Villa Maria buys winery

Press, 13 January 1987, Page 26

Villa Maria buys winery

PA Wellington Villa Maria Estate, Ltd, a new company formed last year to take over Villa Maria Wines, Ltd, has purchased a winery in Bay View, Hawkes Bay. Villa Maria Estate, Ltd’s managing director, Mr George Fistonich, said a new company, Esk Valley Estate, Ltd, will be formed to take over the management of the Bay View winery which is producing Esk Valley premium table wines, as well as Glenvale sparkling grape juice and fortified wines. The winery will retain its character and the present principals will be retained. Mr Don Bird, who did his training at Roseworthy College, South Australia, will remain as winemaker, and Mr Robbie Bird, who trained at Dayis University, California, • will be trained as a consultant Esk Valley Estate, Ltd, will .. concentrate on producing fine premium red table wines such as the gold-medal-win-ning Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc styles. Special releases of premium white table wines would also be made.

Sparkling grape juice and fortified wines will remain under tbe Glenvale brand. Mr Robbie Bird, the managing director of Glenvale Wines, Ltd, said that the winery was facing possible closure and was pleased that, as a result of the take-over by Villa Maria Estate, Ltd, the Esk Valley range would remain as a separate brand and continue to make progress both in New Zealand and in the export markets of Australia and the U.K.

The directors of the new company will be having talks with the Hawkes Bay County Council to discuss the possibility of developing a portion of the present winery site into an arts and crafts complex. Mr Peter Howell, the receiver of Villa Maria Wines, Ltd, has advised that unsecured creditors of the company have been paid 30c in the dollar and that a further substantial dividend was planned within a few months. He also emphasised that no funds from Villa Maria Wines, Ltd, are. involved in the expansion and considers that the trading prospects of the merged companies should assist in an earlier determination of the affairs of Villa Maria Wines. Ltd.