Carrick vineyard on market
PIONEERING Bannockburn vineyard Carrick is on the market.
The vineyard was established by Steve Green and his wife Barbara RobertsonGreen, who planted vines on a rabbitinfested block of land in 1994.
The first wine under the Carrick label was released in 2000 and the winery and restaurant opened in 2002.
In 2016, the Greens sold to Elizabeth Zhong, who also owned Kennedy Point Vineyard on Waiheke Island.
A statement from Sotheby’s International Realty yesterday said it was a ‘‘reluctant’’ sale by the Aucklandbased vendor, who had decided to pursue other business interests.
In the statement, Ms Zhong said it was a ‘‘really hard decision’’ to sell Carrick, as it was her dream vineyard.
‘‘I love it because it’s purely organic. I’m passionate about protecting the environment and passing it on to the next generation in a better state than what it was.
‘‘Owning Carrick has been really rewarding because the entire team at Carrick has been doing their best with the land and, as a result, we’re pro ducing some of the best quality organic wines New Zealand offers,’’ she said.
In the revamped New Zealand Wine of the Year Awards last year, Carrick won the Best Organic Red Wine trophy for its Carrick Bannockburn Pinot Noir Central Otago 2015, as well as the Best Organic White Wine trophy for its Carrick Bannockburn Riesling Central Otago 2017.
Carrick, which overlooks the Bannockburn Inlet, is situated on about 34ha, of which 24ha were planted, producing pinot noir, pinot gris, chardonnay, riesling and sauvignon blanc wines. There is potential for further plantings.
Sotheby’s vineyard sales specialist David Penrose believed Carrick would have significant appeal among potential buyers nationally and internationally.
Tenders close on March 29.