Appletree St, Wingham: Mid-North Coast vineyard seeks to expand with cellar door proposal

The Mid-North Coast could soon have a new boutique cellar door wine tasting venue, with one local vineyard lodging expansion plans.

A Mid-North Coast vineyard is looking to open a cellar door.

A commercial vineyard and fruit orchard in Wingham is looking to expand its offerings, having recently lodged plans for a boutique cellar door to host wine tastings.

Judy and Peter Fowler – who purchased Jacaranda Estate Winery back in 2020 – submitted the $5000 development application for 35 Appletree St, Wingham.

The proposed cellar door will be connected to nearby toilets, with five new carparks also planned.

“A commercial vineyard of some 1250 vines is already established on the same site as the proposed cellar door,” the property owners noted.

“All utilities and services are available (on-site already, with) sewer, town water supply, and telephone all located underground, and electricity provided overhead.

“The cellar door premises is designed to enable us to market and promote our products by providing a wine tasting facility and also an outlet for the sale of wine.”

The Fowlers expect the tastings to compliment the success of their vineyard, pointing to 2017 when they harvested their first crop and brought in about six tonnes of chardonnay and pinot noir, noting “there have been more harvests since”.

“We intend to use this wine produce to conduct wine tastings and also sell by retail takeaway,” they said.

“While it is not intended to physically produce any wine products on-site, (items for sale) will be made from grapes grown within the commercial vineyard.”

The location for this proposed tasting space is 75m from Appletree St, with the hopes of keeping the business well within the property boundaries.

35 Appletree St once operated as Jacaranda Estate Winery, but has since be taken over by new owners.

“Additional advantage is gained by the location … compared to the (previous) location of the cellar door on this property,” the Fowlers said.

“That is, customer access to the property and parking is away from neighbours and Appletree St itself.”

A footpath will connect the proposed cellar door to an existing shed with toilets and wash basins.

Five new carparks, allowing for a growth in daily customers, are also outlined as part of the application.

Two staff members are expected to man the cellar door, serving small booked groups, from noon to 3pm, Sunday-Thursday, and noon to 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Neighbouring properties on Appletree St have been notified of the proposal, and the plans currently await approval from MidCoast Council.