Li Ka-shing’s CK Life Sciences adds to wine holdings in Australia, buying Edinger Estate vineyard for US$7.3 million

Name: Japanese wine bath event draws crowds despite rising costs
Uploaded: 2022-12-19T12:30:28.000Z
Duration: 2 min 4 s
Description: Japanese wine bath event draws crowds despite rising costs

CK Life has spent more than US$34 million on vineyards in Australia and New Zealand in the past four years

The company touts long-term, stable income from winery tenants and says demand for grapes has remained steady despite China tariffs

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An undated view of the Edinger Estate vineyard in Western Australia. Photo: Handout

Elise Makin Beijing

Published: 8:30pm, 19 Dec 2022

CK Life Sciences, the biotechnology arm of Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings, on Monday acquired a family-owned vineyard in Western Australia for A$10.8 million (US$7.3 million), adding to holdings that make it a top 10 vineyard owner globally.

Edinger Estate, the second-largest vineyard in the Margaret River region, covers around 182 hectares with a planted area of over 100 hectares, the company said. It is leased to Tate Wines under a long-term lease, which will provide stable and recurrent income, said CK Life CEO Kam Hing Lam.

CK Life has added at least one vineyard in Australia or New Zealand to its portfolio in each of the past four years, spending more than A$50 million.

That total includes the latest deal but does not include the 650-hectare Gale Road Vineyard, also in the Margaret River region, which CK Life acquired in 2021 for an undisclosed amount.

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Japanese wine bath event draws crowds despite rising costs

The takeover of Edinger boosts CK Life’s vineyard holdings to 7,500 hectares (18,500 acres) across 21 vineyards in Australia and eight in New Zealand. The company said it is among the largest vineyard owners in Australasia.

CK Life, which is also engaged in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and other agriculture-related businesses, paid A$9.55 million for the 287-hectare Jubilee Park Vineyard and A$11.8 million for the 195-hectare Katnook vineyards in South Australia in 2020. In 2019, it bought the 520-hectare Wilga Road Vineyard for A$22 million.