The Cape Campbell area in Southern Marlborough was the site of the first sheep station in the South Island established in 1847 by Charles Clifford. After obtaining a lease of the property which later formed the Flaxbourne station, early in 1847 he went to Sydney and purchased between 3000 and 4000 sheep. These were transported across the Tasman in three vessels and after they had been landed at Port Underwood, they were driven across the Wairau plain to Flaxbourne. Here Clifford took into partnership Mr Frederick Weld (later to be prime minister of NZ) Weld managed Flaxbourne for Clifford and received a large share in it.
Weld wrote: "It is a fine healthy country, with neither swamps nor forests. We have five horses, some cows and a bull. The sheep which are far the best ever imported into the colony are as follows: 2000 Clifford’s and mine, and 500 on a third of increase and half of wool arrangement. I shall make Flaxbourne my head quarters, as this will be my most important station. I intend having a garden and a vinery in a deep glen behind the house."
The first house built on Flaxbourne station was built as the mouth of the Flaxbourne river. It was from the mouth of the river that all provisions originally came into the station. They were rowed into shore in long boats from the coastal trading ships that ran up and down the coast delivering supplies and picking up the tallow and wool that were the early produce from the station. These coastal traders were vital for the small communities that dotted the east coast of the South Island. The coastline was treacherous with over 18 shipwrecks on the coastline between 1845 and 1947. Because of the treacherous nature of the coastline the building of a lighthouse was essential for the safe passage of both goods and people. The Cape Campbell lighthouse light was first lit in August 1870. To make the lighthouse stand out from the white hills behind it the lighthouse was painted with black and white stripes. This makes it distinct compared to almost all the other lighthouses in the country that are painted plain white. The lighthouse is one of the only remaining symbols of the early pioneering history of the region.
The early pioneers of the region were mainly farming families and although the potential for vineyards in the area was recognised as far back as 1847 by Weld but it was not until 2002 that Welds original vision came true.
In 2002 the Brown Family were told of a 300 acre farm for sale in the Lower Blind River district in South - Eastern Marlborough.
Out of curiosity on a Sunday drive they drove past the farm and were very impressed by what they saw, after a couple of farm walks with the land agent a decision to buy the land was made.
The farm had all the attributes to become a very good vineyard, great soil type, warm climate, slightly undulating, north facing slopes. Cape Campbell provided protection from the worst of the weather as it attracted the weather travelling up the Kaikoura ranges and moved it out onto Cook Strait ensuring it misses the Blind river area. The only problem was lack of water and was one of the key reasons why no-one else had planted vineyards.
The lower Blind River is one of the driest regions of New Zealand with an average annual rainfall of just 450 mm. To overcome the water problem the Brown’s decided to build a large dam and fill it by pumping water from the Blind River, a small stream that flowed through the property for only about three months of the year.
Within months of the property purchase there was a huge amount of interest from other wine companies and investors wanting to purchase property in the Blind River region for vineyards.
This put a great deal of pressure on the very limited water reserves in the catchments and many applications for water rights and dam construction were received by the local council.
At this time Murray along with another four local land owners and a local engineer investigated the possibility of bringing water by pipeline to the Blind River catchments from the Awatere River about eight kilometres away.
Within two years water was flowing to 1750 hectares of land, much of it suitable for the growing of premium grapes, the formally very dry region was transformed dramatically and now has more than 1200 hectares planted in grapes, due in part to the Browns pioneering spirit.
The dam on the Cape Campbell vineyard was filled from the new water scheme with the lake covering 3.5 hectares, extensive landscaping around the perimeter of the lake has provided nesting places for the resident swans, seven species of wild ducks and several other forms of wildlife.
In 2003 the first 17 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc grapes were planted on the new Cape Campbell vineyard, in the winter of 2004 another 24 hectares were planted, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris, all this area is now in production with excellent flavours from the grapes.
The planting has continued with another 40 hectares planted in the winter – Spring of 2007, varieties include Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and some more Pinot Gris.
The move to grow grapes in the Blind River region was not without risk but the Brown family are confident that their pioneering instinct will see some great wines produced from this new region.