Gisborne Peak Winery: Macedon Ranges vineyard for sale
After 44 years of ownership, the stunning Gisborne Peak vineyard is for sale.
Popular Macedon Ranges tourist destination Gisborne Peak Winery is on the market for the first time in 44 years — a sale owners Bob and Barbara Nixon will “cry for a month” over.
Mr Nixon first bought the site in 1976 for around $25,000 as a hobby block. Now, it’s available for a walk-in, walk-out price of $4m, including all of the relevant equipment needed to continue its legacy as a winery.
He noted famous faces including Olympic gold medallist Michael Klim and St Kilda football star Leigh Montagna had visited the winery, with the latter’s partner — now wife, Erinn Byrne — working there at the time.
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The vineyard offers 5ha of active vines.
Gisborne Peak Winery’s sparkling pinot noir.
Leigh Montagna and Erinn Byrne at the vineyard.
Although the Nixons make their wine elsewhere, there is ample space at the property for on-site production. The elevated vineyard overlooks sweeping views of Mt Gisborne’s eastern slopes, sitting alongside a four-bedroom family residence, in-ground pool, and four off-grid, fully self-contained cabins.
“We’re rather blessed – when we first built the house we put it as high up (on the hill) as we could,” Mr Nixon said.
“The views looking over the ranges and right over to Marysville instantly make the stress of a long day go away.”
A family residence sits atop the hill, overlooking the sweeping views of Macedon Ranges.
The modern kitchen inside the main residence.
Four separate, self-contained cabins offer local accommodation at the property.
Mr Nixon planted the first vines a couple of years after purchasing the acreage, with Ms Nixon joining the operation in 1986. The pair have continued to helm the thriving business to this day, and are now downsizing to a small farm in Bacchus Marsh.
The expansive property failed to sell in 2018 through a different agency.
Morris Property Network director Michael Morris said there had been a lot of interest this time around, with the buyer pool including young couples and professionals, engineers looking for a lifestyle change, investors and other winery holders wanting to expand – with one returning buyer who didn’t not have the means to purchase when it was previously listed.
Drops from more than 5ha of active vines – including pinot noir, chardonnay, semillon, riesling and lagrein – are currently on offer at the popular cellar door and shopfront.
A fully-operational in-house restaurant is built with a woodfire pizza oven.
“We didn’t start making wine until the ‘80s, but to produce wine that gets 95 points from (respected wine critic) James Halliday is a great thrill,” said Mr Nixon. “If you’ve got rubbish grapes you’re not going to get good wine.”
Many popular grape varietals grow at the vineyard.
The in-house restaurant has a woodfire pizza oven.
At 78 years old, Mr Nixon plans to enjoy retirement with Ms Nixon.
The 69 Short Rd property is listed with Morris Property Network, with inspections available upon request. There’s also scope for buyers to expand the property, with a flexible planning permit and liquor licence in place.
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emily.holgate@news.com.au
