Vineyard ‘a dream realised’ for couple
Barry and Tracey Austin have realised a dream but have been forced to move on in the process.
The couple have poured thousands of labour hours into the Opihi Vineyard and historic homestead they bought four years ago, yet a progressive disease has led them to put the brakes on their dream.
‘‘This has been a dream for me forever, to own a vineyard,’’ Tracey Austin, 46, said.
However, after suffering two relapses related to her multiple sclerosis in the past 12 months, the couple has been told it’s time to rest and have put the place on the market.
‘‘My health is deteriorating and I have been given the hard word to get rest and recuperate,’’ she said.
‘‘Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects your motor skills, my walking has deteriorated and I have to use a bicycle to get around the property now.
‘‘The thing I want to convey is that this has been a dream for me forever, to own a vineyard.’’
The couple set about redeveloping the 4 hectare property in 2016, including a 1.5 ha area of vines.
They closed the cafe and focussed on private functions and weddings, and have since produced their own brand of vintage pinot noir, Lonely Owl, produced in Waipara, and named after the German Owls that
cohabit their property.
‘‘It’s been a family enterprise,’’ Tracey said.
‘‘My husband, my daughter, her husband and our three grandchildren.’’
Tracey and Barry, 52, said they plan to downsize and buy a house in Timaru to have a much needed rest.
‘‘Barry has built everything, we have worked really hard on this for the past four years.
‘‘We’ve added a patio, replaced the kitchen and converted the former school house into bed and breakfast accommodation.
‘‘We’ve also added garaging and a bar.’’
The couple said the didn’t know anything about wine when they bought the vineyard.
‘‘The people who we bought it off, Colin and Brenda Lyon, came out every month after we bought it, to help us and loan us their equipment. ‘‘Colin was passionate about the vines and we saw a different potential in them, we wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support of the Lyon family.’’
The original Clifton Cottage was built from local limestone in 1882 an rebuilt in 2000 when a commercial kitchen was added so it could be run as a cafe and vines planted, the couple said.
‘‘The thing I want to convey is that this has been a dream for me forever, to own a vineyard.’’
Tracey Austin