Gisborne winery a 40-year labour of love

A Gisborne winery that’s been its owners’ labour of love of almost 40 years has hit the market.

Bob and Barbara Nixon will hang up their secateurs and pursue their travel dreams after Gisborne Peak Winery at 69 Short Rd changes hands.

It’s up for grabs for the first time since the Nixons hand-planted cool climate vines almost four decades ago.

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Raine & Horne’s Robert Hall says the property was built with passion.

“It was the result of a hobby gone mad,” he says.

The Gisborne winery attracts about 300 customers a week.

“Bob and Barbara Nixon have loved their time at the winery and now plan to retire and travel.”

The winery has a $3.5 million asking price, and has caught the eye of buyers across Australia and overseas.

Hall says it is a unique opportunity for investors or wine enthusiasts to build the business with distinctive style.

69 Short Rd, Gisborne features hectares of hand-planted cool climate vines.

The 7.3ha lifestyle property in an idyllic setting includes a four-bedroom house with sweeping views, tourist accommodation and a hospitality event space.

Positioned off the Calder Highway at the start of the Macedon Ranges, it offers a versatile combination of viticulture, tourism and hospitality.

“It’s a first stop for wine lovers wandering out of the city,” Hall says.

A total of 90 per cent of sales are from the cellar door.

“It is a place where people settle in for food, wine and conversation, meander among the vines or stay a bit longer in the sustainable luxury cottages.”

The elevated vineyard features plantings of pinot noir, chardonnay, semillon, riesling and lagrein.

The grapes ripen slowly and are full of flavour because of the exceptional cool climate at 535m above sea level.

“Ninety per cent of sales are from the popular cellar door,” Hall says.

One of the luxury cottages on site.

The property also includes a cafe with wood fire ovens, balcony, marquee, lakeside deck and self-sufficient off-grid tourist accommodation that includes four luxury cottages with a permit for a fifth.

Hall says the winery with a gum leaf logo has built a loyal following and attracts about 300 customers a week.

The property with a planning permit and liquor licence has scope for modernisation or expansion.

This article from Leader Newspapers originally appeared as “The result of ‘a hobby gone mad’, Gisborne Peak Winery is up for sale with a multimillion-dollar price”.