Reh Kendermann acquires Napier Vineyards in South Africa

Reh Kendermann acquires Napier Vineyards in South Africa

Extended potential for New World and red wines

Bingen, 11 April 2017. Reh Kendermann GmbH Winery is investing in South Africa  and has acquired  Napier Vineyards in Wellington effective from 1 April 2017.

Reh Kendermann is further extending its expertise in the premium segment with the acquisition of Napier, a specialist producer of premium wines which was founded in 1989 and which has been family-owned since then. Napier is well known for its complex and outstanding wines.

Enhanced New World portfolio

Napier’s former owner, Michael Loubser,  had the philosophy of creating French style from New World grapes, thereby producing Bordeaux blends of the highest quality.

The estate has vineyards covering 150 hectares, of which 90 hectares are used primarily for growing the red grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc and Malbec.  Maturation of the premium range takes place in French oak barrels, which provides the wines with a special character. “We very much believe in the style of the wines,” says Alexander Rittlinger, Managing Director of Reh Kendermann. “They have a distinct  profile, enrich the South Africa assortment and offer enormous growth potential.” This is especially true of  the flagship Red Medallion, a Bordeaux cuvée of premium quality grapes, which has already more than convinced the visitors of this year’s ProWein in Düsseldorf.  With white varietals, the focus is on Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc.

Napier Vineyards is located north of Stellenbosch in Wellington,  an up-and-coming wine region in South Africa. The warm climate here gives ideal conditions for producing red wines full of character.  The region itself also offers a point of difference to the classicportfolio of South African regions.

Committed to the same philosophy

“I am delighted that with Reh Kendermann we have found a buyer who shares our philosophy and who will strengthen Napier’s global position. The winery is in good hands”, says  Michael Loubser. In addition to Leon Bester, the former winemaker and managing director, who will continue to be responsible for wine production, Alexander Rittlinger joins the management board and will be in charge of  global distribution together with his sales team. The intention is to use  Reh Kendermann’s distribution network to develop Napier’s sales internationally. “We will take advantage of the synergies we have in our company to offer the wines in many countries,” states Alexander Rittlinger. Good business is already being done with the premium range in Asia, especially in Japan.

Excellent quality

Currently Napier has two ranges in its portfolio: Lion Creek and Single Vineyards. Lion Creek represents classic wines for every day in the mid-range price segment. The Napier premium Single Vineyards range currentlycomprises four wines. Napier Single Vineyard St. Catherine Chardonnay, Napier Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and Napier Red Medallion have recently beenawarded four stars in the prestigious “John Platter’s South African Wine Guide”. The Napier wines also won top awards at the most recent spring tastings of the Berlin Wine Trophy: Napier Lion Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz and Napier Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon won gold medals, while Napier Lion Creek Cabernet Sauvignon and Napier Saint Catherine Single Vineyard Chardonnay received silver medals.

Profile: Reh Kendermann

Reh Kendermann  is one of the most modern wineries in Germany and one of the leaders in branded and premium own label wines. Reh Kendermann was the first winery in Germany to introduce temperature-controlled fermentation and has since then pioneered many cutting-edge wine production technologies.  The company is also the largest exporter of branded wines from Germany and a leading importer into Germany of wines bottled at source. The portfolio includes Black Tower, the most successful wine brand from Germany with currently more than 15 million bottles sold around the world. In addition, Reh Kendermann is the exclusive distributor of  Espiritu de Chile and Lindeman’s Australian wines which are very successful internationally.. The company’s headquarters, including sales and administration, vinification, production and warehousing, is located in Bingen, There are further vinification centres in Leiwen, Gau-Bickelheim and Böchingen.  Reh Kendermann also owns the wine estate Crama Oprisor in Romania with 252 hectares of vineyards.

Press Contact Germany:

Napier Vineyards GmbH

Am Ockenheimer Graben 35

55411 Bingen/Rhein

Tel.: +49 6721/901-0

info@napier-vineyards.co.za

Publik. Agentur für Kommunikation GmbH

Sonja Haag

Rheinuferstraße 9

67061 Ludwigshafen/Rhein

Tel.: +49 621/963600-39

Fax: 0621/963600-739

s.haag@agentur-publik.de

www.agentur-publik.de