Award-winning Florida Winery and Vineyard to be Sold to Highest Bidder

May 23, 2008 - PRLog -- Award-winning Florida Winery and Vineyard to be Sold to Highest Bidder

(KANSAS CITY, Mo.) – Henscratch Farms Vineyard & Winery in Lake Placid, Fla., will be sold at auction at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 31, following an award-winning season for the wines produced on the farm. Johanne Lauchman, owner of the Lake Placid landmark, decided to part with the property as she prepares to transition into retirement.

“I’ve always been a start-up gal and this is my fourth business,” said Lauchman. “My husband retired 18 months ago and would like me to do the same, so I’m taking my chips off the table. Of course, I’m sure I’ll find a new project soon, but don’t tell my husband!”

Lauchman’s decision came on the heels of an award-winning season for the wines produced on the farm. In February, Henscratch Farms received medals for both Best Florida Red and Best Florida White at the International Wine and Grape Juice Competition in Tampa. Their Country White wine went on to claim the Best of Show title, marking the first time in the competition’s history that a southern native scuppernong was awarded that status. It also was the first time one winery received both red and white titles.

“I planted 10 acres of muscadine and scuppernong grapes in 1999 after attending a grower’s workshop,” Lauchman said. “These grapes are vigorous performers and are steeped in southern tradition. They have a delicious musky aroma and thick honey taste. Since bottling our first bottles in 2003, we’ve just been thrilled with the results of the muscadines and scuppernongs.”

A certified Florida farm winery, Henscratch Farms also includes a hydroponics growing system for strawberry production, a highbush blueberry patch, basket shop, pavilion, open air retail store and ice cream shop. The property will be sold in four separate parcels at the May 31 auction.

Parcel 1 is a 10 +/- acre tract zoned for agriculture that includes the gift shop, ice cream shop, mobile home, vineyard, blueberry bushes and more. This parcel also will include the inventory of the business.

Parcel 2 is a second 10 +/- acre tract also zoned for agriculture and includes the 30 x 60 open air pavilion with kitchen and equipment. The pavilion can accommodate 120 and can serve as a backdrop for weddings. The remaining two parcels are 5 +/- acre sections of vacant land that would be ideal for building a bed and breakfast when purchase with parcels 1 and 2.

The auction will be conducted by United Country – Oglesby & Company Auctioneers. Scott Oglesby, owner/auctioneer, has worked in the purchase and sale of properties at auction for more than 15 years and specializes in agricultural/commercial real estate auction marketing throughout the United States.

“Selling real estate in today’s market can be challenging,” said Oglesby. “The auction method is a viable alternative to just sticking a sign on your property. It provides immediate results, maintains control of the sale process, and establishes a competitive selling price. United Country helps us connect buyers and sellers with their marketing services program that covers the country with a reach unmatched by any other real estate or auction organization, including an award-winning web site, national advertising in hundreds of publications, and direct mail programs for individual properties.”

More information about the Henscratch Farms auction can be found by phone at 863-533-7900, by e-mail at info@oglesbyauctioneers.com, and online at http://www.OglesbyAuctioneers.com.

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About United Country Real Estate

United Country Real Estate is the only national real estate franchise system specializing in properties in and around the small cities and towns of America. Based in Kansas City, Mo., the company has been an innovator in rural real estate marketing since 1925. United Country supports more than 700 offices nationwide with a unique, comprehensive marketing program that includes the leading web site in the rural real estate market, http://www.unitedcountry.com, proprietary real estate catalogs, an extensive buyer database and national advertising of properties to more than 90 million homes a week. United Country has been named as a Top 25 Franchise by the Wall Street Journal and among Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500®. In January 2007, the company introduced United Country Auction Services, becoming the nation's largest integrated network of traditional real estate agents and real estate auctioneers.