Vineyard and lifestyle blocks ripe for the picking in receivership auction

The on-going rationalisation and consolidation of New Zealand wineries and grape producers has seen prominent Marlborough vineyard Gravitas being placed on the market under a receivership sale.

The 23 hectare operation in the heart of Marlborough’s Wairau Valley wine growing region is planted with a range of grape varieties – including sauvignon blanc (7.7 hectares), chardonnay (4 hectares), pinot noir (6 hectares) and riesling (1 hectare).

Gravitas is surrounded by such prestigious grape producing neighbours as Oyster Bay, Nautilus, Pernod Ricard, and Clos Henri. Gravitas Wines is currently in receivership with David Ruscoe and Richard Simpson of Grant Thornton. The property is being marketed by Bayleys Marlborough, with an auction scheduled for September 24.

The property includes two dwellings – a 147 sqm three bedroom home with a swimming pool, and a 69 sqm two bedroom cottage. Various work sheds are positioned around the vineyard – encompassing a storage unit and office, implement shed, workshop, chemical storage area, and utility shed.

The Gravitas label was founded in 1993 by former banker Martyn Nicholls following an extensive search to find land suitable for planting grapes and making high quality wine.

Bayleys Marlborough sales consultant John Hoare said the Gravitas offering would allow a potential new owner the opportunity to enter the wine market with a ready-made brand which was well established on both the local and international markets.

“The Gravitas vineyard is a well structured and professionally managed vineyard operation with existing production and the opportunity to increase output in the medium term – by which time the global wine market should have improved,” Mr Hoare said.

“In addition to the land and buildings, plant and machinery used for managing vines is available for purchase… as well as a quantity of Gravitas wine – both already bottled, and some still in the barrel. Any successful buyer of the business could in fact toast their own success by cracking open a bottle of beautiful Gravitas pinot after the auction.”

Mr Hoare said that supplementary to the vineyard block going up for auction, a separate 16 hectare lifestyle property was also going up for sale on September 24. The lifestyle block located to the south of the vineyard is also owned by Gravitas Wines.

The second block has four hectares already staked out and fully irrigated with three dams in preparation for vine planting, and also has seven hectares of juvenile pine forests for potential future harvesting. The plot has potential building sites for both residential and commercial premises, and grazing area for stock.
“This second block is more suited for buyers wanting a lifestyle landholding - with the potential to generate income. There is an expanse of land to build an imposing home with spectacular views over the valley… and no neighbours,” Mr Hoare said.