Sydney, 31 March 2014 – An award winning Australian winery in the coveted wine region of Hunter Valley has been listed for sale.
James Estate Wines is a fully integrated vineyard and winemaking operation that produces a range of premium red, white, sweet and fortified wines. The asset encompasses a vineyard, winery and cellar door operation on 575 hectares in the upper Hunter Valley and a winery and cellar door operation on 43.6 hectares in Pokolbin in the heart of the Hunter Valley.
CBRE’s Chris Holgar and Peter Vines have been appointed to sell the property via Expressions of Interest on behalf of receivers and managers Neil Cussen and Vaughan Strawbridge of Deloitte Restructuring Services.
The Baerami cellar door operation was rated as one of Australia’s Best Cellar Doors in 2013 by Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine, while the winery is renowned for producing wines of 94 points or above, as per James Halliday’s esteemed Wine Companion publication.
Mr Holgar said the sale of James Estate Wines represented an outstanding investment opportunity.
“The business has been developed over the last 20 years and has earned a strong reputation for winemaking, which has resulted in award winning, fine quality products,” Mr Holgar said.
“James Estate Wines is a proven successful and profitable business and under new owners, this viticulture operation will no doubt flourish.”
The company’s Baerami vineyards yield between 500 and 900 tonnes of grapes per annum, with the winery capable of processing up to 2,500 tonnes of grapes annually. The 2013/14 harvest was 686 tonnes.
The wine business also comprises several residences across its two properties, as well as a restaurant and developable land.
Mr Vines said the property was likely to attract the interest of investors looking to make a foray into the wine industry.
“While the Australian wine industry has endured difficult times over the past six years, it is showing promising signs of a return to balance, and is benefiting from the depreciating Australian dollar,” Mr Vines explained.
“The Australian wine market has grown moderately over the past five years and this momentum is expected to continue, which will no doubt be a major drawcard for investors interested in this property.”
The Hunter Valley is one of Australia’s best known wine regions, located approximately 150km north of Sydney and 50km west of Newcastle.
Expressions of Interest close April 24.
