Iconic Waiheke Island vineyard on market for the first time
Described by London’s Wine International Magazine as: “One of the most achingly beautiful and dramatic places a vineyard has ever taken root” and “World Class” by USAToday, America’s leading national newspaper, Waiheke Island’s Te Whau Vineyard has been placed on the market for the first time.
The 8.7 hectare estate, essentially the four prime lots at the end of the Te Whau Peninsula subdivision, was established in 1993 by husband and wife Tony and Moira Forsyth, and sister Caroline Forsyth.
Te Whau’s vineyards were planted in 1996 on the steep, sheltered north-facing slopes, comprising Bordeaux varietals – cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and malbec. Syrah was added in 2003, and chardonnay fruit is drawn from an adjacent block, available for lease.
The vineyard was the first in the country to be planned, developed and managed using environmentally sustainable practices subsequently implemented as sustainable viticulture throughout New Zealand by the wine industry’s national body – Winegrowers New Zealand.
The iconic landmark three-level winery complex, inspired by the work of the great 20th-century architect, Le Corbusier, was completed in 1999, in time for the first vintage. The multi-function building features a restaurant on the upper level with sweeping views of Waiheke Island, Auckland City and the inner Hauraki Gulf, together with a fully equipped gravity-flow winery, temperature-controlled underground cellar, office, storage, staff facilities and a three-bedroom apartment on the lower two levels.
Te Whau’s wines were first released in 2000, to widespread acclaim from New Zealand’s leading wine critics. They have gone on to build an enviable international profile, including recognition by possibly the world’s greatest wine writer, Hugh Johnson OBE, as one of his “favourite 200 wineries in the world.”
In 2001 Te Whau’s vineyard restaurant opened, and it has subsequently gone on to earn a reputation as one of the Auckland region’s premier destination dining venues. It is Waiheke Island’s most awarded restaurant. National awards include the prestigious Metro/AUDI Best Rural Restaurant for three years in a row, and internationally it has been named as One of the Finest Vineyard Restaurants in the World by Wine International Magazine from the UK, cited as New Zealand’s Top Restaurant Spot by the Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine, and received a FodorsChoice award for the last six years by Fodors Travel in the USA.
The property features a large, level and cleared building site with expansive sea views, set amongst ancient Pohutukawa trees. There is also a large, recently completed two-storey implement, storage and workshop building.
Te Whau enjoys its own water supply from an 85metre deep bore feeding two 45,000 litre storage tanks, important on an island with no reticulated supply. It also has a state-of-the-art wastewater system serving both winery and restaurant.
The property is being marketed for sale through an international tender process managed by Bayleys Real Estate and closing on November 9. Senior Bayleys salesman Michael Pleciak said the entire Te Whau business was being sold as a profitable going concern whose owners had worked extremely hard over the past two decades to achieve their successes and who now wanted to enjoy the fruits of their endeavours.
Mr Pleciak said that Waiheke locals acknowledged Te Whau as one of the lynchpins responsible for establishing the island’s reputation as a premium wine tourism and hospitality destination.
“All winery plant, vineyard machinery and equipment, restaurant fitout, equipment and chattels are included in the sale. The wine stock of Te Whau wines – both bottled and still in the barrel at the time of purchase – are an integral part of the property sale, subject to separate price negotiation at the time of sale.” Mr Pleciak said.
(Picture above: The world-renown Te Whau Vineyard winery and restaurant – basking in a reputation for its food, wine, and outstanding location in the heart of the Hauraki Gulf)