It’s official. After months of speculation that sent a buzz throughout Virginia wine country, the Commonwealth has a new landlord in billionaire real estate developer Donald Trump who bought the Charlottesville-area Kluge estate winery and vineyard Thursday at absolute auction. The wine community will still have Patricia Kluge in its midst as well as her new boss who has indicated he will retain her to oversee the winery.
The news that “The Donald” had actually followed through on the purchase of the multi-million dollar winery spread like wild fire throughout nearby communities and beyond. He had earlier bought the 200-acre “front yard” to Kluge’s 24,000 square foot Albemarle House, and reportedly has first refusal for purchase of the house.
With varied holdings such as golf courses, real estate and hotels, and after already diversifying into spring water, tea and chocolate, Trump can now add wine to his list of acquisitions. His purchase of the Kluge property that had been foreclosed on earlier this year provided a billionaires’ fire sale savings of about 85% by purchasing the property valued at $28 million for a mere $6.2 million. The entire estate and winery had earlier been marketed for $100 million and, after no sale, was offered this week to the highest bidder.
The fact that Trump and Kluge are friends may have played into the reason he became involved and is now a landowner along with the gentry of Albemarle County in the shadow of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Patricia Kluge is not the only one in the vast world of the rich and famous who has faced foreclosure in these financially turbulent times. However, she may have landed on her feet better than others since a friend stepped in to help and has assured that she will continue nurturing the winery she began that may eventually hold the Trump label.
