The esteemed Napa Valley wine estate that was the birthplace of the Charles Shaw winery, known for the budget-friendly "Two Buck Chuck," is now on the market, with an asking price of $35 million. This property, located at 1010 Big Tree Rd. in St. Helena, spans 43 acres and is currently the site of Benessere Vineyards, as first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. Charles Shaw, later dubbed “Two Buck Chuck,” commenced his enterprise here in 1974, initially gaining a reputation for Beaujolais-style Gamay wines before a stumble into bankruptcy in 1990.
Today, Benessere Vineyards thrives in its place, fostering Italian grape varietals and producing wines that climb up to $95 a bottle, fitting snugly within the expected price bracket in contemporary Napa Valley. This estate has a storied past and is poised for continued success under new ownership. Listing details reveal that the estate has a vineyard, a permitted tasting room, and a winery whose entitlements are "pre-WDO," meaning they were granted before Napa County’s 1990 Winery Definition Ordinance. Gathered under older, less restrictive regulations, these permits present a potential boon to future estate proprietors.
Encircling the residences and vineyard is the Napa River's organic vista, adding a level of allure to the estate's "agrarian setting," a descriptor accentuated in an exclusive listing by Kevin McDonald and Jamie Spratling which emphasized its rare deliverance on the promises of wine country living, as detailed at Kevin M properties. The property's main and guest houses boast 6,300 square feet of living space combined, with 360-degree views of the lush surroundings.
