When Phillip and Michelle Stivens bought Heifer Station in 2009, they wanted to run cattle, not grow grapes. The rundown vineyard was so overgrown with blackberries it was "barely visible" and they planned to get rid of it.
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But after learning how perfect their location on the slopes of Mt Canobolas was for wine growing, they changed their minds, and set about creating what is now one of Orange's most popular wine destinations.
Now, almost 12 years since they bought Heifer Station, the Stivens' have put their multi-award winning vineyard, cellar door and function centre on the market.
The 28 ha property on The Escort Way has been listed for sale by Expressions of Interest with agri-business agency LAWD, with expectations of close to $7 million.
Selling agent Ian Robertson of LAWD said the sale was a "pathway to retirement" for the couple, who will stay on at their home on a separate title to the Heifer Station block.
"They have grandkids in Orange so it's time to take advantage of them. To sit back and smell the roses and let somebody else take Heifer Station Wines to its next chapter," Mr Robertson said.
Once part of a much larger property which was used by Cobb & Co as a change station for their horse teams, Heifer Station is a now a multiple award winning cellar door, and was named just weeks ago as a finalist in this year's NSW Tourism Awards.
Along with wine tasting, Heifer Station has a petting zoo, a function centre and is a popular wedding venue.
The 18.5 ha vineyard includes Shiraz, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Chardonnay.
In 2020, Heifer Station played host to a crowd of almost 10,000 for the inaugural Day on the Green concert, headlined by Cold Chisel.
Mr Robertson says the sale is on a walk-in walk-out basis, and consists of the "whole package" including improvements, machinery, and equipment to run the vineyard, cellar door and function centres.
Bottled wine and "juice" will be negotiated at the closure of the Expressions of Interest process.
The business and property was listed a little over a week ago and Mr Robertson said he'd had "good enquiry" from a "mixture of locals, people in the industry and people from Sydney and Melbourne."
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