Thirty years ago, Valley and Gary Neale purchased a 9-hectare deer farm with a half-finished house and no driveway along the main road of Hope, in Tasman.
The couple had been living abroad for nine years and moved home to share their baby daughter with family in the area.
“We were ready to settle down and have more family time,” Valley says. After long careers in banking and land surveying, Valley says they were also ready for a lifestyle change.
“We thought we could do something with our new land, so we started to investigate apples however we both left a meeting, where the conversation had been around how the bad years in apples can be mentally draining, thinking we
both like wine,” laughs Valley.
So, in 1993, with no horticulture background, they planted a vineyard as well as welcomed their second child. Over years of hard work, the couple, and their Brightwater Vineyard label, became well-recognised nationally and internationally.
They have an avalanche of awards, trophies, gold medals, and 5-star ratings, which are continually being awarded.
“Back then I was told by a friend that it takes ten years to establish a wine label, five years in I thought oh my gosh she’s right it really was ten years of very hard work,” Valley says. Expansion happened at various times with the couple leasing an additional 5 hectares, building an on-site winery and tasting room, and expanding varieties to include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Rose, Pinot Gris, Merlot, and Riesling. Covid threw them a curve ball and Valley says the chance to diversify during the pandemic into more mail-order business turned very popular with countries that had extended lockdowns, and it is still serving them well today.
“When we could get the wine on the ships it was good, unfortunately, it was a bit hit-and-miss as often there were no ships due to the reduced workforce at ports
worldwide,” Valley adds. However, it is now back to almost normal.
Valley says wine tastes have changed over the past decade and dining at home and learning to cook have both increased dramatically. “Social media is affecting the new markets these days and people are not so caught up on the old wine writers, they listen more to what their friends and colleagues recommend,” Valley says.
The duo say that the whole experience has been wonderful, however, they are ready for a change and to spend more time with their granddaughter as well as
climb some high mountains such as Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain.
For this reason, they have decided now is the time to hand the baton onto the next owners to continue making the most of the opportunity, exploring new avenues,
and growing the business. The vineyard and winery are being marketed by Team Toby Randall at Harcourts Rural Tel: 0272339170
Valley explains “We still love wine and really love seeing the new season growth from the vines, so Gary and I are really hoping someone will come along and continue what we have started and enjoyed.”
