Luxurious Tower Estate officially on the market

The Hunter Valley's multi-million dollar Tower Estate portfolio is up for sale.

The complex at Pokolbin, which includes luxury accommodation, a winery and restaurants, was started by wine industry guru, the late Len Evans more than a decade ago and is now run by former News Corporation Australia chief executive Ken Cowley.

Hunter vigneron Brian McGuigan was one of the original investors in the project before he and others were bought out after Mr Evans' death.

He says the region's image has benefited from Tower Estate and its wines and he is disappointed it is being sold off.

"I wish that it had been successful for Ken, more successful than it seems to have been," he said.

"But it's a wonderful facility, the hotel is just outstanding, the wines that are being made are extremely good.

"But it's another change, life moves on and in a way that it moved on after Len's death.

Mr McGuigan says he hopes the impending sale of the complex doesn't split up its assets.

He admits it has been a tough economic climate for wine producers and exporters but he hopes at least the winery and the hotel are able to stay together.

"Because it's a blend of restaurants and accommodation and wine growing and production, so it's quite diverse," he says.

"It probably will be split up but hopefully it's split up in a way that the person who buys it does continue with the Tower range of wines which is only good for the Hunter Valley viticulture and Hunter Valley image."

Executive Manager from the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association Dean Goddard says a single buyer for the Estate would keep its range of experiences under one brand.

He says it is one of the state's flagship tourism properties.

"Their contribution to the overall expenditure of the Valley is seen in quite a few different segments," he said.

"Whether that's the accommodation side, the restaurant side, the winery side or even in their meetings and weddings.

So, significant, I can't put a dollar figure on that, very hard to quantify that but certainly significant."

Source: ABC News, 16 July 2013