Red Hill's Cevennes on the market
Staff reporterDecember 7, 2020
The 11-hectare Cevennes in Red Hill, site of the first commercial vineyards on the Mornington Peninsula, is on the market with a $12 million price tag.
Prices have been stable for some years here, but that is all set to change again from this spring as expat and international interest turns again to the Mornington Peninsula from Europe, America, South Africa and the Middle East, said selling agent Michael Keating of Michael Keating International.
Cevennes offers a chance to purchase part of Australian wine history.
Vineyards on the peninsular date to the 1880s, with 8ha under vines by the 1890s.
The Dromana property was bought in 1950 by Australian winemaking royalty the Seppelt family, who removed the passionfruit, creating the first commercial vineyard.
Winter pruning on the small Seppelt vineyard was done by workers brought in from the family’s Great Western vineyards.
Before the crop was harvested, however, it was offloaded.
Wine merchants W.J. Seabrook maintained the vineyard with Doug Seabrook taking the grapes each year across Melbourne to his home at Ivanhoe for processing.
The vineyard was later sold to Dr Richard Case and continued to be worked until a 1967 bushfire wiped out the vines.
The vines planted in the 1990s are now fully managed under licence by the adjoining Trofeo Estate.
The grapes are grown biodynamically on principles of sustainability. The wine is produced in terracotta amphorae, combining ancient winemaking principles with scientific methods.
The striking Cevennes, designed by international luxury resort designer Greg Coles, consists of three villas that make up a total of five bedrooms.
Each villa boasts one internal and two external lounges, a kitchen, ensuite and open fire. A private helipad means the property is just 20-minutes from Melbourne.
Michael Keating International agent Robyn Courtney has the listing.
