Rathfinny Estate Revisited with Mark Driver Part 3
This show was published Friday, December 8, 2017
- Rathfinny Estate Revisited with Mark Driver Part 3
Overview
In our final interview we talk about the future for Rathfinny and how they are ambitiously building a market for their wines, before they are even released.
So far they have planted out half of the estate - around 180 acres (70 hectares) of vines - with another 60-70 hectares to plant in future years. They are also looking to extend the vineyard in the immediate area by leasing or buying local sites within a 10 minute/10 mile tractor ride of the estate.
They have been building infrastructure to support a 10 year business plan and have the scale needed for the next 10-20 years. They will be able to process 800,000 litres of wine and store about 4 million bottles. More planting in the next two years and within 5 years will have planted the entire existing site.
Production in a good year should be around 200,000 bottles (similar volumes to Ridgeview, Camel Valley and Chapel Down). For sales Mark is looking not only at the domestic market but also at export markets such as North America and Asia. In 2018, 11,000 bottles are being released into London restaurants and hotel groups managed by agents Gonzalez Byass who are handling the UK distribution.
The following year (2019) they expect 30,000 bottles and the year after (2020) 100,000 bottles.
The strategic focus is completely on sparkling wine. The only still wine production will be minimal and for the cellar door/local market. Mark doesn't intend to buy in grapes from other producers.
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