Andrew Barnes pulls up outside his newly purchased property at Onetangi Road.

The Waiheke couple behind the Four-Day Week campaign have expanded their business operations on Waiheke, buying up prime real estate at Onetangi Road to grow their Postage Stamp vineyard. Andrew Barnes and Charlotte Lockhart are currently on lockdown on the island and spoke with enthusiasm about plans to open a cellar door at the site. Marketed by agents as a “hallmark wine belt opportunity”, the 10-acre property, which borders Tantalus and Te Motu vineyards, will be used to plant more vines and provide a venue to showcase Postage Stamp Wines, in addition to Waiheke produce and art. A tentative opening date has been pencilled in for Labour Day weekend in October, and the owners want to encourage island producers and makers to work with them to help the space evolve. The entrepreneurial pair behind Perpetual Guardian are well-known philanthropists, championing island arts events, including Sculpture on the Gulf and Waiheke Jazz, Art and Music Festival. When the jazz festival was cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Andrew and Charlotte decided to redirect Postage Stamp wine they had set aside for donation to the RSA, dropping it off at the Ostend branch to be distributed to its members. They also donated $1 from every bottle of their wine sold to Perpetual Guardian’s Givealittle Campaign, Let’s Not Forget. The campaign raised close to $270,000 for the RSA, who were unable to fundraise through their Poppy Day appeal due to lockdown restrictions.• Liza Hamilton

Full story in this week’s Gulf News… Out Now!!!

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