HAMILTON
CELLARS
CLIENT
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Hamilton Cellars is a boutique winery founded in 2006 by Russ and Stacie Hamilton. The winery began as a passion project when they hired renowned Washington winemaker Charlie Hoppes to make their first vintage from purchased grapes and eventually evolved into a celebrated Red Mountain winery and vineyard estate. After eight years of buying grapes and searching for the perfect site, the Hamiltons found their dream property in 2014: an extremely rare, pristine 10.5-acre parcel on Sunset Road, nestled at the heart of the Red Mountain AVA—one of Washington’s most sought-after growing regions.
They engaged legendary winegrower Dick Boushey who has developed and farmed just over eight acres of vineyard, designed and built a Net Zero solar-powered winery, and constructed a custom home that blends functionality with elegance. With sweeping vineyard and mountain views, the tasting room and residence were thoughtfully created to showcase the landscape and provide a welcoming space for guests and wine lovers alike.
Hamilton Cellars quickly garnered recognition, with Charlie producing award-winning wines from Dick’s meticulously grown grapes for an estate-grown lineup that reflected the quality of their Red Mountain fruit. The winery consistently produced approximately 2,500 cases annually which they sold nearly entirely direct-to-consumer with their loyal following drawn to both the wine and the serene destination experience.
Following the passing of Stacie in 2021 and Russ in 2023, the Hamilton was placed in a family trust, whereby proceeds of an eventual sale would go to benefit the Stacie and Russ Hamilton Foundation at Washington State University Tri-Cities, providing perpetual scholarships for students pursuing degrees in the departments of Viticulture and Enology, Carson College of Business, or Nursing. In March of 2024, Craig Hamilton, son of Stacie and Russ, reached out to Metis to handle the sale of the estate, including the tasting room, production facility, and residence. Properties on Red Mountain rarely come for sale and Metis was honored to take on the responsibility, especially knowing the proceeds would create a lasting positive impact for students at WSU.
CHALLENGE
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While high-quality properties on Red Mountain are quite rare and in very high demand, the challenge was the unique combination of assets involved. In rough terms, Hamilton Cellars’ value was comprised of approximately one-quarter each between the Vineyard, the Winery building, the Residence, and the Inventory. There were many parties interested in the winery and the vineyard, several interested in the home, and some interested in the brand. Most wine industry professionals were not interested in the home or the brand and inventory. For most private individuals, the winery, vineyard, and brand components were overwhelming. The challenge was to find a buyer who placed sufficient value in all of the components of value and not just some of them.
PROCESS
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Metis recognized that proper marketing of the Hamilton Cellars property would require exposing it to a diversity of buyer types, utilizing a variety of marketing methods. Metis also engaged its affiliate company, Birch Creek Advisors, to bring their hospitality expertise to the process. Leveraging its expertise in wine, hospitality, and real estate, Metis developed targeted marketing materials and strategies for each buyer segment. To maximize exposure, Metis collaborated with some of the region's top real estate agents, ensuring the opportunity reached the right audience. Ultimately, Metis engaged with a large number of buyers including wine industry players who considered the property to re-home their brand to, several private individuals who sought to either maintain the Hamilton brand or launch their own new brand from the property, as well as several other business types who explored using the property for other business types including an event center, distillery, and short-term rental. Some buyers even considered using the entirety of the property as a private residence.
After a brief period of confidential marketing exclusively to wine industry strategics, Hamilton Cellars was listed openly on the market with media efforts garnering press attention which produced interest from a variety of additional potential buyers. Metis and Birch Creek provided dozens of property showings over a four-month period before soliciting offers from Buyers, with four offers ultimately tendered. The Hamilton heirs selected an offer from Leschi Lakeside Property Management, a Seattle-based firm known for managing residential and commercial real estate. Intrigued by the property’s unique combination of vineyard, winery, and estate residence, and the unparalleled prestige of Red Mountain, Leschi Lakeside believed the property to be an outstanding real estate investment opportunity, with a plan to convert the luxury residence into a short-term vacation rental and offer the winery and vineyard for lease to an artisan winery.
Following the signing of a letter of intent, Metis transitioned its focus to overseeing the due diligence process and guiding both parties through to closing. The buyer, Leschi Lakeside Property Management, does not intend to operate a wine brand themselves, they are actively seeking a tenant to lease the winery and tasting room, ensuring the continued presence of a winemaking operation on Red Mountain.
OUTCOME
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Metis is pleased to have facilitated a sale of this rare and complex property on Red Mountain to Seattle-based Leschi Lakeside Property Management, producing substantial funds to endow the Hamilton Foundation at WSU Tri-Cities and provide scholarship support to students for generations to come. Ultimately, the inventory was excluded from the sale and Metis helped the Hamilton Team set up the Visionary Vintage Wine Sale, a widely publicized event sunsetting the Hamilton brand but carrying the legacy forward by providing further funding for the Foundation and providing wine lovers' outstanding value on the last of these beloved Red Mountain wines.
This transaction represents a pivotal moment for the region, as the property's blend of residential, agricultural, and hospitality assets provides a unique opportunity for new activations on Red Mountain. The residence will soon be available as Red Mountain’s newest vacation rental. The winery and vineyard are now available to lease, with a variety of high-profile vintners already inquiring, bringing a new brand and renewed energy to the region.