a consented bore well circulated by an electric pumping system.

Dartmoor has a cabin-like office block with toilet and shower, a three bay 128sq m implement shed along with three smaller sheds.

Treasury Wine Estates, once the wine arm of Foster's Group, produces wine in New Zealand under labels including Matua, Shingle Peak and Squealing Pig. Grapes from the Hawke's Bay vineyards have been crushed locally before transported to the Matua Marlborough Winery for winemaking.

Matheson Vineyard has a ratable capital valuation of $4.38 million, while Dartmoor Vineyard has a rateable capital valuation of $2.2 million, although Mr Peterson said both would like attract higher tender offers because of their current tonnage production.