MARSH
FAMILY
ESTATE
“The Situation: A large home on a medium-sized vineyard with a highly regarded reputation, set against the backdrop of a market experiencing declining wine sales. We believed Metis was the best choice to help us sell our unique property. Erik’s extensive network of domestic and international buyers provided the ideal opportunity to connect with the right buyer. Combined with Kristin’s exceptional coordination of data acquisition and her skill in managing multiple interactions throughout a six-month due diligence process, the Metis team guided us seamlessly through a complex journey. They truly helped us thread the needle to success.”
Pat & Doug Marsh, Marsh Family Estate
CLIENT
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Perched atop a 52-acre hilltop in Oregon’s renowned Yamhill-Carlton AVA, Marsh Family Estate offers 360-degree panoramic views of the Dundee Hills and Savannah Ridge. Surrounded by prestigious neighbors including Lemelson Vineyards, Soter, Abbott Claim, and Dominio IV, Marsh Family Estate is positioned to become a must-visit destination for wine country tourism.
The estate includes an exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyard that consistently produces wines that earn accolades from top industry publications from winery clients such as ROCO, Bergstrom, Soter, and Archery Summit.
At the crest of the hill lies a striking European-style estate house, constructed by the same builders of the famed Black Walnut Inn. While used as a private residence since construction in 2007, the grand design is perfectly suited for winery hospitality with minimal renovations needed. Spanning nearly 10,000 square feet across three interconnected buildings, the property was crafted with the utmost attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to superior materials and craftsmanship.
With its exceptional build quality, proven vineyard, and enviable location with panoramic views, Marsh Family Estate is one of Oregon’s most extraordinary wine country properties.
CHALLENGE
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Doug and Pat Marsh envisioned their dream summer home and vineyard as a place that might one day transform into a winery or luxury inn. For the first 17 years, however, the estate flourished as a private retreat—a haven where the Marsh family hosted countless gatherings and memorable events with family and friends. Over time, the family reached a turning point. As the founders grew older, the demands of maintaining the vineyard and managing the expansive estate became increasingly challenging to sustain. While the Marsh children shared a deep appreciation for the property, none were ready or geographically proximate to shoulder the responsibility. Recognizing that the time had come to entrust their vineyard and estate to new stewards, the Marsh family made the decision to sell and engaged Metis to guide them through the process, ensuring their legacy would be thoughtfully carried forward. The challenge for Metis was to find a buyer who valued both the vineyard, as well as the expansive estate house, and whose business could justify such a substantial investment.
PROCESS
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Metis quickly realized that there were essentially three buyer types who would have interest in the property: those who wanted to convert it to a luxury inn, those who wanted to establish a winery, and those who wanted a luxury private residence. Metis relied on its unique experience in wine, hospitality, and real estate to develop distinct marketing materials and approaches for each buyer type. Metis conducted discreet, confidential outreach directly to qualified buyers in both the hospitality industry and the wine industry. Metis also collaborated with many of the region’s top luxury real estate agents to circulate the opportunity amongst those seeking an exclusive residence or retreat.
Despite the complexities of the property, the approach generated significant interest, attracting attention from established international wine strategics, hospitality groups, and prominent California and Oregon wineries.
One of the prospective buyers was already well known to Metis. The Marzotto family, who own multiple wineries throughout Italy and run their own marketing and importing company (Santa Margherita USA), had purchased ROCO Winery from Metis three years prior. Metis knew the family was looking to find an additional location to establish an ambitious direct-to-consumer and hospitality program, as well as expand their vineyard holdings. After visiting Marsh Family Estate, they fell in love with the timeless architecture situated grandly at the crest of the vine-covered hilltop. The vineyard was already a source for some of ROCO’s highest-scoring wines, but the family also saw that the Tuscan-style estate house could be the ideal setting to host wine lovers looking to experience both Oregon and Italian wines.
Following the signing of a letter of intent by both parties, Metis shifted its focus to managing the diligence process. The feasibility of the conversion from a residential estate complex to a winery and tasting room was critical for the buyer. They hired architect Brett Fogelstrom and attorney Kate Gowell to ensure the property could be converted to meet the needs of the hospitality program they envisioned. A smooth but thorough diligence process concluded with a successful transaction on schedule, exactly three years to the day of Marzotto’s acquisition of ROCO Winery.
OUTCOME
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The Marsh family is thrilled to know that their grapes will continue to go into the wines at ROCO and that their beloved home will host thousands of guests in the future, who will appreciate its grandeur and views, accompanied by wines grown both on the estate as well as Italy. The Marzottos and Santa Margherita USA are thrilled to finally conclude a four-year search for the perfect direct-to-consumer location where they can host guests with the gracious hospitality they have become known for in Italy.