THE iconic vineyard and winery Dalwood Estate near Branxton is for sale.
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Established in the 1800s the 104-hectare property that fronts the Hunter River was the site of some of the first vines planted in the colony by George Wyndham who also built the now heritage listed Dalwood House.
Cessnock based Jurds Real Estate have listed the property for sale by expressions of interest which close on September 1.
Principal Alan Jurd estimates the property could sell in the vicinity of $6 million.
The property contains a winery, cellar door and restaurant buildings with concert amphitheatre set amongst established gardens plus associated winery warehousing and infrastructure along with commercial planting so Chardonnay, Semillon and Shiraz vines.
Pernod Ricard owners of the property closed the tourism facilities known as Wyndham Estate in October 2014, citing commercial reasons for their decision.
But, at the time, he said: “Whilst the Wyndham Estate site at Dalwood will be closed to the public, it will remain an important part of the Wyndham Estate history and we will continue to be present in the market with Hunter based wines in the future.”
Former owner of Wyndham Estate Brian McGuigan, when contacted in May last year when the decision was announced the tourist facilities would be closing, said he would love to, once again, own the property where he was born.
“But that idea is in the lap of the Gods really as I haven’t held any talks with the current owners Pernod Ricard,” he said.
Mr McGuigan described his former home as being absolutely beautiful and he paid credit to Orlando the Australian division of the French-based Pernod Ricard for the excellent job it has done maintaining the property.
The McGuigan connection with the property started with his late father Perc McGuigan who purchased Wyndham Estate in the 1960s.
Mr McGuigan and his wife Fay along with two partners purchased the vineyard from his father in 1970.
In 1985 their private company was publically listed.
In 1990 that company was taken over by Orlando.
At that time the McGuigans left the vineyard and started their own successful wine company McGuigan Wines.