Lerida Estate winery at Lake George listed
The cool climate Lerida Estate winery overlooking Lake George near Canberra, with Glenn Murcutt-designed buildings, has been listed by Colliers International agent Tim Altschwager.
The expression of interest campaign closes October 10 with strong interest expected from Chinese interests.
The Lerida brand and business operations are part of the sale.
Renowned for its pinot noir and shiraz viognier wines, the 16 hectare winery is off the Federal Highway on the Cullerin Escarpment in the Canberra District wine region.
The escarpment estate has eight hectares planted by vendors, Jim Lumbers and Anne Caine in the years since 1997.
Their inspiration was Dr Edgar Riek’s work over 20 years at Lake George Winery, the adjacent vineyard.
The name, Lerida was first given to the Lake George region by the Scottish-born explorer and surveyor of South East Australia, Major Thomas Mitchell. Mitchell served in Portugal, and during this period travelled in Spain, including around the area of Lerida.
In 1827, Mitchell took up the position of Surveyor-General of NSW, and in this position, he travelled to the Lake George region and named a creek a few miles north-west of Lake George Lerida Creek because it reminded him of Lerida in Spain.
Subsequently, Hamilton Hume called his property on the creek Lerida. Jim and Anne picked up this name for their vineyard.
