Lime Rock Wines to sell brand, wine and vineyard after 18 years of hard work

Rosie Butler and Rodger Tynan, owners of Lime Rock Wines. Photo / Duncan Brown

A husband and wife couple who spent four years hand planting one of Central Hawke's Bay's top wineries are selling up - lock, stock and bottles - but not before giving the public one last change to taste the fruits of their labour.

Winemaker Rosie Butler and husband Rodger Tynan established Lime Rock Wines from scratch on the limestone slopes of Waipawa 18 years ago, but have now placed the winery, vineyard and wines on the market.

Ms Butler said one of the things the winery would be doing was having a "vertical tasting", which would be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 4pm for $20.

"That's tasting all the vintages from 2016 back to 2004. It's $20 for the vertical tasting otherwise it's free tastings. We will be bringing out some of our special ones that we have produced over the years.

'We've been very pleased with our wines, 2016 was challenging for some but we made some very good wines that year. We're later than Northern Hawke's Bay, Hastings and Napier, so we miss some of that weather that comes in through March."

The winery included 9ha of planted vines, with another hectare that was ready to be planted. Altogether the property encompassed 19ha.

Mr Tynan said the vineyards were planted on north-facing limestone slopes about 240m to 270m above sea level.

"Good sites on limestone that are north-facing are quite rare, and it's frost free as well. The cold air just drains off the slopes."

He said the couple bought the property as a "bare paddock" in 2001, and started planting the year after.

"The first vintage was 2004. It's been pretty full on getting the markets established and getting some recognition out there. Mainly concentrating on pinot noir we're a bit of an oddball for Hawke's Bay but our 2009 pinot was named in the top 100 red wines in the world by Jancis Robinson."

Mr Tynan said he was looking forward to his first day off in three years.

"We're just going to kick back for a while, play more tennis and golf. It's been hard work but the next person that comes in will benefit from all that hard work we've put in."

The property is being sold trough Colliers International and will be sold by tender, with a closing date of 2pm, Thursday, April 19.

"Lime Rock Wines and Vineyard is a unique opportunity to purchase an award-winning vineyard and cellar door that reflects the emphasis on the surrounding environment and its landcare, whilst producing wines that are award winning and have gained international recognition," Colliers rural sales agent James Parsons said.

"Water is supplied to the vines from a consented bore and is applied via efficient drip irrigation. There is also sufficient capacity to expand the vineyard plantings on the adjacent vacant land portion.

"Lime Rock is planted in Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Gruner Veltliner. This creates great diversity within the vineyard and produces a unique range of wines."

There were also a number of potential house sites that would enjoy the views over the Ruataniwha Plains to the Ruahine Ranges.

"The vineyard, business, stock and plant all form part of the sale process. The motivation to bring a business like this to the market has been well thought out."