Sign of the times; Gapsted Estate hits the market

It is a sad sign of the times when wine producers in high quality regions go into receivership. 

Gapsted Estate, a respected winery, cellar door, restaurant and events venue in the Alpine Valley wine region in North-East Victoria, is now for sale after receivers took over before Christmas. 

The property is a 24.05 hectare landholding with 8.41 hectares of vines, a winery, cellar door and on-site restaurant. 

The winery is fully operational and processes fruit for several local growers. The agents say it is capable of processing up to 11,500 tonnes of grapes per annum and has wine storage capacity of 8.2 million litres.

Other facilities include a large warehouse and distribution facility, administration building, production and laboratory building, tastings room, barrel shed and staff amenities.

The vineyard combines popular varieties like chardonnay with emerging grape varieties including saperavi, tempranillo and petit manseng. 

I've tried the wines sporadically and they have been of high quality. 

Gapsted is close to tourism drawcards including Myrtleford, Beechworth and Bright. 

Gapsted Estate is being offered for sale by Expressions of Interest closing Wednesday, March 18. 

Gapsted, also known as Victorian Alps Wine Company Pty Ltd, was established in 1997 by a group of independent grape growers from the Alpine and King valleys as a contract wine grape processing facility. 

Alpine Valley Vignerons president Stef Antonello told local newspapers that the local wine industry is “absolutely hoping” a buyer for Gapsted Estate can be found, given its pivotal role as a wine grape processor and wine maker within the region.

“Certainly if they closed there would be a lot more grapes that won’t have a home," he said. “We’re absolutely hoping someone buys them as an ongoing concern...it has great potential and just needs investment back into it.”

After 50+ years in the same family, Passing Clouds hits the market

Passing Clouds Vineyard, a family-owned wine producer with a 50+ year history, is up for sale by the Leith family.

The winery and cellar door, located at Musk, just outside Daylesford in Victoria, is being marketed by Nick Butler of LJ Hooker Specialty Projects.

Passing Clouds is described as "one of the jewels of the Macedon Ranges" .

The property has mature chardonnay and pinot noir vines with room for expansion, along with the cellar door with casual tasting and picnic areas, overlooking the winery.

Set away from the working business, the property also boasts an almost new architecturally designed five-bedroom home and a separate three-bedroom cottage.

Selling agent and vineyard specialist Butler has enjoyed a relationship with the Leith family for over 20 years.

“The demand for quality pinot noir and chardonnay vineyards remains strong with recent sales recognising that consumers are gravitating more and more to these varieties," Butler says.

"The Macedon Ranges is home to some of Australia’s finest wines and Passing Clouds Vineyard sits up at the upper echelon.

"Combining an established and well recognised vineyard and brand with the low hanging fruit of upside through a shortage of accommodation in the area and this represents an incredible opportunity to own something beautiful and highly profitable.”

Passing Clouds began in Bendigo before being established in the Macedon Ranges almost three decades ago.

Founder Graeme Leith handed over the reins to the next generation 15 years ago: his son Cameron and daughter-in-law Marion.

“Passing Clouds celebrated 50 years last year, and with that milestone came time to pause and reflect for us and our young family," said Cameron and Marion.

"We decided that it is time for us to move on to new pursuits. Whilst we will miss this beautiful property we are excited about our family's next chapter”

Included in the sale is an inventory of wines.

“The 2025 season was the best since the vineyard was planted in 1998," says Cameron Leith.

"We had the highest yields on record and achieved optimum ripeness and quality.”

Passing Clouds is for sale via an Expressions of Interest Process closing 2pm on Friday, June 20. Call 0458 672 643 |or email nick.butler@ljhavalon.com.au

Award-winning vineyard for sale

So you’ve dreamed about owning your own winery?

And you’ve got some cash stashed away, or are about to inherit bigly?

One of the Canberra District’s most celebrated wineries is up for sale.

Four Winds Vineyard, a family-owned business that recently swept five major trophies at the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards - including the coveted 2024 Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy - is on the market.

The sale will mark the end of an era for owners John and Sarah Collingwood, who took over the vineyard from Sarah’s parents Graeme and Suzanne Lunney 15 years ago.

Located 30 minutes from Canberra, Four Winds Vineyard is a popular destination for wine enthusiasts, producing award-winning riesling, shiraz, cabernet, and sangiovese.

