Napa Valley vineyard owner Reg Oliver, who I don’t believe is any relation of mine, has gone into business with billionaire New York financier Julian Robertson to become the latest American to establish significant wine industry investments in New Zealand. Robertson, who is also heavily into golf course development in NZ, has helped fund the purchase of Te Awa Farm in Hawkes Bay, Dry River in Martinborough and possibly even Stonyridge on Waiheke Island near Auckland. Those unfamiliar with New Zealand wine may not be aware of the significance of these names. Te Awa Farm is an emerging and very promising winery with around 43 hectares of vineyard in the warmer Gimblett Gravels section of Hawkes Bay. Dry River was one of the first New Zealand wineries to hit the big time with pinot noir, although despite its ongoing ‘cult’ status it has in my opinion since ventured up a very un-pinot-like evolutionary cul-de-sac. Stonyridge stands alone as New Zealand’s leading maker of cabernet sauvignon-based blends of red Bordeaux varieties. It appears that Neil McCallum, Dry River’s founder and winemaker, will remain as its chief winemaker, while the precise future for Stephen White at Stonyridge has yet to be made clear. New Zealand’s Overseas Investment Commission will ensure that the prices for these purchases will be made public.
