One of Australia’s oldest wineries is to reopen its doors for the first time in more than three years after a rigorous revival project.
Dalwood Estate, the historic winery, formerly known as Wyndham Estate, will welcome guests this weekend 190 years after it was established at Branxton in the Hunter Valley.
The French Pernod Ricard group acquired the estate in 1990 in its $73 million takeover of Brian McGuigan’s Wyndham Estate company.
The estate sat untouched after its closure in 2014 until last year when Iris Capital bought the property, adding a third winery to its Hunter portfolio alongside Hungerford Hill Wines and Sweetwater Wines.
After a major 12-month renewal program, the 260-acre property has been restored to its former glory, The Maitland Mercury reports.
With a return to its original 1828 establishment name, Dalwood Estate boasts a heritage winery building, manicured lawns and gardens, a function centre, cellar door, restaurant, walking trails and public barbecue areas on the banks of the Hunter River.
Iris Capital general manager Craig Hibbard said the reopening was about celebrating the revival of an Australian icon.
“It’s been a busy 12 months – imagine a 260-acre estate that hasn’t been maintained for three years – but we’re really proud of Dalwood’s transformation and we can’t wait to share it with the wider community,” Hibbard told the Mercury. “Our aim is to revive the property’s heritage and restore it to a fully operational vineyard again.
“Dalwood Estate shares historical significance with the winemaking industry and not just in the Hunter Valley.”
Bryan Currie is the senior winemaker and general manager of Hungerford Hill, Sweetwater and Dalwood wine operations.
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