Four Winds Vineyard’s 2023 Shiraz took out the Jimmy Watson award in November and the vineyard’s cellar door has become a magnet for day-trippers -– its signature woodfired pizzas and at-the-table wine tastings attracting nearly 30,000 visitors a year.

Ms Collingwood said that while sad to be leaving a place dear to three generations of her family, she and her husband and their two young children felt it was the right time to hand over the baton.

“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built, but it’s time for new adventures,” she says. “Winning an award as prestigious as the Jimmy Watson feels like the perfect high note to step away on. This place has given us a great sense of purpose and achievement – and we’re excited to see who will take it forward.”

The sale includes the Collingwoods’ four-bedroom home with tennis court and woodfired pizza oven in the garden, 12-hectare vineyard, and strong business infrastructure.

“This is more than just a home or a vineyard – it’s an established, profitable brand with national recognition. It’s not every day a property of this calibre comes up for sale,” selling agent Sam McGregor of Windrose Property said.

Queensland's highest-profile wine producer for sale

The highest-profile wine producer in Queensland has just hit the market - and will cost you a cool $8 million.

Family-owned and -operated Ballandean Estate was a wine pioneer in the Granite Belt region, and its success has been driven by Angelo and Mary Puglisi.

Brisbane-based Baton Advisory is the selling agent.

It describes Ballandean as "the opportunity to own a flourishing vineyard winery nestled in the scenic landscapes of the Granite Belt.

"Situated in one of Australia’s booming wine regions, this well-established business is perfectly positioned to reap the benefits of the area’s burgeoning tourism industry, which attracts over 400,000 annual visitors.

"With major investments pouring into the local area from both government bodies and high-net-worth individuals, the region is poised for unprecedented growth, making this an ideal time to invest in this thriving business."

The news was broken by Wine Business Magazine.

Established in 1932, Ballandean Estate produces around 10,000 cases annually and has around 35 hectares of vineyards.   

  

Treasury to sell some of Australia’s highest-profile wine brands

Wolf Blass, Lindemans and Yellowglen were once among the most powerful wine brands in Australia.

But owner Treasury Wine Estates today announced that all three brands are no longer wanted and will be sold.

The lower-priced wines have no place in Treasury's increasingly premium portfolio, headed by Penfolds and Wynns Coonawarra Estate.

Treasury told the Australian stock exchange that it intends to divest its commercial brand portfolio. That portfolio also includes US brand Blossom Hill.

The compnay said that collectively the four brands represented less than 5% of TWE’s net profits in the recently financial year 2023-2024.

“Following the latest review of the carrying value of the Group’s assets as part of its annual impairment testing process, TWE will recognise a non-cash impairment charge of $354m ($290m post-tax) in its financial result for the year ended 30 June 2024 in relation to the TPB division,” TWE said in its message to the ASX.

TWE has also announced that it will be increasing the price of Penfolds wines globally “by leveraging our unique Penfolds brand status to drive ongoing demand, we remain steadfast on our clear ambition to be the number one luxury wine brand in the market,” said Penfolds CEO Tim Ford.

Tasmanian wine businesses on the market

One of Tasmania's highest-profile wine producers is for sale, along with several smaller wineries and vineyards.

The huge Nocton Park property, just outside Richmond in the Coal River Valley, hit the market this week with Nutrien Harcourts offering the business for sale by expressions of interest closing on August 30.

The Nocton property includes 608 hectares on three titles with 35 hectares of vineyards planted largely with pinot noir, chardonnay, merlot and sauvignon blanc.

Much of the fruit used to be sold but is now released under the Storm Bay and Nocton labels. The cellar door facility is also part of the sale.

Also for sale is the former Panorama Vineyard, now called Lucille, at Cradoc in the Huon Valley south of Hobart.

Planted mainly with pinot noir, and a small amount of chardonnay, the vineyard is currently owned by the Lubiana family.

The property has a mothballed winery complete with offices, cellar door, bottling plant, and a climate-controlled barrel hall housing 300 barrels. It encompasses five freehold titles, with approximately 9.3 hectares of vineyards.

Brownwood Vineyard, with 17.6 hectares of vines planted in 2019 with pinot noir, chardonnay and riesling, is also available to buy in the Coal River Valley.

Other wine businesses for sale in Tasmania include Velo at Legana, just north of Launceston, where vines were first planted on site in 1965.

