THE Dryridge Estate Vineyard in the NSW Blue Mountains has been bought by Merivale event manager Emma MacMahon for just over $1.8 million.
The five hectare vineyard with luxury holiday accommodation set on 51.4 hectares of the Megalong Valley, west of Katoomba, was originally developed by Bob and Barbara Tyrrell and is the only commercial vineyard in the Blue Mountains.
Dryridge Estate produced cool climate Riesling, Shiraz and Cabernet wines - bottled in Orange - and sold through the cellar door or online.
Mr Tyrrell, a retired software engineer, not related to the famous Tyrrell's Wines family dynasty, passed away in 2013.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Ms MacMahon is the manager of the event planning team at Merivale and has been with the hospitality business run by pub tzar Justin Hemmes since 2006.
Dryridge Estate sold at auction. It was marketed by Ray White Blackheath Principal Alan Gregory as a profitable lifestyle business or private residence, two hours' drive from the Sydney CBD.
"Dryridge Estate pioneered viticulture in the Blue Mountains and is the only licensed producer of local mountains wine," Mr Gregory said
It sold with DA approval for a second lodge to complement the existing three-bedroom family homestead with cellar door and outdoor entertainment area and a separate fully self-contained two bedroom cottage.
Included in the sale price was a large equipment shed, a 100,000 litre and a 40,000 litre water tank, a wool shed, cattle yard and operational machinery for the vineyard, including tractors, trimmers, irrigation system and netting machines.
In South Australia, one of Adelaide's oldest family companies, J & AG Johnston, has listed the 'Galbraith' Adelaide Hills vineyard for sale through winebrokers Gaetjens Langley. The 23-hectare vineyard overlooks the town of Oakbank and the Oakbank Racecourse.
