NATIONAL VINEYARD FUND OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED
SOUTH AUSTRALIA, VICTORIA & WESTERN AUSTRALIA
National Vineyard Fund of Australia Limited (“NVFAL”), is a multi-region vineyard and winemaking business with properties located in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia. All vineyards are located in the cool climate regions of Australia.
Bantry Bay Estate,
Margaret River,
Western Australia
Belvidere Estate (New)
Langhorne Creek,
South Australia
Marandoo Estate (New)
Langhorne Creek,
South Australia
Barossa Rise Estate,
Barossa Valley,
South Australia
Gardiner Well Estate,
Clare Valley,
South Australia
Moppa Springs Estate,
Barossa Valley,
South Australia
Barossa Central Estate,
Barossa Valley,
South Australia
Heathcote Ridge Estate,
Heathcote,
Victoria
Padthaway Entrance Estate,
Padthaway,
South Australia
OUR HISTORY
The Estates on the properties owned by NVFAL were established between 1999 and 2004. Vineyards have also been acquired. The first structure in 2000 was part of the National Viticultural Fund of Australia Managed Investment Scheme (“MIS”) and second investment vehicle under the National Viticultural Fund of Australia No.2 MIS in 2002.
The MIS’ were merged into their respective land owning companies in 2010 and 2014 respectively. In 2015, both companies merged to become the unlisted public company known as NVFAL.
While the original vineyards were planted from 1999 to 2004, grafting or new planting was commenced in 2012 to “in-demand” varieties.
Currently, there are ten red (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Dolcetto, Grenache, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Shiraz, Tempranillo and Montepulciano) originally from France, Spain and Italy. There are also 6 white varieties (Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Verdelho, Viognier) from France, Germany, Italy and Portugal.
The scale adopted by the industry (in part) and FABAL Operations Pty Ltd, your manager, range as follow:
The grapes grown on the 7 vineyards range in quality from Icon to C Grade depending upon the Vintage year and region that the grapes are sourced from. Some regions, despite the quality of grapes grown on the properties, are not able to demand higher values for their grapes.
Some of the vineyards are now developing solid reputations for growing B grade and above premium red wine grapes for inclusion into some of the most famous Australian brands.
The customers that NVFAL services from our properties include Treasury Wine Estates (Penfolds & Wolf Blass), Pernod Ricard Winemakers (St Hugo and Jacobs Creek), Accolade Wines Australia (Brookland Valley, Houghton, Hardys, DeBortoli Wines and Grant Burge), Taylors Wines, Project Wine, Tscharke Wines, Hentley Farm, Fogarty Wine Group, and Langmeil.
IMPORTANCE OF SHIRAZ
The most important variety on NVFAL properties is Shiraz representing over 50% of the vineyard planted area. Shiraz is planted on Moppa Springs, Barossa Rise, Belvidere, Bantry Bay, Heathcote Ridge, Padthaway Entrance and New Marandoo Estate.
The Shiraz variety comes from the Hermitage area of the Rhone Valley in France where it is known as Syrah. Its origin is uncertain – some suggest it was brought to France by hermits from Shiraz in Iran, others that the Roman legions brought it from Syracuse. In Australia, Shiraz is grown in all viticultural areas and is used in the production of all types of red wine. It is Australia's most planted red variety.
IMPORTANCE OF CABERNET SAUVIGNON
The next most important variety on NVFAL properties is Cabernet Sauvignon representing over 10% of the vineyard planted area. Cabernet Sauvignon is planted on Moppa Springs, Barossa Central, Padthaway Entrance and New Marandoo Estate.
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the French noble varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the worlds most widely recognised red grape varieties and is grown in nearly every major wine producing country. Cabernet Sauvignon became internationally recognised through its prominence in Bordeaux where it is often blended with Merlot. For most of the 20th century it was the worlds most widely planted premium variety. It has come back to the most popular grape variety since 2010 and represents approximately 6.3% of global planting In Australia, Cabernet Sauvignon is the second most widely grown variety by area and in Langhorne Creek it is considered the premier variety produced from the region.
IMPORTANCE OF MERLOT
The other important variety on the NVFAL properties is Merlot. It represents nearly 10% of the vineyard plantings.
Merlot is one of the French noble varieties from the famed Medoc area in the Bordeaux region and dates back to the late 18th century. It is reputed to be named after the blackbird (blue in colour) who liked feeding on the ripe grapes before they were harvested. It is made into a single varietal wine or blended as one of the five main grape varieties for the principal blends of Bordeaux red wines. It is reputed to have the 3rd largest planting by hectares in the world.
IMPORTANCE OF GRENACHE
The other variety on the NVFAL properties is Grenache. It represents nearly 1% of the vineyard plantings.
Grenache is another popular French/Spanish variety from the Iberian/Languedoc region of Europe. It has become one of the most popular planted varieties in the world after Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
IMPORTANCE OF SAUVIGNON BLANC
The other important variety on the NVFAL vineyards is Sauvignon Blanc. It represents around 10% of the vineyard plantings.