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Charles B. Mitchell Buys Charles B. Mitchell Winery

October 2, 2009 | Filed under Featured Articles | Posted by

Charles B. Mitchell purchased the Charles B. Mitchell Vineyards & Winery in a foreclosure sale  from the Bank of Alameda  for $1.125 million according to records filed on Sept 30 with El Dorado County. Sources said that Mitchell paid “about $500,000” for the wine inventory as well as winemaking fixtures and other personal property.

The Bank of Alameda financed the purchase and holds the first trust deed.

Mitchell sold his namesake winery to Michael and Michelle Conti in February 2007. They filed Chapter 11 Feb. 3, 2009.

Mitchell told Wine Industry Insight he had been paid in full when he sold the winery to the Contis.

The winery, at 8221 Stoney Creek Road, Somerset Rd.,  in Fair Play consists of 39.6-acres with at least 12 acres of vineyard.

WINERY WILL RETURN TO FOUNDER’S MEDOC DREAMS

Mitchell said that he plans to return the winery’s focus to his goal of producing world class Medoc-style wines.

“A small boutique winery is an expression of the owner,” he said. ” will focus on the wines from France that I love so much, especially those from the Medoc.”

SALES FOCUS AWAY FROM TRADITIONAL CHANNELS

Mitchell told WII he plans to focus his sales efforts away from traditional distributor channels and toward more consumer-oriented methods.

“Distributors don’t sell,” Mitchell said. “I have no desire to sell through Raleys or to sell three cases of wine to a restaurant.”

More effort will be placed on direct-to-consumer methods including his wine club, tasting room, events, and the bottle-your-own program.”

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