Waikare, North Canterbury, New Zealand – October 4, 2017 – Aspect Consumer Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to Pyramid Valley Vineyards in the sale of the company’s winery and vineyards to Aotearoa New Zealand Fine Wine Estates Limited Partnership (“Aotearoa”). The transaction included over 200 acres of land located in the Pyramid Valley of the South Island of New Zealand.
Pyramid Valley Vineyards, founded in 2000 by Claudia and Mike Weersing, is one of the early entrants in New Zealand’s growing biodynamic movement. The company’s biodynamic vineyard is planted with four separate blocks of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with the aim of producing Burgundian style wines under the Earth Smoke (Pinot Noir), Angel Flower (Pinot Noir), Lion’s Tooth (Chardonnay) and Field of Fire (Chardonnay) labels. Over the years, Pyramid Valley has established itself as one of the preeminent Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers both in New Zealand and the greater world of fine wine. The company’s wines are sold in New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and over 20 other countries.
Aotearoa is a recent venture between Brian Sheth, sole director of U.S.-based Sangreal Wines, and Steve Smith, sole director of LandbaseWineNZ Ltd. Mr. Sheth is an investor and wildlife conservationist residing in Austin, Texas, and is a passionate wine enthusiast with a great love of New Zealand. Steve Smith, a Master of Wine, is well known for having led the development of Craggy Range, based in Hawkes Bay and Martinborough.
Aspect Consumer Partners, a leading consumer and wine industry-focused M&A, strategic and corporate finance advisory firm, acted as exclusive financial advisor to Pyramid Valley Vineyards in connection with the transaction. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.