FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Flying Winemaker lands in New Zealand with the acquisition of Gladstone Vineyard by Odyssey Capital Group
11 May 2018
Leading Wairarapa wine producer Gladstone Vineyard is entering a new chapter as the business is set to be acquired by Odyssey Capital Group in partnership with Flying Winemaker Holdings Limited.
Odyssey Capital Group is Asia’s leading independent alternative asset manager that provides differentiated and bespoke investment solutions across multiple assets classes, one of which is attractive alcohol opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region. The Gladstone Vineyard purchase adds to the group’s stable of portfolio companies that the company offers via its sister business, Odyssey Asset Management Ltd, a SFC Type 1, 4 and 9 licensed company.
The Flying Winemaker is a multi-faceted Australasian wine producer founded by award winning winemaker Eddie McDougall.
Under the new ownership, which is subject to New Zealand Overseas Investment Office approval, there is opportunity for significant growth in production, a realignment of the brands under the Flying Winemaker’s established partner network and a priority focus on Asia-Pacific distribution.
Christine Kernohan, the current proprietor of Gladstone Vineyard, will stay on as General Manager/Chief Winemaker, along with key Gladstone staff, who will continue to provide significant input into running the vineyard, in conjunction with The Flying Winemaker.
Daniel Vovil says “Odyssey is pleased to be working with its long-term client, The Flying Winemaker and to have the opportunity to acquire such an attractive asset with a great team, that is Gladstone Vineyard. The acquisition of Gladstone Vineyard further adds to Odyssey’s vineyard and alcohol portfolio in the Asia-Pacific region and demonstrates our commitment to the industry and the region.”
Christine Kernohan says she is pleased negotiations with Odyssey and Eddie have reached this outcome.
“Having expanded our vineyards from an annual production of 1,000 cases to around 10,000 cases in the past 20 years, we are pleased that Odyssey and The Flying Winemaker see the huge potential of Gladstone Vineyard wines on the world stage.”
Eddie McDougall says he is looking forward to building on Gladstone Vineyard’s successes.
“It has been a long and detailed process when it came to selecting the right vineyard and region in New Zealand that I felt was going to offer wine drinkers the next big thing. It was important to me that we become custodians of an existing vineyard that showed great promise if it could utilise our winemaking expertise and branded ecosytem. I recognise world-class winemaking businesses are not built in a day and having the chance to take over Gladstone Vineyard with more than 30 years on the books makes this a very special opportunity. My team and I are incredibly excited to become the new custodians of the vineyard as we continue to build on the foundations laid by the Kernohan family and their team.”
Media contacts:
The Flying Winemaker: Eddie McDougall
pr@flyingwinemaker.com.hk | (852) 2522 2187
Daniel Vovil, Co-Founder and President, Odyssey Capital Group
daniel.vovil@odysseycapital-group.com | (852) 9725-5477
Christine Kernohan, Proprietor, Gladstone Vineyard
christine@gladstonevineyard.co.nz | (64 6) 379 8563
Background
About The Flying Winemaker
The Flying Winemaker, regarded as Australasia’s leading voice in wine, was born on the streets of Hong Kong in 2010. The brand originated as a talisman for those determined to change the way wine is perceived, enjoyed and shared in Asia. Led by founder and winemaker Eddie McDougall, the company continues to drive a vino revolution in a region where wine still has a very white tablecloth perception.
With a longstanding commitment to making award-winning wines, running a comprehensive online store, hosting guerilla and educational wine tastings (Rosé Revolution), producing modern marketing and media content (Asian Wine Review), The Flying Winemaker leads the charge as the world’s most exciting wine brand.
The launch of a Television Series on Discovery Channel and Netflix brought The Flying Winemaker name into over 472 Million households across the globe. The result of this worldwide exposure has led to partnerships with some of the world’s most dynamic companies, such as Microsoft, Sky Team Alliance, MasterCard and Lan Kwai Fong Group.
The Flying Winemaker’s ongoing commitment to winemaking has now evolved to offer a fully comprehensive grape to glass service for new wineries in emerging wine regions. With a team of avid winemakers, experienced marketers and former luxury hospitality professionals, The Flying Winemaker crew is ready to bring anyone’s dream to make and sell great wines to life.
facebook.com/theflyingwinemaker
instagram.com/theflyingwinemaker
instagram.com/eddiemcdougallwines
youtube.com/flyingwinemaker
linkedin.com/company/the-flying-winemaker
About Eddie McDougall
Eddie McDougall is the award-winning winemaker, chairman of the Asian Wine Review, wine critic, columnist and TV personality behind The Flying Winemaker, one of Asia-Pacific’s most dynamic wine brands.
With over 15 years of winemaking experience, Eddie has worked with some of the most influential wineries in the New and Old World including the likes of Vietti, Mas de Daumas Gassac, Giant Steps, Deep Woods Estate and Silver Heights. In 2007, the young winemaker took his first step as a young entrepreneur, creating his Australian wine brand, Eddie McDougall Wines. Eddie’s wine brand has been awarded a 4.5 star rating from James Halliday whilst his collection of wines continue to score 90+ points from international critics.
About Gladstone Vineyard
Gladstone Vineyard is a family business with an international reputation for distinctive, high quality wines of finesse and complexity. Established in 1986, Gladstone Vineyard was the first of a cluster of boutique wineries to emerge on the old riverbed of the Ruamahanga River, in New Zealand’s Wairarapa wine region. Today, the winery produces around 120,000 bottles of wine annually, concentrating on its award winning Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris.
Gladstone Vineyard currently exports around50 percent of its production, with markets including Australia, the United Kingdom, Norway, the United States, Canada, Japan, Singapore, and the Philippines.
About Odyssey Capital Group
Odyssey Capital Group is Asia’s leading independent Alternative Asset Manager that provides differentiated and bespoke investment solutions across multiple assets classes to its clients. The company’s divisions include: Asset Management, Wealth Management, Hedge Funds and Real Estate.
The Firm’s primary focus is to seek out undervalued investment opportunities to co-invest with its clients.
The Odyssey team comprises 28 experienced executives, asset managers, lawyers, private bankers, trust & tax planning specialists and experienced investors with over 400 years of combined financial and operational experience across Asia Pacific, Europe and North America.
This experience allows the Odyssey team to provide a broad regional industry expertise, insight into global macro and geopolitical trends, and a powerful network of global relationships.
When clients partner with the Odyssey Group of companies, they benefit from the breadth and depth of expertise with the entire firm working in unison to achieve a targeted outcome.
Our innovative approach allows us to generate attractive investment returns within the context of a prudent and long term horizon.
We aim to only employ the highest quality people as partners in our business, while pursuing the highest standards, and aligning our interests with those of our investment partners. It is our goal to be the “trusted partner” for our clients’ needs.