The Bordeaux-based Edmond de Rothschild Heritage Group has received approval from New Zealand’s Overseas Investment Office to purchase the Akarua winery and vineyard. This takeover will enable the group to make its first organic wines.
The 52-hectare Akarua estate is located close to Cromwell in the Central Otago region. The group intends to convert the vineyard to organic viticulture.
However, this is not The Rothschild Group’s first New Zealand purchase, it made a joint purchase in 2012 with Craggy Range of the 24-hectare Rimapere vineyard in Marlborough that is planted with Sauvignon Blanc.
Commenting on the purchase, president of the Edmond de Rothschild Group – Ariane de Rothschild – highlighted that the Bannockburn soils were ‘on par with the Burgundy region’ and that they had the potential to create some of the world’s finest Pinot Noir.
Expanding further on the group’s strategy, she said: ‘The addition of our second New Zealand winery is part of our wider strategy to develop a portfolio of premium international wines from exceptional terroirs. Central Otago’s international reputation for Pinot Noir provides a unique opportunity for us to complete our range and move into the production of organic wines – one of the fastest growing categories.’
‘The purchase of Akarua has seen us add a winery with strong growth potential to our portfolio, expanding our Pinot Noir offering and solidifying our position as a premium producer that sells wines exclusively produced from our own vines,’ commented chairman of Edmond de Rothschild Heritage, Alexis de La Palme.
Sir Clifford Skeggs founded the Akarua estate in 1996. David Skeggs, managing director of the Skeggs Group, said of the recent acquisition: ‘It is not without sadness that we hand over the Akarua legacy to Edmond de Rothschild Heritage… But we are equally as excited to follow the brand’s future in New Zealand and overseas.’
Akarua currently produces over 60,000 bottles annually for both domestic and export markets. The wine will continue to be made and, from the 2023 vintage and beyond, certain elements of the Rothschild’s family crest will be included on the label.
Edmond de Rothschild Heritage owns assets in wine, hotels and farming. Iconic wine brands in its portfolio include: Bordeaux’s Château Malmaison and a leading stake in Château Lafite Rothschild, Vega Sicilia in Spain and Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons – with the Rupert family – in South Africa’s Franschhoek Valley.
