Life in the slow lane

Grow your own wine and drink it in these peaceful surroundings, says Leigh Bramwell

What does one do in retirement? Play golf ? Travel? Live at the beach? The answer to that question, which is posed on the website of Lochiel Estate at Mangawhai, is: “All three, plus the more timeconsuming activity of growing and making wine.”

That’s what Gary and Liz Cameron decided when they bought their dream piece of land just inland from Mangawhai Heads in the foothills of the Brynderwyn Ranges. They wanted a property that would enable them to produce world- class wines, as well as providing them with a beautiful place to live, and the 5.56ha block fulfilled both wishes.

Their son Rob, who had studied viticulture and oenology at Lincoln, promised them a vineyard wouldn’t be too much work, so in 2002 they planted their first vines, and seven years later produced their first wines.

They also designed and built the house that has served as a family home and boutique B& B, starting from scratch with pen and paper and an idea they brought back from Italy.

“We stayed in an old villa in Italy that had all the living areas in one room, and we loved it,” Liz says.

She and Gary designed their own home with the central living space contained in one area, and it accommodates everything they need. Liz says it’s her favourite room in the house and she has taken advantage of the 106sq m to display collectible treasures.

“I’ve filled it with things that tend to bring the space closer,” she says. “I like a warm and cosy look and this house has a very warm, inviting feel about it. The laminated beech floors contribute to that.”

When she and Gary had completed the floor plan they took it to a local house company and had it drawn up by a draughtsman. They were very impressed with his work and made only a couple of minor changes to his interpretation. His contribution of the vaulted ceiling always draws comments from visitors.

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They had similar success with the built- in wall unit Liz wanted for the living area, taking their ideas to a company in Kaiwaka who built the piece in solid oak.

“We did use some existing furniture in the house but I bought quite a lot of pieces specially for it,” Liz says.

With some initial help from the house company’s colour consultant, she put together the interior design herself, using one wall and ceiling colour through virtually all of the rooms.

On either side of the central living area are the bedroom wings. The guest wing has three double bedrooms, each with an en suite and its own outside entrance, and a sitting room. In the opposite wing is the master bedroom, an en suite with a bath and a walk- in wardrobe. This wing also contains an office, laundry and linen room. Downstairs there’s a 90sq m cellar and storeroom.

Outside, Liz has used her talents to create an outdoor dining area that seats 24, sweeping lawns, gardens and, of course, a rose for each row of vines. She’s a rose enthusiast and at one stage had more than 100 roses here. The property is currently planted with 2600 vines — chardonnay, merlot, malbec and syrah. It produces about 600 cases a year.

But growing grapes and making wine is now off the retirement list for Gary and Liz. They say it’s time to stop working and concentrate on spending time with family and watching their grandchildren grow. They’ll stay in the Mangawhai area, build a smaller house on a smaller property, and Liz will have a new garden to start.