ADVISOR NAVIGATES CHALLENGING SALE OF POPULAR MISSOURI WINERY

ADVISOR NAVIGATES CHALLENGING SALE OF POPULAR MISSOURI WINERY

The Importance Of Strategic Marketing, Creative Thinking, And Expertise In Navigating Complex Transactions

After nearly two years on the market, a celebrated Missouri winery has found a new home—thanks to the expertise of Brian Lensing, CCIM, a seasoned commercial real estate advisor with United Country Real Estate | Heritage Brokers & Auctioneers.

Located 67 miles south of St. Louis, Chaumette Vineyard and Winery had been a community staple for 25 years. Owner Hank Johnson, 82, put the property up for sale in 2023 after retiring and halting wine production due to recent grape losses and changing market conditions. Initially, the goal was to sell to someone who would continue operating the winery, preserving the Chaumette brand.

However, post-pandemic market challenges made selling hospitality properties more difficult than anticipated. Enter Brian Lensing, who brought his extensive commercial expertise and a fresh, open-minded approach to the listing.

“Keeping an open mind, we built a marketing program that included the opportunity for Chaumette to be repurposed once acquired,” Lensing said. “Ultimately, that buyer’s intended use could not have been more different from an operating winery and vineyard.”

Lensing successfully matched the property with Life Teen International, a Catholic youth ministry group, transforming the 137-acre site into Camp Cana, a summer camp featuring hiking trails, private villas, a fitness center, resort-style pool, a restored chapel, and an event barn. Johnson retained 120 acres of his original 250-acre property and remains a neighbor to the new camp.

This successful sale highlights the importance of strategic marketing, creative thinking, and deep commercial expertise in navigating complex transactions—especially in challenging markets. Lensing’s knowledge, combined with United Country Real Estate’s century-long legacy and broad marketing resources, proved essential in bringing the deal to a close.

About United Country Real Estate

United Country Real Estate is the leading network of conventional and auction real estate professionals specializing in lifestyle and rural properties. Since 1925, the company has offered unmatched marketing solutions, including national print and digital advertising, a proprietary buyer database, and specialized programs for lifestyle and rural real estate.