Te Popo Farm in Hastings features grazing and established vineyard

The 52.8ha Te Popo Farm is on the market, with resource consent for four residential titles and a well-established nearly 6ha vineyard. Photo / Supplied.

Te Popo Farm, a 52.8ha Hastings property, is on the market with resource consent for four residential titles across 40ha of grazing and a well-established, nearly 6ha vineyard.

The large elevated grazing and viticulture property at 2408 State Highway 50, has a mix of easy rolling to steeper hill country and land overlooking the famous wine growing Hawke's Bay Gimblett Gravels as well as numerous options for development including the existing four titles, a farm park, eco-tourism and extending the vineyard.

There is a mix of easy rolling to steeper hill country and land overlooking the famous wine growing Hawke's Bay Gimblett Gravels. Photo / Supplied.

The property is being marketed by Bayleys Hastings salespeople Tim Wynne-Lewis and Kris August for sale by tender closing on August 7.

Wynne-Lewis says that although the five-year resource consent for the four titles of about 10ha each runs out in August next year, a new buyer could apply to the Hastings District Council for this to be extended

A main house and secondary residence are allowed on each of the titles.

"Alternatively a new owner could apply for a farm park subdivision as the land is on the cusp of being at the size required by the district council and this could allow for more building sites."

Another option, he said, would be to establish an eco-tourism business with lodges on the elevated parts of Te Popo Farm. There are already wineries and other corporate ventures in the area and the property has a number of elevated potential building sites with different aspects and expansive views in all directions and rocky limestone outcrops, adding to the aesthetic appeal.

Other features on Te Popo Farm include a variety of established trees and shrubs creating shade, shelter and a frame for further development, while access to the farm is by well-formed 4x4 tracks.

Wynne-Lewis said work has been done on planning a new access road.

As most of the property has been used for grazing, there are a solid set of cattle yards and loading race with easy access to SH50 and a bore close to the state highway boundary. Water is pumped to an elevated large concrete tank and then gravity-fed to troughs in the grazing paddocks. The bore also pumps water to an irrigation control station above the vineyard terraces.

"The property's elevation and views give it the appeal factor for a new owner plus the resource consents already in place and the nearly 6ha premium producing, a high-quality vineyard on the gravels and north facing limestone/clay terraces with Syrah, Merlot and Chardonnay grapes. Consent is in place to irrigate 15ha of vineyard at 10 litres per second of 1610 cubic metres in a seven day period."

A fully enclosed two-bay implement shed with a concrete floor and two roller doors, a side entry door, a staff kitchen and facilities are located beneath the vineyard terraces on the northern boundary of the property.

Wynne-Lewis said the grape plantings could be extended into the already formed terraces with water on hand.

An inter-family lease on a year-to-year basis has been established, which takes care of the management of the vineyard and grazing on the rest of the land.

While there is no winery on the property, Trinity Hill is at the bottom of the property's boundary and Te Awa Estate is over the road. The area is well-known for grape growing, with the renowned Bridge Pa triangle close by and many wineries, linked by cycle trails, offering popular venues for lunches and wine tasting year round.

Leaving the property, it is a fairly direct 15-minute commute to Hastings and Havelock North and a 25-minute drive to Napier.

Wynne-Lewis said there had already been a number of inquiries about Te Popo Farm, which would be expected on a property in a prime location overlooking the Heretaunga Plains.