Martha Clara Vineyards in Riverhead and the neighboring estate known as Big E Farm have sold for $15 million, according to Corcoran, which handled the sale.
The real estate firm is billing the sale, which was handled by Sheri Winter Clarry and finalized April 20, as the highest priced “residential” sale on the North Fork in a decade. Winter Clarry also handled the largest sale, a 135-acre Southold estate that closed for $19.5M in 2008.
As first reported by northforker in March, a family group headed by Mexican businessman José Antonio Rivero Larrea has been identified as the buyer. The property, which has been on the market since 2014, was originally listed at $25 million. It had been in contract for sale since last December.
Martha Clara staffers said this week that events at the winery will go on as planned under new ownership.
Mr. Rivero Larrea, whose name appears along with those of four family members on the liquor license application approved last month, is chairman of the mining company Autlån, which according to CNN is Mexico’s largest producer of ferroalloys. The publicly traded company announced plans late last year to invest more than $300 million in energy and mining projects in its home country.
The businessman is also a wine enthusiast and the founder of Rivero Gonzalez, a family-owned winery and vineyard he launched 20 years ago in Parras de la Fuente, Coahuila. It also operates tasting houses in Mexico City and Monterrey and is managed by his daughter, María Rivero González. The company has been exporting some of its wines, including a rare white cabernet sauvignon, into the New York City market for several years.
Ms. Rivero González confirmed her family’s interest in the Martha Clara property last month. The family and Corcoran, which handled the sale, are expected to release statements later today, according to listing agent Sheri Winter Clarry.
Big E Farm was the home of the late Robert Entenmann, a former executive at Entenmann’s Bakery.
Mr. Entenmann retired from the family business after it was sold to Warner-Lambert in 1978. He purchased a Sound Avenue potato farm soon after and turned it into a farm to raise thoroughbred race horses. In 1995, he planted 18 acres of vitis vinifera there, taking the first steps toward establishing Martha Clara Vineyards, which he named for his mother. Mr. Entenmann died in September 2016.
The 205-acre farm, includes 113 acres of vineyards. The property features 15 buildings, including 9 barns, a wine club gallery, event gallery, tasting room, culinary education center, three cottages and the manor house, according to Corcoran.
