Australia's Torbreck Vintners has secured long-term grape supplies for one of its top wines after buying Gnadenfrei vineyard in Barossa Valley.
Image: Torbreck Vintners
Gnadenfrei (pictured) was previously owned by Malcolm Seppelt and has been suppling grapes under contract to Torbreck for one of its top single vineyard wines, The Laird, since 2005.
Marananga-based Gnadenfrei has 2.8ha of south-east facing vines planted and was founded in 1958 with one of the original Barossa Shiraz clones. The average size of a Barossa vineyard is 17.7ha.
The deal is a sign of Torbreck proprietor Pete Kight‘s long-term commitment to his Barossa Valley wine business, following the somewhat acrimonious departure of Torbreck’s founder and winemaker, Dave Powell, in September last year.
‘The purchase is significant not just as a highly-prized asset, but equally as a strategic move that helps us secure our long-term ambitions,’ said Torbreck’s chief winemaker, Craig Isbel.
Torbreck’s recently appointed general manager, Peter Perrin, said the Gnadenfrei purchase was a great opportunity. He declined to put a price tag on the deal, adding, ‘the vendor does not wish the price to be disclosed, so we are respecting their wishes’.
An 18-litre bottle of The Laird 2006 was this week on sale at the UK’s Hedonism retailer for nearly £20,000.
Written by Chris Mercer
