Indevin boldly retakes Montana Winery from foreign ownership
By Jeremy Muir 2010-10-21 11:17:58
British and French-based multi-nationals have had their turn, now Gisborne’s Montana Winery is headed back to New Zealand ownership — changing hands for the third time since 2001.
Blenheim-based buyer Indevin has grown quickly since 2004 to become the country’s largest independent contract winemaker, processing up to 30,000 tonnes of grapes a year at its Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay facilities.
Its purchase of French alcohol giant Pernod Ricard’s extensive Gisborne assets is a rare story in this capital-starved country, though it couldn’t have happened without the financial and distribution muscle of joint venture partner Lion Nathan (now in Japanese ownership).
It seems Lion finally has its quarry, having lost out to Allied Domecq in a 2001 bidding battle for Montana.
That was the brewer’s first attempt to join the wine business, followed the next year by successful purchases of Australian wine groups Petaluma and Banksia.
Lion Nathan is buying 12 wine brands from Pernod Ricard’s Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay operations — representing almost 11 million litres of wine — to become this country’s second biggest wine distributor, after Pernod.
The big prize is Gisborne’s iconic Lindauer sparkling wine.
Already the country’s largest alcohol distributor, Lion Nathan sees it as an excellent fit in its portfolio.
In blind taste tests Lindauer performs well against higher-priced bubblies, but the brand and the Gisborne growers who supply grapes for it have suffered from deep discounting at supermarkets.
Its new owners say they will focus on building Lindauer’s profile, and have Lion’s extensive sales and marketing network to achieve this. Hopefully they will also move it up the value chain.
Montana has 48 permanent staff in Gisborne and 25 contract growers.
They and the district can be excited at the prospect of new owners keen to grow the business.
Blenheim-based buyer Indevin has grown quickly since 2004 to become the country’s largest independent contract winemaker, processing up to 30,000 tonnes of grapes a year at its Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay facilities.
Its purchase of French alcohol giant Pernod Ricard’s extensive Gisborne assets is a rare story in this capital-starved country, though it couldn’t have happened without the financial and distribution muscle of joint venture partner Lion Nathan (now in Japanese ownership).
It seems Lion finally has its quarry, having lost out to Allied Domecq in a 2001 bidding battle for Montana.
That was the brewer’s first attempt to join the wine business, followed the next year by successful purchases of Australian wine groups Petaluma and Banksia.
Lion Nathan is buying 12 wine brands from Pernod Ricard’s Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay operations — representing almost 11 million litres of wine — to become this country’s second biggest wine distributor, after Pernod.
The big prize is Gisborne’s iconic Lindauer sparkling wine.
Already the country’s largest alcohol distributor, Lion Nathan sees it as an excellent fit in its portfolio.
In blind taste tests Lindauer performs well against higher-priced bubblies, but the brand and the Gisborne growers who supply grapes for it have suffered from deep discounting at supermarkets.
Its new owners say they will focus on building Lindauer’s profile, and have Lion’s extensive sales and marketing network to achieve this. Hopefully they will also move it up the value chain.
Montana has 48 permanent staff in Gisborne and 25 contract growers.
They and the district can be excited at the prospect of new owners keen to grow the business.
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