Mr Lumbers said the winery had started as a retirement project following a career in management consultancy but it soon turned into a successful business.

''We've had a reasonable amount of achievement so far but I'm getting to the stage where real retirement is beckoning,'' he said.

The owners are not interested in a quick sale and are looking for a gradual rather than abrupt exit from the family businesses.

He said they hoped to attract a buyer keen on continuing with the passion they had and contributing to the future success of the business.

Mr Lumbers said they had approval to build tourist accommodation at the site and hoped to stick around to help this plan progress if the buyer wanted to build it.

Colliers International is marketing Lerida Estate - including its eight-hectare vineyard, cellar door and cafe, barrel store and function space, insulated storage for bottled wine and bulk wine, and the winery, which was designed by architect Glenn Murcutt.

Colliers wine industry consultant Nick Dean said the boutique winery had already attracted interest from local buyers as well as investors in China and Hong Kong. He said because of its boutique nature, its price range to suit a broader market than a large winery would.

''We've already had a bit of interest,'' Mr Dean said. ''It's one of the leading lights of the Canberra and district wine area.''

Lerida Estate is being sold through an expression of interest process ending on October 10. Mr Dean expected a sale to be completed by the end of the month.

Lerida Estate has won 10 trophies and 350 medals from the Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Auckland and national wine shows, the London International Wine Challenge and the San Francisco International Wine Competition, and various tourism and export awards. It has been a James Halliday Companion Five Star Winery since 2010.