1973

Montana purchase land at Brancott, Woodbourne and Renwick and begin planting at Brancott.

"I sold them nine farms in 10 days and virtually overnight Montana doubled land values in the province from $250 to $500 an acre," said John Marris, a Pyne Gould Guinness land agent at the time, who later developed Wither Hills Wines with his son Brent.

Source

https://www.theprow.org.nz/enterprise/marlborough-wine-story/#.ZDYEDnZBy00

https://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/your-marlborough/wine/9078010/Land-deals-first-inkling-of-the-future