START-UP ADVICE

niche for our wines based on our particular
site and terroir – something that would have
been extremely difficult to do in Europe. Add
to that the quality of life. We work hard but
on our time off we are within a short distance
of boating paradise, local ski slopes and the
Pacific Islands are just a two or three hour
flight away.”
Churton makes premium quality, biodynamic
and organic wines. Over two decades,
Churton has grown from a 400-case to a
7,000-case company with plans to grow
capacity further to 12,000 cases. The couple
are now seeking investors to help them grow
the business and to establish an onsite ecowinery
within the vineyard.
Nigel Greening
Proprietor, Felton Road Wines, Bannockburn,
New Zealand
www.feltonroad.com
Felton Road is one of the most famous
of the Central Otago wineries, making
highly regarded Pinot Noirs, Riesling and
Chardonnay. Nigel’s investment in the
wine industry began with the purchase of
an 8-hectare apricot orchard at Cornish
Point in Bannockburn for NZ$330k in 1999.
Within two years he had converted it to
vines. But, thirsty for more, in September
2000 he purchased Felton Road Wines in
Bannockburn, then just three years into
production. The deal, amounting to a $6.3m
purchase, marked Nigel’s long-term viticulture
and today he runs a small but highly
successful winery exporting to 44 markets
around the world.
For enquiries about the new business
visas, please contact Jennifer Andersen,
Investment Market Manager (Europe),
Migrant Attraction Unit, Immigration New
Zealand
Email: jennifer.anderson@mbie.govt.nz
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7208 1140
To find out more about investing in New
Zealand:
www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/investingin-nz
For further information on wine-related
investments, visit New Zealand Trade and
Enterprise:
www.nzte.govt.nz/invest
For more information about the New
Zealand Wine industry:
www.nzwine.com
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