NZWF purchases Clifford Bay Estate

The New Zealand Wine Fund Limited is set to become one of the country’s top wine producers with the announcement today that it’s adding Clifford Bay Estate Limited to its stable of premium vineyards.

The Wine Fund has reached agreement to purchase the assets of Clifford Bay Estate Limited, its near neighbour Marlborough’s Awatere Valley, subject to final due diligence.

Executive Chairman of the Wine Fund, David Belcher, said Clifford Bay is a premium producer having received numerous international and local awards for its wines and the acquisition includes 24 hectares of land along with the Clifford Bay brand and other assets.

The purchase of Clifford Bay which currently produces around 40,000 cases of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling is another significant development for the Wine Fund taking its total production to more than 260,000 cases and propelling it to category three status, the top category of wine producers in New Zealand.

David Belcher said for a predominantly New Zealand owned company, achieving category 3 status was particularly significant. “Assuming normal vintage in 2007, the company will produce in excess of 260,000 cases of our premium and ultra-premium wines marketed under the Vavasour, Goldwater, Dashwood and now Clifford Bay brands,” he said.

Along with the Wine Fund’s continued growth through the acquisition of vineyards, the company’s wines continue to be awarded for their outstanding quality. The 2004 Vavasour Anna’s Vineyard Chardonnay last month received the trophy for Best Chardonnay of the show in the prestigious Liquorland Top 100 Wine Awards.

“The acquisition was a natural addition to the company with Clifford Bay having produced some outstanding wines all made by our own winemaker, Glenn Thomas, and the company acquiring some more own vineyard in the Awatere Valley,” said David Belcher. Clifford Bay Wines are distributed in New Zealand by Vintage Wines & Spirits, which also distributes the Vavasour, Goldwater and Dashwood products.

Since its establishment in 1994 Clifford Bay wines have been made by Vavasour Wines at their winery in the Awatere Valley under the supervision of head winemaker Glenn Thomas. Eric Bowers, the founder and Chief Executive of Clifford Bay will remain as a consultant to the company.


The New Zealand Wine Fund is a privately owned company, established by Clavell Capital Limited in 2002 with the aim of becoming a significant producer and exporter of premium and ultra premium New Zealand wines, particularly Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Currently category three winemakers are: Matua Valley Wines Limited, Nobilo Wine Group Limited, Pernod Richard New Zealand Limited, Villa Maria Estate Limited, Delegat’s Wine Estate Limited and Giesen Wine Estate Limited.

For further information please contact:

David Belcher
The New Zealand Wine Fund Limited
Ph: (09) 373 3090