IF you’ve ever driven between Wellington and Molong you will have driven past one of the oldest continually operating wineries in NSW, the Bell River Estate Winery.
The winery, owned by Sandra and Michael Banks, has been licensed since 1950 and the opportunity has arisen for a fresh owner to continue it on.
The winery is located at the historic district of Neurea. In fact, the original Neurea telephone exchange and post office was located on the site of the Bell River Estate.
The Shiraz and Muscat grapes were first planted by Keith and Margarita Reinhardt who traded under the name of Markeita Cellars. Mrs Banks said the wine production process was designed by Margarita’s Italian father and the cell door design reflects Keith’s German heritage.
Today, the Banks’ focus is on fortified wines. They believe the Central West’s hot summers and the property’s sloping limestone shale provide the right environment to produce grapes with a naturally high level of sugar.
Mrs Banks said their production methods continue to follow the plans set down by Margarita’s father with red wine and fortified wine still being fermented in bees wax lined concrete fermenters and pressed by oak basket presses.
Mr and Mrs Banks purchased the property from the Reinhardt’s in 2000. Coming from Sydney, they had little experience in wine production but studied a Bachelor of Applied Science (Wine Science) to catch up.
The couple moved to the Central West from Sydney where they had jobs in telecommunications.
“We wanted our children to have a country experience and we wanted to 'produce' something rather than shuffle paper and be part of a long business chain,” Mrs Banks said.
She said the property offers scope for someone with fresh ideas to build upon what they have achieved.
Bell River Estate is for sale for $1.195 million through Elders Orange.
The 16-hectare working vineyard, winery and cellar door comes with a 90 megalitre water license plus three wells.
