Christie’s Great Estates Offers Celebrated Sakonnet Vineyards for US$10.5 Million
Exclusive Affiliate Lila Delman Real Estate in Newport, Rhode Island Represents the Wine Operation and Five Private Home Sites
Little Compton, RI, May 26, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Earl and Susan Samson had thriving careers in New York City; she was in theater and he was in finance. “Earl took two years to convince me to leave the city and live full time in Rhode Island as a vineyard owner,” says his wife. “That was 24 years ago.”
Winemaking, as a second career, continues to grow in popularity. The number of wineries in the United States grew to almost 5,600 in 2008, up from 4,700 the year before, according to Wine America, the industry’s trade organization. Sakonnet Vineyards presents a rare opportunity to own an established and award-winning vineyard on the east coast of the United States. The vineyard and winery is being offered for US$10.5 million by Lila Delman Real Estate with international marketing provided by Christie’s Great Estates.
“People ask me all the time if I miss the theater,” says Samson. “Owning a vineyard is theater! The international travel, the glamour, the fascinating people you meet from all over the world when promoting your product.”
Sakonnet Vineyards, celebrating its 35th Anniversary, is recognized as a pioneer in the New England wine industry. It is located in the heart of a burgeoning wine-growing region producing wines under the Southeastern New England viticultural appellation. The property consists of 170 acres of which approximately 37 acres are planted in vines producing an average of 8,000 to 9,000 cases of “Estate Grown” wine. The wines have received national and international acclaim winning numerous medals in international competitions, including “Best of Show” for a Gewurztraminer at the 2004 Monterey International Wine Competition. Boston Magazine named Sakonnet “Best Winery in New England” for 2006.
To commemorate the first planting of the vines, Sakonnet Vineyards has released a new 35th Anniversary Claret—an equal blend of Sakonnet’s Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot—and is playing host to a number of food and wine events throughout the summer. The first event, ‘An Elegant Luncheon,’ will be held on June 27. A four-course meal will be prepared by visiting celebrity chefs from San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta, and Providence. Call Sakonnet Vineyards for details at +1 401 635 8486.
“Earl and Susan Samson and their exemplary Sakonnet Vineyards have become synonymous with the unprecedented standards raised over the past 25 years by the so called American Revolution in food and wine,” says Michael Batterberry, Editor-in-Chief/Publisher of Food Arts magazine. “Increasingly their award-winning portfolio of wines has found a wide and devoted following in both the consumer and restaurant sectors. In addition, with their regular staging of magnetic wine and food programs and events, the Samsons have made Sakonnet Vineyards a nationally recognized destination for noted chefs, restaurateurs, and sommeliers and their admiring public.”
Wine grapes require ample sun, limited rain, and complex and well-drained soil. The microclimate of Rhode Island has often been compared to the famous winegrowing regions of Europe—the Loire Valley in France and the Rhone Valley in Germany. “The property is surrounded by water,” says Susan Samson. “The Atlantic Ocean, the Sakonnet River and the 371-acre Watson Reservoir, which keeps temperatures cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The long, cool growing season allows us to keep the grapes on the vine until they are fully ripe resulting in a more robust wine.”
Sakonnet Vineyards, in Little Compton, Rhode Island was founded in 1975 on the well-researched premise that the microclimate and soil conditions found along the Southeastern New England coast closely resemble some of the great wine regions of the world, particularly, the maritime climates of northern France. At present, 37 acres are planted with many Vinifera varietals including Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc as well as Vidal Blanc one of the French-American hybrids. The Samsons purchased the property in 1987 and worked closely with a vineyard manager and wine maker to select the grapes that would thrive in Rhode Island and perfect the wines they produce.
In addition, there is a residential component, contiguous to the vineyard property, located on a plateau of open fields, laced with stone fences that slope gently down to Watson Reservoir. The plan is to create a small community of compatible homeowners who will live in harmony with a working vineyard/winery and share the values of privacy, open space, agriculture and sustainability. Sakonnet Vineyards includes five homesites, with each lot encompassing more than 13 acres and fully serviced by underground electricity, a well for potable water, and a state-approved septic system. For a special few, a coveted lifestyle is available without the work or responsibility of winery ownership. Covenants are established to preserve and maintain the natural beauty of the entire property.
Sakonnet Vineyards is ideally situated in the charming New England town of Little Compton, which is a member of the Heritage Coastal Farms, a group of Massachusetts and Rhode Island towns that have banded together to promote agri-tourism by highlighting their natural resources and historic character. The town center, known as The Commons, is an idyllic place with a general store, a collection of churches, and a wonderfully peaceful character. In such a serene environment, the hectic urban world seems a lifetime away.
