Veteran vignerons welcomed the investment and hoped wine production and prime agricultural land would be maintained.

Windsor’s Edge, at Lovedale, was sold for an undisclosed sum that was more than the asking price of $2.6 million, said Jurds Real Estate director Cain Beckett who negotiated the sale.

Mr Beckett also sold the Golden Grape, on Oakey Creek Road, Pokolbin, about two weeks ago to Chinese company Winston Wines for $2.8 million.

The Newcastle Herald emailed questions to Winston Wines and called the company for comment on the deal, but it did not respond.

Mr Beckett said the Golden Grape price was ‘‘very strong,’’ at a time when there was ‘‘no domestic market for vineyards’’.

He said the Windsor’s Edge buyer, who he could not name, already exported Australian wine to China and planned to expand production.

A Japanese bidder for the property, who was not successful, was considering establishing a medical tourism operation there, Mr Beckett said.

Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association president Andrew Margan of Margan Wines said he hoped the area’s agricultural land and quality of wine production was maintained.

‘‘We are all seeking investment in the industry,’’ Mr Margan said.

Tyrrells Wines’ Bruce Tyrrell said half his company’s wine was sold to Asia, most of it to China, and there was a better chance production would be maintained if there was Asian investment in the area.

Mr Tyrrell said Australia had always had high levels of foreign investment and the issue was not as serious as others facing the industry.

‘‘Our biggest problem is keeping [coal seam gas explorers] AGL out of the area,’’ he said.

Other wine properties on the market include Nightingale Resort Winery at Milbrodale Road, Broke, for $3.8 million and Herlstone Vineyard in Pokolbin and Capercaillie at Lovedale.

The Hunter Valley wine industry exports to more than 50 countries.