Matua leases big vineyard

By SIMON HENDERY

Matua Valley Wines expects to boost production 25 per cent over four years through taking a lease on a large Marlborough vineyard.

Matua, the local winemaking arm of Australian drinks giant Foster's Group, has signed a 10-year lease for Northbank Vineyard, next to the Wairau River.

The 124ha vineyard is planted with 107ha of sauvignon blanc vines. Matua plans to plant pinot gris on the other 17ha.

The Northbank lease brings the company's total vineyard area to 305ha.

General manager Bill Spence said the new vineyard should provide Matua with an extra 100,000 cases of wine within four years, enabling it to significantly increase sales in the United States and Britain.