Premier vineyard offers lifestyle change

Large Hebel-panel homestead at Cape Campbell Wine's Cable Station Rd property, which includes a 3.6ha lake. Photo / Supplied

Cape Campbell Wine's Cable Station Rd vineyard, a premier Marlborough vineyard established by pioneers of the local wine industry, is being sold via tender through Harcourts, with a tender deadline of 4.30pm on Friday, November 5.

Marketed within New Zealand and overseas by Tom Rutherford and Aaron Davis from Harcourts Blenheim are 100ha of prime land, of which 73ha are planted in sauvignon blanc and three other varieties of grapes - along with two homes and a range of buildings and equipment.

Rutherford says that in 1980 the current owners became the first contract growers in the area, later creating then selling their own successful label before making the move to the arid landscape of the Blind River area, where they established this vineyard, and the label Cape Campbell Wines, which is named after the nearby headland of the same name.

Earlier this year, their multi-faceted business went into voluntary receivership and the Cable Station vineyard has been put up for sale as a result, says Rutherford.

Rutherford says the vineyard at 52 Cable Station Rd, Blind River, was established by a pioneering viticulture family who used decades of knowledge and experience to create an operation with Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand accreditation.

"With both award-winning wines and environmental accreditation, we expect considerable interest from a range of potential buyers," Rutherford says.

"The tonnage output and annual case production from Cable Station Vineyard's established vines, along with its water rights, associated irrigation and frost-protection systems, coupled with two quality dwellings and range of farm buildings, make this a proposition that is likely to appeal to a wide range of potential buyers from foreign investors to New Zealanders interested in making a change in lifestyle and running a turnkey wine-growing operation."

The rural-zoned property was used formerly for pastoral grazing and was developed into a vineyard, which last year produced more than 420 tonnes of grapes that were used in a range of acclaimed wines sold in New Zealand and overseas.

"Predominantly planted in sauvignon blanc grapes, the undulating 16-block vineyard also has established pinot gris, pinot noir, gewurztraminer and chardonnay vines - all planted in text-book fashion in the property's prized Templeton and Sedgemere silt loam soils," Rutherford says.

A feature of the property is its 3.6ha lake.

"The vineyard has 80 shares in the Blind River Irrigation Scheme, entitling it to 1240 cubic metres of water per day.

"To best utilise that and ensure all of the irrigation needs were met, the owners decided to build a large lake on the property, so it's a major plus operationally.

"Thanks to an extensive planting programme, the lake also provides a home for a wide variety of flora and wildlife, too."

The main home on the property is a large, modern Hebel-panel homestead erected in 2007 in the centre of the vineyard.

"It's a contemporary three-bedroom home, ideally positioned to capture views across the vineyard and towards the ranges.

"It includes many other excellent features such as solar water heating, a basement wine cellar and a separate office."

The second dwelling on the property is a three-bedroom cottage built in the 1960s and relocated to the vineyard in 2002.

"It's a character-filled cottage, which also includes an office and utility room, and it is currently tenanted."

In addition to the two dwellings, other buildings include two implement sheds, a pump shed, a chemical shed and three Amarillo wind machines along with a range of vineyard equipment and machinery, which is included in the sale.