Velo has a modern cellar door and Timbre Kitchen, with chef Matt Adams as a key tenant. It is offered with all plant/machinery, the business, wine club and stock

Nearby Brook Eden at Lebrina, planted in 1988 was enlarged in 2015 to complete three hectares of vines. It is for sale, along with Winter Brook at Loira in the Tamar Valley, which has 3.2 hectares under vine and a further 0.8 hectares in preparation for planting.

Opportunities abound. 

Leading Australian wine brand puts vineyards up for sale

Banrock Sation, one of Australia's highest-profile wine brands, has put its vineyards and facilities up for sale.

Owned by Australia's second-biggest wine company, Accolade Wines, Banrock Sation is selling a 235- hectare Riverland vineyard on two titles that produces an average of 5,700 tonnes of grapes annually.

Most of the vines were planted between 1993 and 1996, agents Langley & Co says on their website.

The vineyards are planted with shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, semillon and chardonnay plus a mix of alternative varieties.

The sale, by expressions of interest, includes a 1,619 ml annual water licence and "extensive building improvements" including a modern visitor centre, two houses and shedding.

The winey plant and equipment are for sale by negotiation.

The package includes the Wine Centre and "world-renowned wetland" subject to a long-term lease with Accolade Wines.

Expressions of Interest are invited to be lodged by May 5.

So you'd like to enter the Australian wine industry?

Many people dream of starting a vineyard and making their own wine.

A lot more realistic option is buying an existing vineyard, winery and house - the complete package in one hit.

One such business recently hit the market: ATR Wines in the Grampians region of Victoria.

Winemaker Adam Richardson and journalist Eva Dienel are selling their business to return to Oregon in the US, where Adam met Eva when making wine some years back.

"After buying an empty sheep paddock in 2005, planting the vineyard, building the winery, developing and running the ATR Wines business and tasting room, Adam is ready to retire from winemaking," Eva said in an email to friends and business associates.

The family will move to live in Bend, Oregon, where Eva's parents are based.

So if county vineyard life sounds your thing, here are some links with all the details you might need.

• Real estate listings:  https://www.realestate.com.au/property-lifestyle-vic-armstrong-700231588 and https://www.realcommercial.com.au/for-sale/property-armstrong-vic-3377-504277644. 
• ATR Wines: with information about the business: https://www.atrwines.com.au/. 
• Visit Grampians website for more information about the region: https://www.visitgrampians.com.au/. 

The property covers 43 acres with 18 acres of vines planted to shiraz, riesling, nebbiolo, durif, tannat and viognier.

The location is a 2 1/2-hour train ride or drive from Melbourne.

McLaren Vale wine business hits the market

Looking for a Christmas present for someone with everything?

How about one of Australia's finest boutique vineyards and wine businesses?

Gemtree Wines in McLaren Vale, South Australia, was this week placed on the market after the major investor - Chinese businessman uangang Song - indicated his desire to sell.

The biodynamic operation on 56.7 hectares of land produces around 40,000 cases of wine a year, and was established by the Buttery family in 1998.

Under the guidance of current custodians Mike and Melissa Brown - who have been in situ for 25 years - Gemtree is a guiding light of sustainable grape growing and winemaking.

The vineyards are planted with grenache, tempranillo, fiano, albarino and shiraz and the sale includes a tasting room with views of McLaren Vale and the coastline; as well as an eco-trail and wetlands with visitor amenities and accommodation.

The winery can process 3,000 tonnes each vintage. winery with 1,000 tonnes of contract winemaking.

"Due to a change of circumstances with the major shareholder the business is being offered for sale as a going concern," says real estate agent Stephen Strachan of Langley & Co.

Expressions of Interest for the entire business or individual components must be lodged by February 28.

You'll find details here: www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/mclaren-flat-sa-5171-2018263776

Wine Business Monthly estimates the price could exceed $10 million. 

So you think you could organise a piss up in a brewery?

 

So you've always dreamed of owning and operating a craft brewery?

How about one on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula with a proven track record over two decades?

The Red Hill Brewery, one of Australia's pioneering small brewers, was this week placed on the market by Karen and Dave Golding, who have operated the business for 22 years.

Red Hill Brewery has a local focus with a relaxed environment where visitors enjoy good beer and food.

“As our family have grown up, and our business matured, we are looking toward our future and think after all this time we have a few more goals in our lives to look forward to," the Goldings said on LinkedIn.

"Hopefully, a semi-retirement and travelling is on the cards for our future!

“We are proud of the business we have created and hope to be able to find new owners that will be passionate custodians of the craft of great beer and to be part of the beautiful Mornington Peninsula community and environment.”

