Kirkland Ranch auction falls short

 
JEFF KAN LEE / The Press Democrat Visitors enter Kirkland Ranch Winery in Napa in this Dec. 2 file photo. The Western-themed winery failed to attract a successful bidder during an auction this month and will be placed back on the market.

The sealed bid auction for Kirkland Ranch winery in Napa earlier this month did not generate any qualified bids for the property.

The Dec. 3 auction created significant interest in the Jamieson Canyon Road winery and even a few bids, but none that was over the reserve prices of $22 million for the 69-acre winery property or $26 million for the winery plus an additional 186 acres.

"The auction process was a little bit counterintuitive to the way that buyers acquire wineries and vineyards, and it wasn't particularly conducive to getting a deal done," said Robert Nicholson, principal of International Wine Associates of Healdsburg.

The Western-themed winery, which has struggled to effectively market its wines, will now go back on the market in search of a buyer, Nicholson said.

The reserve prices set for the auction are no longer valid, and the winery is accepting offers.

"We'll get it sold," Nicholson said.