An opportunity to own your own hill alongside a potential winery-related business has come to the Queenstown market.
Little Mount Rosa, a 14.9560-hectare property off Gibbston Back Road, is for sale by ‘deadline sale’, closing November 16.
Originally part of Mount Rosa Station, the site includes about three-quarters of iconic Little Mount Rosa and some flat land including a woolshed area — with six-bay carparking — that housed the Mount Rosa winery tasting venue before it was relocated.
The area has views down the valley to Coronet Peak and the Remarkables but also close-up views of the jagged Nevis Bluff and Mt Rosa.
The local Bayleys agents marketing the property are Deborah and Grant Coburn.
Deborah believes the site could suit someone wanting a lifestyle retreat that’s secluded yet still only 15 minutes’ drive from Queenstown Airport.
Grant adds: ‘‘It could be somebody that just wants to buy an incredible piece of iconic Central Otago Gibbston valley who will probably have an interest in wine.’’
Alternatively, he says it’d suit someone who’d see commercial potential in maybe a lodge, a winery or even, if it was geologically possible, a wine cave.
He adds the previous commercial consent has lapsed, ‘‘so those things would have to go through consenting’’.
‘‘It’s not easy doing stuff in Gibbston, but you can’t do this in the rural general zone.
‘‘This has had a commercial use, so the possibility of buying it for a future winery-based commercial activity, within the Gibbston character zone, is really strong.’’
Grant suggests the site might suit a high-profile national wine company wanting to establish a Gibbston footprint in the same way Cloudy Bay, for example, bought Cromwell’s Northburn vineyard and cellar door.
What would also appeal, he says, is the fact Gibbston’s coming of age for wine tourism, as exemplified by the Gibbston Valley Resort development and the popularity of the cycle trail.
‘‘Someone may want to come into the area and set up a destination like The Winehouse.’’
