Part of a $75-$80 million investment in the area by the Delegat Group, it will intially handle 10,000-13,000 tonnes of fruit but this will rise dramatically, producing an extra 550,000 cases of wine, when vineyards yet to be planted on a farm recently bought by the the company for $29.3 million come into production.
The new vineyards at Crownthorpe, west of Hastings/Napier, where the company already grows chardonnay and merlot, is due to begin in 2017.
Delegat managing director Graeme Lord says the new vineyards will be planted entirely in chardonnay, for the production of sparkling wines, and pinot gris. "Crownthorpe is exceptional for both varieties, as well as for producing world class merlot. Hence our investment."
He says the additional production is aimed at satisfying the global demand for Oyster Bay and Delegat wines and for wines from Hawke's Bay where the company also has a vineyard on the Gimblett Gravels..
And he makes no secret that the imposing winery, which has a see-though glass wall facing the Hastings-Napier freeway, is intended to showcase the Hawke's Bay wine industry.