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The stunning lake.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

By Roger Fitzhardinge

Harnessing one’s love of country life, wine making, equestrianism and entrepreneurialism takes special skills, dedication and an inherent love of the outdoors. Mark Dowling has managed to bottle the perfect blend at Centennial Wines.

Mark Dowling never holds back. He is passionate about life, his friends, his horses, his house and its gardens, not to mention his vineyard and winery. His vision of being surrounded by natural and cultivated beauty exudes both creativity and order. He is a man who never sits still and is very much at home whether riding a horse, digging a post hole, engaged in a business meeting, serving wines to the throngs who visit the winery for tastings, or simply having a dinner party and entertaining his friends. He is happy with his own company as much as he is in a group of boisterous acquaintances, yet is always looking to better his skills in any direction while remaining modest and unassuming. Mark is a lover of the outdoors and is actually a private guy who makes what he has for his own satisfaction and would never seek accolades for what he has achieved or produces. 

The beautiful stables.

© Tony Sheffield / Highlife Publishing

Mark left school and continued through a medical technology course and then completed a six-year science degree at Sydney University, graduating with honours. He worked at the Prince of Wales Hospital researching the causes of arteriosclerosis, the hardening of arteries.  Having always wanted to return to the Southern Highlands south of Sydney, he and his partner acquired 320 acres on the outskirts of Bowral. Mark’s love of the area stemmed from his childhood when both his father and grandfather had properties there.  Mark and partner moved to the property in 1998 and planted their first vines. They built the house in 2000 and have been developing the property ever since.

Overlooking the 75 acres given to the vineyards that make up Centennial Wines, Mark’s passion for structure, form and openness is easy to see. The house nestles into the surrounding gardens and open spaces with decorum and stature. It encapsulates the tranquility and openness of the huge lake and rolling, uninterrupted lawns with their intimate hedged-in areas, water features, arbors and rambling woven walkways through beds of iris and wonderfully intricate and well-established cottage flora. There are aviaries of pheasant, ducks and chickens bordered by the huge trees that adorn the perimeter of the house block. A wonderful vegetable garden makes the home self-sufficient in fresh produce. The equestrian indoor arena of international requirements (60m x 20m) is set high on the hill and oozes character with four big stables, a tack room and feed room all under the one roof. It is only a short walk from the house and the original barn has been rejuvenated with two stables and a stable yard and wash bay with tack and feed room for visitors’ horses and their needs. There is a two-storey flat set into the back wall of the arena and the kitchen/dining room downstairs has windows that open directly into the arena. Nothing like a freshly brewed cup of coffee watching a dressage horse or two being schooled at your window. The two-bedroom flat is beautifully appointed and available for guests or visiting riders and instructors who come to train at this wonderful arena.

The indoor arena.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

The various areas of the property are all separate entities with each taking on an individual character with its own definition and purpose yet meshing together with incongruous ease.

Centennial Wines has had a red that was served in the first-class cabin of Qantas and the winery is in the top three per cent of Australia's best. They export to China and elsewhere overseas as well as distributing Australia-wide. Mark also runs 60 head of Angus cattle. Without doubt, though, his recreational heart is in the sport of dressage. He has only been seriously riding over the past seven years, as a car accident where he broke his neck put an end to his riding for some time, but on moving to Centennial he bought a Stock Horse to ride around the property and discovered he was only too able to ride well again. He now is competing at an international level with his Warmblood gelding Donnerkohl.  He is also coaching and judging in the sport and, as with everything Mark does, he does it with passion and full-speed ahead. He has had a few trips to Sweden to train and gain experience and is looking forward to having his first Grand Prix start later this year. (Grand Prix is the highest test level and is the standard required for the Olympics.) Mark has fenced the property with timber post and rail in keeping with the vineyards look and has also has a few Warmblood mares that he breeds and has already produced good competitive progeny.

An aerial view of the property.

© Tony Sheffield / Highlife Publishing

The cellar door is open seven days a week and averages 2000 visitors tasting per month. Mark designed the baronial style restaurant and cellar that seats 150 people and catering for up to 70 weddings a year and lunches seven days a week. It is truly beautiful with stunning courtyards and views over the vines. The ambience is serene and easy, and with Mark’s presence and dedication to keeping the property immaculate. It's a place where you immediately feel welcome.

Mark Dowling and this property are one with each other. It's comfortable and beautiful. It's functional and liveable. It's simply spectacular and Mark cruises though the day working hard yet making it look like it's all so much fun, and if you asked him, he would be so modest about  his efforts as if it's simply a great thing to do. He gets consummate pleasure from this property for his own being and others who go along for the ride feel this immediately; it's infectious and a fantastic property in every way.

'Perfection' is the only word to describe this beautiful property.

© Roger Fitzhardinge

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