Former Swisse boss Radek Sali puts unusual inner-Melbourne vineyard on the market with $15m price hopes

Emily Holgate

First published 20 October 2022, 4:27pm

The former Swisse CEO has listed another vineyard, the second of the year. Pictures/realestate.com.au/ Natalie Grono

Wealthy businessman and former Swisse chief executive Radek Sali is selling his second vineyard this year with hopes for a $15m sale.

The sprawling Hawthorn estate stretches across 8174sq m at 32 Coppin Grove, which Mr Sali purchased for $11m in 2017, according to CoreLogic.

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Prior to Mr Sali, the inner-city vineyard was owned by Michael and Ann Cohn, who built a modern four-bedroom house on it and established Coppin Grove Wines.

32 Coppin Grove, Hawthorn - for herald sun real estate

The vineyard is located in Hawthorn, not far from Melbourne and next to the Yarra River.

The vineyards on the property.

While the vineyard remains, the house has since been demolished and the property is being sold as vacant land.

There are plans to build a luxury home on the block, with the listing including images (bottom right) showcasing the incredible house Mr Sali had hoped to build.

Marshall White’s Richard Mackinnon has the listing, which has a $14m-$15m price guide.

“It’s such a romantic site, it’s like being in the country,” Mr Mackinnon said.

“And it’s just one of those once in a lifetime opportunities to build a luxury home.”

Since making hundreds of millions of dollars in the sale of vitamin company, Swisse, Mr Sali has bought into exclusive getaway spot Makepeace Island, near Noosa in Queensland.

He became the third investor alongside billionaire Virgin boss Richard Branson and Virgin Australia co-founder Brett Godfrey.

Renders of plans for a lavish new home at 32 Coppin Grove, Hawthorn - for herald sun real estate

Renders of plans for a lavish new home at the property at 32 Coppin Grove, Hawthorn.

He also tried to save celebrity chef George Calombaris’ Made Establishment restaurant empire (now defunct), after taking the main stake in the business in 2016.

The listing of the Coppin Grove land comes after the high-flying businessman sold his luxury Mornington Peninsula hobby farm-turned-vineyard earlier this year for $23.5m.

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Radek Sali and George Calombaris during the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival Longest Lunch at Treasury Gardens in Melbourne in March 2022. Picture: Hamish Blair

The 261 Musk Creek Rd, Flinders, farm was first listed in February with $27.5m-$30m price hopes, before selling in May for $23.5m to Alan Svoboda, owner of Czech coal mine and energy company Sev.en Global Investments. Peninsula Sotheby’s International Realty managing director Rob Curtain said the buyer’s wife initially flew from the Czech Republic to Australia to inspect the property, where the couple plan to live when they’re back in the country.

“They’ll use the winery as a business, they love the energy of the home,” Mr Curtain added.