Rothschilds Buy Vineyard in Marlborough, New Zealand to Create New Rimapere Label

Baron Benjamin de Rothschild, (owner of Château Clarke, Château Les Granges, Peyre Lebade, Malmaison, des Laurets, Rupert and Rothschild Vignerons which encompasses.

The Fredericksburg Vineyards at the foot of the Simonberg Mountains, in South Africa and Clos de los Sieteat the foot of the Andes in Argentina) and his family’s Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild Winemakers have bought the Paul Family Vineyard in Marlborough, New Zealand. For $3.7 million.

The vineyard covers 65.23 acres and lies on Rapaura Road, in the heart of Marlborough’s iconic “golden mile” in Wairau Valley, home to some of the regions greatest wines.

The vineyard is planted with Sauvignon Blanc, with 9.88 acres of Pinot Noir:

Rothschild bought the vineyard from Ursula Paul, who has run it on her own for the past seven years and said she could no longer look after it.

She and her late husband, Alan, bought the vineyard 10 years ago, aged in their late 50s.

Alan Paul was an architect from a dairy farming family in south Waikato, who had planned to semi-retire on the property. “Unfortunately, like many New Zealand families, the children have gone overseas to seek their fortunes in more profitable areas,” Paul said. She will be leaving after the next harvest, with hand-over set for May 1.”

Rothschild has said that “This spectacular vineyard will become the home of the Rimapere brand, and represents my family’s long-term commitment to our partnership and expanding our prestigious international wine portfolio.”

The Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild Winemakers recently gained consent for the purchase from the Overseas Investment Office. It said Rothschild wished to establish an “ultra-premium” single estate wine brand.

The transaction satisfied the necessary criteria and would bring “substantial and identifiable benefit to New Zealand”, the decision said. It cites the creation of jobs, increased export receipts and additional investment for development purposes.

The Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild Winemakers have also entered into a strategic partnership with the Peabody family, owners of New Zealand’s Craggy Range Winery, to produce high quality Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

The partnership will produce wines under the Rimapere label, a brand name derived from the Maori language of New Zealand meaning “five arrows”. The five arrows are a symbol of the five branches of the Rothschild family.

In announcing the partnership, Terry Peabody said “We are delighted to develop an association with such a revered wine family and look forward to a long and prosperous relationship.

It is also a significant endorsement of the reputation of New Zealand, and the Marlborough region to have attracted such a distinguished wine family. We look forward to Rimapere becoming one of the region’s most prestigious wine brands in the years to come.”

Rimapere will be distributed through the extensive international distribution networks established by both Craggy Range and Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild.

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