MADISON, Va., April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Thomas Jefferson once said "By making this wine vine known to the public, I have rendered my country as great a service as if I had enabled it to pay back the national debt."

A great service to wine enthusiasts occurs Wednesday, May 11 with the auction of award-winning Sweely Estate Winery, located at 6109 Wolftown-Hood Road in Madison, VA, about 2-1/2 hours south of Washington, D.C. and  45-minutes out Route 29 from Jefferson's Monticello home in Charlottesville.

Tranzon Fox will conduct the 11:00 a.m. May 11 foreclosure auction at the Circuit Court of Madison County, VA, 538 South Main St. in Madison.

Current owners purchased the 295.22 +/- acre Weaver farm and turned it into a first-class winery and vineyard with the help of Monticello's Assistant Director of Gardens and Grounds Gabriele Rausse, who consulted on planting quality vinifera grapes on about 39.6 +/- acres.

Built in 2006, the three-level production building relies on an innovative gravity system to transport the fruit. State-of-the-art equipment includes a vibrating hopper, and a semi-automated punch down system is used for gentler extraction.  There is even a form of "cave" for aging reds in French oak barrels.

In 2009, a 17,904 +/- square foot hospitality center opened offering a retail boutique, art gallery and culinary center with a commercial-grade kitchen. Throughout the year, events are staged indoors and out in celebration of wine and the arts, and countless private bookings account for additional revenue.

David K. Lowry, GPPA, CAI, executive vice president of Tranzon Fox, says, "The most modern techniques and finest materials were used when crafting this winery. In combination with the breathtaking setting, you have a perfect destination spot in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains."

Sweely's 1867 Meritage 2006 won three prestigious gold medals in 2009:  the Virginia Governor's Cup, the Monticello Wine Competition, and the International Dallas Morning News Competition.

"While this is an operating winery, we aren't selling it as an ongoing concern," says Tranzon Vice President Jeff Stein. "This is a chance for someone to pursue the dream of owning a winery."

The auction covers two contiguous parcels of land zoned A1C1, buildings, furniture, fixtures and equipment.  Tranzon Fox offers a cooperating broker's fee. For information, contact Jeff Stein at jstein@tranzon.com or David Lowry at dlowry@tranzon.com or 1-888-621-2110.

Tranzon Fox, headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA with offices in Baltimore, MD; Fairfax, VA and Richmond, VA is a full-service real estate auction company and a member company of Tranzon, L.L.C., which is based in Portland, ME.  Visit www.tranzon.com.

SOURCE Tranzon Fox