B
enessere Vineyards, a 43-acre Napa Valley estate once home to Charles Shaw's pioneering wines, has hit the market for a whopping $35 million. The property, which includes an 8-bedroom, 9-bathroom mansion at 1010 Big Tree Road in St. Helena, is listed with Sotheby's International Realty. The Benish family, who purchased the vineyard in 1994, are selling the estate after years of operating it as a boutique winery specializing in Italian varietals.

    The property boasts an unrivaled agrarian setting, surrounded by vineyards and the Napa River, offering a classic Napa Valley experience. The listing notes that the winery's entitlements pre-date Napa County's 1990 Winery Definition Ordinance, making it easier to continue or establish new winery operations.

    Charles Shaw's original winery went bankrupt in 1990, but the brand was revived by Fred Franzia, who produced budget-friendly wines sold at Trader Joe's for $1.99 a bottle, famously known as Two Buck Chuck. The Benish family later renamed the property Benessere Vineyards and focused on producing high-end Italian-style wines selling up to $95 a bottle.

    The estate offers a unique opportunity for a buyer to continue winery operations or establish a new brand, with the potential to capitalize on Napa Valley's reputation as a premier wine region.