Yealands Estate is a winery based in the Marlborough wine region of New Zealand, originally established in 2008 by entrepreneur Peter Yealands. In 2018 it was taken over by Marlborough Lines, a community-owned power company. Yealands also produces the labels Babydoll and The Crossings.
| Yealands Estate | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Seddon, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 41°38′55″S 174°07′53″E / 41.648611°S 174.131526°E |
| Wine region | Marlborough |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Varietals | Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris |
| Tasting | Open to the public |
| Website | Official website |
History edit
The winery was founded in 2008 by Peter Yealands on a large block of coastal land east of Seddon.[1] The winery expanded its vineyard holdings to over 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) in the Awatere Valley, and purchased The Crossings, a Marlborough winery, and the Hawke's Bay-based winery Crossroads in 2011.[2][3] Exports helped grow the business and its commercial success has resulted in several awards for its Sauvignon Blanc wines and sustainability efforts.[4] In 2016 Yealands sold its Crossroads winery facility and land and moved to transporting its Hawke's Bay grapes to its Marlborough winery.[5]
Export offence conviction and takeover edit
After an investigation by the Ministry for Primary Industries, Yealands and two other staff were sentenced in 2018 under New Zealand's Wine Act 2003 for illegally adding sugar to wine exported to the European Union between 2013 and 2015, and falsifying records to conceal the activity.[6] Marlborough Lines, who had already purchased a controlling stake in 2015, agreed not to sue Yealands in return for his resignation and remaining shares.[7] The case has caused concerns in the New Zealand wine industry about its international reputation.[8]
In December 2020, Yealands sold 187 hectares (460 acres) of vineyards to the NZ Super Fund, the government-owned sovereign wealth fund, to reduce debt after the recessional economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]
Wines edit
Yealands also produces wine under labels Babydoll and The Crossings.[10]
Sustainability edit
The winery as one of its founding goals took early steps to implement a high level of sustainability in its operating practices.[1] These practices include using sheep and chickens to control weeds and pests, conserving water usage, establishing wetlands to improve biodiversity, and using recycled materials for glass bottles and packaging.[11] The 412 kW photovoltaic solar cell system installed at the winery was at the time the largest single solar array in New Zealand.[12] The winery later ran into trouble with its waste reuse initiative to process pomace into feedstock, receiving penalties for inadequate construction of the storage facility and subsequent pollution of a local waterway.[13][14] The winery has redoubled its sustainability drive since the 2018 takeover, committing to reducing its carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030, and 80 percent by 2045.[15]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Christine Nikiel (14 October 2008). "Suiting himself". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
- ^ Worobiec, MaryAnn (8 July 2015). "New Zealand's Yealands Wine Group Sells Majority Share for $60 Million". Wine Spectator. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ Campbell, Bob (25 July 2016). "Yealands in expansion mode". The Real Review. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
Yealands Wine Estate has just bought a 266-hectare sheep and beef farm adjoining the company's 1000 hectare vineyard in the Awatere Valley.
- ^ "Yealands Awards & Accolades". yealands.co.nz. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- ^ Hutching, Chris (10 September 2017). "Sauvignon country comes up trumps for investment". Stuff. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- ^ "'Unprecedented offending': Peter Yealands and his former company fined $400k". The New Zealand Herald. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ Rutherford, Hamish (18 December 2018). "Peter Yealands paid out $23m as Marlborough Lines agrees not to sue him". Stuff. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ Rutherford, Hamish (11 December 2018). "Fears for NZ's reputation after winemakers found adding sugar to wine destined for EU". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 10 December 2019 – via Stuff.co.nz.
- ^ Eder, Jennifer (3 December 2020). "Yealands Wine Group sells Marlborough vineyards to NZ Super Fund for $34 million". Stuff. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ "Portfolio". Yealands. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ "Yealands Estate Wines". Sustainable Business Network. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- ^ "Energy in New Zealand 2019". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. 22 October 2019. ISSN 2324-5913. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- ^ Elder, Jennifer (10 August 2018). "Yealands Wine Group founder Peter Yealands convicted over 'poor' construction work". Stuff. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ Elder, Jennifer (7 May 2019). "Peter Yealands ordered to pay $18,000 after polluting Marlborough stream with grape marc". Stuff. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ Hart, Maia (27 January 2020). "Yealands Wine Group commits to reducing 50 per cent of carbon emissions by 2030". The Marlborough Express. Retrieved 2 February 2020 – via Stuff.