The Benessere Vineyards estate in St. Helena, formerly the site of the original Charles Shaw winery known for pioneering the"Two-Buck Chuck" wines sold at Trader Joe's, is now on the market for $35 million.A piece of Napa Valley’s storied wine history is up for grabs — at a price that’s anything but “Two-Buck Chuck.”
“Encompassed by vineyards and the organic landscape of the Napa River, the agrarian setting is unrivaled, offering everything wine country often promises, but rarely delivers,” reads the listing. “The desirable up-valley location is convenient and buffered from the well-traveled Highway 29 and Silverado Trail, at the end of a bucolic country lane,” the listing notes.
A new chapter began when Fred Franzia of Bronco Wine Co. scooped up the Shaw brand for just $27,000 during bankruptcy proceedings and forever changed the supermarket wine landscape.In 2002, the bargain basement “Two-Buck Chuck” debuted at Trader Joe’s, gaining a cult following and casting a long shadow over the original estate’s legacy. Benessere, however, has carved out its own identity since John and Ellen Benish purchased the property for $1.529 million in 1994.