KNAPPSTEINS PLAN TO SELL LENSWOOD, BUT STAY ON

Published: 23 July, 2008

Tim and Annie Knappstein are selling Lenswood, their well-known Adelaide Hills' vineyard, because they wish to increase production to keep up with demand. Lenswood is being sold with a grape supply and a vineyard management agreement with the current owners. The Knappsteins own the Lenswood Vineyards brand and intend to continue making the wine. Winery and vineyard broker Toby Langley, of Colin Gaetjens & Shaw, said more and more small to medium-sized wine labels were deciding to sell their vineyards to free up capital, and that the trend was likely to continue in the next few years. Joint owner and managing director Annie Knappstein said that Lenswood Vineyards had grown significantly over the past five years, with production increasing from 3,000 cases to 8,000 per year. Fifty per cent of our market is export, with markets including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Holland, Japan and Singapore,' she said. The remainder is sold within Australia, primarily in Melbourne and Sydney.' Planted predominately to Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, the vineyard is situated in the Lenswood sub-region of the Adelaide Hills, at an average altitude of 520 metres. The Knappsteins were the first to plant vineyards in the Lenswood area, in 1981. In 1995 they sold their Clare Valley interests to Petaluma, to concentrate on Lenswood.

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