Hoffmann Family of Companies, Naples, Fla., has quietly acquired the 90-acre Balducci Winery & Vineyards in Augusta, Mo., the Knoernschild Vineyards and buildings on 53 acres of Highway 94 and Jackson St., The Old Augusta Wine Company Building on Historic Walnut St, , the old country feed store and grocery.
A company spokesman said the company will be purchasing two additional wineries in Augusta in late January or early February which total another 250 plus acres and have ongoing discussions with other wineries as well.
The Hoffmann’s plan is to consolidate wineries in the area covering over 700 acres, making them the largest vineyards and winery in the Midwest. Demolition and renovation has already started on two of the downtown buildings. The Company said it will soon meet with city officials to outline their plans which call for the building of a hotel, a nine-hole par three golf course, a paddle boat to be docked in Augusta, trolley rides, horse & buggy rides, a 5-star restaurant and many more attractions. The Hoffmanns also plans to donate a refurbished playground to the community of Augusta as well as the construction of public restrooms thereby making the town more pedestrian friendly and walkable.
The Company has a history and track record of community redevelopments. They own and redeveloped property in Avon, Colo. (Base of Beaver Creek Ski Resort); Naples, Florida (Old Naples 5th Avenue South & Third Street District); Winnetka, Illinois (Northshore suburb of Chicago). The Company is the largest owner of commercial real estate in these towns and will be as well in Augusta.
“We see a unique opportunity to consolidate the Augusta, Missouri wine country to enable us to provide not only great wine from the beautiful countryside of Missouri, but to create a national destination similar to Napa Valley,” said David Hoffmann, president.
Hoffmann and his wife Jerri both grew up in in Washington, Mo., right next to Augusta, and are high school sweethearts, married for almost 50 years. Growing up on a farm with no running hot water, he would deliver milk with his father. He attended college on a football scholarship. Mrs, Hoffmann majored in education. He ifounded DHR International, the largest private executive search firm in the world, in 1989. With the resulting capital from DHR they established Osprey Capital, LLC which is a private firm that makes all the investments.
Osprey has diversified assets in executive search, real estate, oil distribution, insurance, public market investment, aviation and wine-making. Through its operating businesses, Osprey has a presence in 27 countries with 100+ locations spanning the globe.