Bedell Cellars, a vineyard located in Cutchogue, Long Island, has been put on the market to the tune of $17.9 million.
Bedell has operated for 35 years. It sits on 75 acres and grows 10 varieties of grapes. The other stats are just as impressive: its total 95 acres includes a main residence built in 1710; a 10,000-square-foot facility with a tasting room, wine lab, barrel room, fermentation cellar, bottling line and offices; a 4,000-square-foot annex for events; an agricultural barn for machines and case storage; a tasting room and events building located at Corey Creek; and an 18th-century main house.
“The traditional, two-story, cedar-shingled home sits on 2.6 acres. At 1,825 square feet, it comes with four bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, a fireplace and the original stonewall basement,” reports the New York Post. “The outdoor space, by landscape architect Ed Hollander, includes a patio courtyard, a fountain, a 150-year-old maple tree and a working apple orchard.”
Bedell’s web site tells its story: “Kip & Susan Bedell planted their first grapevines here in 1980, with kip earning the moniker “Mr. Merlot” in Wine Spectator magazine. In 2000, Bedell cellars was sold to the Lynne family. Today, Bedell stands at the forefront of creativity and excellence in the modern American wine industry, and is widely regarded as the benchmark winery in the eastern US.”
Owner Michael Lynne passed away in 2019 after a lifetime of success in wine, food, theater, film, and art. After graduating from Columbia Law School in 1964 he founded an entertainment law firm, and in 1990 began a 28-year association with New Line Cinema, according to the web site. “He produced and distributed such films such as The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Austin Powers, Magnolia, Hairspray, Sex and the City, and Nightmare on Elm Street. During Michael’s tenure as CEO, New Line became the most successful independent film company in the world. Michael was also an esteemed contemporary art collector and Trustee of New York’s Museum of Modern Art. His beloved wife Ninah continues his legacy as the current owner.”
Trent Preszler, who serves as CEO, has worked at Bedell since 2002, and under his leadership the business has established a preeminent role in the American wine industry. “Trent’s fingerprints are on every detail of Bedell’s success, from the vineyard and winery to sales, marketing and operations. Trent served for 11 years on the Board of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, and is currently Chairman of Wine America,” according to the site. “Previously, he worked at The White House Office of Science & Technology Policy during the Clinton years, and was a Rotary Scholar at the Royal Botanic Gardens U.K. Trent graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Iowa State University and now proudly serves on their Board of Directors. He holds two advanced degrees from Cornell University: an M.S. in Agricultural Economics and a Ph.D. in Viticulture.”
