The comments came from GVS counsel Michael Parker during his opening statement to commissioners David Collins, Andrew Henderson and Leigh Overton in Queenstown.
GVS has applied to build and maintain a viticulture and golf-orientated visitor, residential and recreational resort on the 405ha property.
About 20 interested individuals attended yesterday and Mr Parker called the first group of 17 witnesses to give evidence.
Mr Parker explained how the development met Gibbston Character Zone criteria, particularly concerning viticulture.
He said the applicant was a New Zealand-registered company owned by interests with a significant holding in Gibbston Valley Wines Ltd.
GVS would retain ownership of all the areas within the development with the exception of the proposed visitor accommodation and residential units.
A resort management company would be established as a subsidiary company of the consent holder to manage the resort on behalf of its parent company and the people who bought properties within the resort.
"A staging plan has been adopted by the applicant which is intended to give the community confidence that each stage will be progressed in a comprehensive way, particularly in order to ensure that the mitigation measures proposed for each stage take place at the time that the particular stage is being implemented," he said.
One opponent of the project, Dunedin kayaker Ken McIntyre, says in his submission, due to be presented tomorrow, he and fellow members of Central Otago Whitewater Inc are concerned the proposed riverside buildings and golf course will undermine the untouched nature of the Kawarau River.
Wakatipu Environmental Society (WESI) spokeswoman Karen Swaine said she lodged an opposing submission because the development was "inconsistent with the district plan and Gibbston character zone".
In his opening remarks, Mr Parker said GVS had made "significant changes" to accommodate Mr McIntyre's concerns.
GVS had responded in a more general way to the society's concerns by additional mitigation, "some of which was precipitated by the much more focused, constructive input from the Lakes Environmental professionals", he said.
The hearing will continue today.