The sale of the property and business is being handled by Kay & Burton.
https://lnkd.in/gU3K6dR2

Why you need to see this famous artwork now

One of Britain's most iconic works of art is under potential threat of being removed from public view.

LS Lowry's Going To The Match is currently on display at the superb The Lowry, a theatre and gallery complex at Salford Quays in Manchester - a venue that is well worth a visit for anyone in town.

It is on loan from The Players Foundation (PF), the Professional Footballers' Association charity, which intends to auction the painting next month to raise money for its charitable works.

Salford's mayor has called on the "footballing community" to fund the purchase of the painting - valued at £8 million ($13.3 million AUD) so it can remain on public display, The Fiver online newsletter reported.

It has been loaning the 1953 work to the arts centre.

Salford Mayor Paul Dennett said "finding £8m-plus wouldn't be too difficult" for the area's footballers.

The PF said the financial crisis meant it had to sell "in the interests of our beneficiaries" as it "no longer has any income guaranteed, so we have had to completely reposition".

The work shows fans on their way to Bolton's former ground Burnden Park (a cold, bleak place, trust me).

"Wouldn't it be truly tragic if this iconic LS Lowry painting... was sold to a private collector and ceased to be free to access by people here in the City of Salford as it has been for the past 22 years?" Dunnett said.

"I'd like to make a personal plea for the footballing community here in Greater Manchester to look at retaining this painting for the people of Greater Manchester.

"There's a lot of money in that community, so finding £8m-plus wouldn't be too difficult."

Lowry, who died in 1976, spent much of his life in Salford and his work is strongly associated with the city.

The work will be auctioned at Christie's in London on October 19.

So you’d like to own a Tasmanian icon

Arguably the most iconic hotel property in Tasmania: Cradle Mountain Lodge is for sale. 

Created by Tasmanian tourism industry pioneer Simon Currant and currently owned by Elanor Investors, the wilderness lodge recently underwent a major refurb. 

Mountain Lodge, has been listed for sale by the ASX-listed Elanor Investors Group.

The 86-cabin hotel is located on the edge of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, and has been named one of Lonely Planet’s ‘Top 10 Most Extraordinary Places To Stay’.

Elanor Investors Group’s Head of Hotels, Tourism & Leisure, Marianne Ossovani, told Travel Daily that selling the property wasn’t necessarily the plan when renovations began, but strong acquisition interest since has led to its potential divestment.

“We have received several off-market approaches by parties interested in acquiring the resort, prompting us to formally take Cradle Mountain Lodge to market,” she said.

Cradle Mountain Lodge is operated under Accor’s Peppers brand with the benefit of a franchise agreement, with vacant possession available upon sale.

So you fancy making wine in Tasmania?

Ever dreamed of owning a vineyard in Tasmania and making your own cool-climate wine?

One of the best vineyards in the state is on the market right now, in the heart of the Huon Valley midway between Cygnet and Huonville, around 35 minutes south of Hobart.

Formerly known as Panorama Vineyard - and currently farmed by the Lubiana family as Lucille Vineyard - the 23.136 hectares property is sited on the banks of the Huon River and is for sale by expressions of interest (EOI) through Harcourts Tasmania.

This property has a large modern winery with offices, cellar door, a modern bottling plant, a laboratory and a 300-barrel, climate-controlled barrel hall. 

There are five freehold titles with approximately 9.3ha of vines planted with classic Tasmanian varieties: 90% pinot noir and 10% chardonnay, which can be irrigated by a deep water bore.

Expressions of interest close at 5pm on June 10, with offers expected to be over $3 million. 

The property has potential both a as a winery/vineyard or for tourism operations, subject to council approval. 

Alternatively, you might fancy a career in the oyster business. Get Shucked on Bruny Island is for sale with the price available on application through Knight Frank Real Estate. 

Mornington Peninsula wine landmark hits the market

One of the most popular Mornington Peninsula wine destinations hit the market this week with much-loved David Lloyd putting Eldridge Estate at Red Hill on the market. 

Lloyd lost his wife Wendy to cancer and has been fighting his own battles with the disease but has found happiness with new partner Carol and has continued to make wines of exemplary quality,

The couple will be moving to Dodges Ferry in Tasmania and Lloyd will continue his Tasmanian Odd Couple pinot noir project with Michael Twelftree of Two Hands in the Barossa, so will not be completely lost to the wine industry. 

