Lawyer to sell wine business

Blenheim lawyer and Marlborough district councillor David Dew is selling his Renwick winery and two Fairhall vineyards.

The River Farm Wines business, vineyards and cellar door have been listed for sale by Bayleys Marlborough. The properties are being sold with plans for both a winery and a house. The three properties have a combined 2008 capital valuation of $5.185 million.

Mr Dew said he was selling because he had to resume fulltime at his legal practice Dew & Company after a partner had left the firm.

He had hoped to move into managing River Farm Wines fulltime, but the renewed work at his law firm and his election last year as a Marlborough district councillor meant he had to shave his commitments, he said.

"The time demands of all these things means you've got to do something about the commitments you've got and if that doesn't help, I'll have to look at what we'll do next."

He was disappointed not to have the chance to continue running the wine company and build the winery.

"But things in life change and you've got to change with it, accept the reality of things."

The properties are for sale in three lots, but can be bought together. River Farm Wines is being sold with the 9.2-hectare vineyard and plans for a winery on the corner of Godfrey Rd and State Highway 6.

The 6.8ha vineyard and one-bedroom house at 136 Ben Morven Rd is for sale with plans for a larger house.

The second vineyard has a three-bedroom house and 9ha of vines under a five-year supply contract with Warburn Estate, a large winery in New South Wales.

Dew & Company was doing all right – not as well as he would like, which was the same as most businesses in Marlborough.