IN ITS long and rich history, Train Trak has been a dairy farm, a bullock fattening operation and a Thoroughbred horse breeding property.

Today, though, the 79ha Yarra Glen property is a popular and award-winning vineyard, boutique winery and restaurant with huge potential for future growth.

    TRAIN TRAK
  • YARRA GLEN, VICTORIA
  • Property: vineyard, winery, restaurant
  • Size: 79ha
  • Sale: by expressions of interest closing May 21
  • Price: $5 million-plus
  • Agent: RT Edgar, Yarra Valley
  • Contact: Mark Sutherland, 0407 103 811

The Mayall family bought the property in the 1970s as a former dairy farm and used it for grazing cattle, horses and ponies.

In 1995, following the death of Jack Mayall, the family decided to take advantage of the property's location, and began planting wine grapes.

Train Trak, named after the train track that runs through the property, now has about 18ha of vines planted.

"There is certainly room to plant more if someone wanted to do so," John Mayall said.

"You could probably double the plantation if you wanted."

Train Trak has become an icon of the Yarra Valley and is regarded by some as one of the region's finest holdings.

The property has about 1.5km of Yarra River frontage and is located near other well-known wineries Domaine Chandon and Yering Station.

John said he had no experience in viticulture and was pleased with how successful the vineyard and winery had been.

Train Trak not only has regular wine tours but also exports wine overseas.

"It's in a beautiful, prime location," John said.

"The sales have really been quite extraordinary."

There is a plentiful supply of water at the property with a 73-megalitre diversion permit.

Water is pumped from the river into a 40-megalitre dam and then is drip irrigated throughout the vines.

There is a large restored homestead on site, numerous sheds, a cool room, workshops and stables.

The restaurant at Train Trak, called Zonzo's, is currently leased out long-term and was designed to complement the property's other commercial activities.

The restaurant is well-known for its Italian cuisine, particularly its wood fire pizzas, and is unique in that it has been created using the old dairy that was on the property when the Mayalls bought it.

The result is a rustic and stylish- restaurant that has beautiful views of the Yarra Valley.

Train Trak is located between Yarra Glen and Healesville and is less than an hour's drive from Melbourne's CBD.

The business can also be bought, with the property subject to negotiations with the Mayall family.