"It is a very sad time for us to put Eldridge Estate on the market, but we feel that if we didn’t at least put a toe in the water we may not get another opportunity," Lloyd said. 

"The hope is that a buyer will continue with Eldridge as a great wine producer. In the first six months after I came home from hospital in 2020 I had three offers on the winery, one of which was by another local producer. 

"I figured that I hadn’t beaten the scourge to retire. After vintage last year, however, I felt really tired and have to recognise that I am 69 years old.

"If Eldridge does not sell I have a standby strategy to wind down by selling fruit and not doing any contract winemaking."

Lloyd started making wine in 1975 and has been working on the Mornington Peninsula since 1981. He has operated Eldridge Estate since April 1995. 

He will be missed on the Mornington Peninsula but welcomed to Tasmania, where his expertise might well be in demand. 

# Kay and Burton are the real estate agents. Contact them, not David.

So you'd like a chance to get into the wine and hospitality industries in Australia

So you've always liked the idea of being involved in the wine industry, maybe running some accommodation on the side?

Pruning vines in the middle of winter doesn't worry you; or you can afford someone to do the grunt work, and vagaries of the seasons are to be welcomed rather than feared. You'd love to deal with the public on a daily basis.

There are two very different wine businesses on sale right now; one for a family, perhaps, the other for a hospitality industry high flyer with money to invest.

The boutique Every Man and His Dog vineyard and cellar door (top) in Tasmania's Coal River Valley - formerly known as Palmyra - just hit the market and might prove a magnet for life style seekers.

The 2.35 hectare property combines house, vineyard, cellar door operation and B&B just a short drive from the hamlet of Richmond and under 20 minutes from Hobart.

It is being sold as offering "a great and enjoyable lifestyle with income from different sources - on-line sales, wholesale, cellar door retail, functions, weddings, merchandise and accommodation".

It is for sale by expressions of interest through Knight Frank Tasmania.

In the Adelaide Hills, meanwhile, a historic Clarendon estate needs to be restored to its former glory.

The Old Clarendon Winery (above) has been listed for sale via expressions of interest by Ray White Port Adelaide.

Spanning 2.27ha overlooking the Onkaparinga River, it includes heritage-listed buildings constructed around 1859 that formed part of the first winery in Clarendon, with 25 apartments that offer additional income.

The winery is no longer operational but the bones are there.

There are three function or dining areas, two gardens for weddings, a terrace and additional outdoor entertainment area for dining, offices, two industrial kitchens and the winery.

The property is being sold “as is” so including all the plant and dining equipment on site, as well as vats and about 180,000 litres of wine.

The expressions of interest campaign closes on September 27.

What now for 126-year-old Tulloch Wines?

Lindemans is a shadow of its previous self and the once mighty McWilliams Mount Pleasant operation was recently split up and sold. Now another famous Hunter Valley wine brand is on the market. 

Tulloch Wines - one of the oldest brands in the region - has been put up for sale after the board recently passed a motion for the sale of the brand and business.

The sale is driven by the upcoming retirement and exit of several individual shareholders, which means the Tulloch family cannot control the business alone. 

But CEO and fourth-generation family member Christina Tulloch says she is looking forward to the next part of the company’s story, whatever it may bring.

“While exit planning of this sort can be a complex process, I am confident and excited about the opportunity we now have to continue Tulloch Wines’ 126 year legacy in the Hunter Valley,” she said.

“Tulloch is a highly successful company, and I am confident we will be able to find investors who respect our history and tradition and see the value and potential of further growth. I and all the team here at Tulloch look forward to being a part of the next phase of this great Australian brand’s story.

“The Tulloch family is immensely proud of the business we have built and the incredible successes we have achieved.”

The sale will include the Tulloch Wines brand and its assets, with an award-winning cellar door, café and events space; 20 acres of Pokolbin real estate and vineyard; grower agreements; national bottle shop ranging; a wine club; and a packaged liquor license. 

The sale does not include winemaking facilities, as Tulloch wines - which sell over 40,000 cases annually - are not made on-site.

“In the meantime, it will be very much business as usual and there will be no change to the dedicated, expert, and professional service our guests have come to know and love from the team here at cellar door. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to lead this wonderful team into the future,” Tulloch said.

Langley & Co has the business on sale with or sale by expressions of interest closing on Friday, July 30, 2021. Figures of $10 million have been mentioned in the media. 

Fingers crossed the family finds a benevolent investor.