For more information, visit http://www.christiesgreatestates.com/properties/view_83248/
###
Winemaking, as a second career, continues to grow in popularity. The number of wineries in the United States grew to almost 5,600 in 2008, up from 4,700 the year before, according to Wine America, the industry’s trade organization. Sakonnet Vineyards presents a rare opportunity to own an established and award-winning vineyard on the east coast of the United States. The vineyard and winery is being offered for US$10.5 million by Lila Delman Real Estate with international marketing provided by Christie’s Great Estates.
“People ask me all the time if I miss the theater,” says Samson. “Owning a vineyard is theater! The international travel, the glamour, the fascinating people you meet from all over the world when promoting your product.”
Sakonnet Vineyards, celebrating its 35th Anniversary, is recognized as a pioneer in the New England wine industry. It is located in the heart of a burgeoning wine-growing region producing wines under the Southeastern New England viticultural appellation. The property consists of 170 acres of which approximately 37 acres are planted in vines producing an average of 8,000 to 9,000 cases of “Estate Grown” wine. The wines have received national and international acclaim winning numerous medals in international competitions, including “Best of Show” for a Gewurztraminer at the 2004 Monterey International Wine Competition. Boston Magazine named Sakonnet “Best Winery in New England” for 2006.
To commemorate the first planting of the vines, Sakonnet Vineyards has released a new 35th Anniversary Claret—an equal blend of Sakonnet’s Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot—and is playing host to a number of food and wine events throughout the summer. The first event, ‘An Elegant Luncheon,’ will be held on June 27. A four-course meal will be prepared by visiting celebrity chefs from San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta, and Providence. Call Sakonnet Vineyards for details at +1 401 635 8486.
“Earl and Susan Samson and their exemplary Sakonnet Vineyards have become synonymous with the unprecedented standards raised over the past 25 years by the so called American Revolution in food and wine,” says Michael Batterberry, Editor-in-Chief/Publisher of Food Arts magazine. “Increasingly their award-winning portfolio of wines has found a wide and devoted following in both the consumer and restaurant sectors. In addition, with their regular staging of magnetic wine and food programs and events, the Samsons have made Sakonnet Vineyards a nationally recognized destination for noted chefs, restaurateurs, and sommeliers and their admiring public.”
Wine grapes require ample sun, limited rain, and complex and well-drained soil. The microclimate of Rhode Island has often been compared to the famous winegrowing regions of Europe—the Loire Valley in France and the Rhone Valley in Germany. “The property is surrounded by water,” says Susan Samson. “The Atlantic Ocean, the Sakonnet River and the 371-acre Watson Reservoir, which keeps temperatures cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The long, cool growing season allows us to keep the grapes on the vine until they are fully ripe resulting in a more robust wine.”
Sakonnet Vineyards, in Little Compton, Rhode Island was founded in 1975 on the well-researched premise that the microclimate and soil conditions found along the Southeastern New England coast closely resemble some of the great wine regions of the world, particularly, the maritime climates of northern France. At present, 37 acres are planted with many Vinifera varietals including Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc as well as Vidal Blanc one of the French-American hybrids. The Samsons purchased the property in 1987 and worked closely with a vineyard manager and wine maker to select the grapes that would thrive in Rhode Island and perfect the wines they produce.
In addition, there is a residential component, contiguous to the vineyard property, located on a plateau of open fields, laced with stone fences that slope gently down to Watson Reservoir. The plan is to create a small community of compatible homeowners who will live in harmony with a working vineyard/winery and share the values of privacy, open space, agriculture and sustainability. Sakonnet Vineyards includes five homesites, with each lot encompassing more than 13 acres and fully serviced by underground electricity, a well for potable water, and a state-approved septic system. For a special few, a coveted lifestyle is available without the work or responsibility of winery ownership. Covenants are established to preserve and maintain the natural beauty of the entire property.
Sakonnet Vineyards is ideally situated in the charming New England town of Little Compton, which is a member of the Heritage Coastal Farms, a group of Massachusetts and Rhode Island towns that have banded together to promote agri-tourism by highlighting their natural resources and historic character. The town center, known as The Commons, is an idyllic place with a general store, a collection of churches, and a wonderfully peaceful character. In such a serene environment, the hectic urban world seems a lifetime away.
For more information, visit http://www.christiesgreatestates.com/properties/view_83248/
###
Contact
Christie's Great Estates
Monique Sofo
+1 505 216 1411
www.christiesgreatestates.com
Monique Sofo
+1 505 216 1411
www.christiesgreatestates.com
Contact
Categories