This $35M Virginia Wine Country Estate Once Belonged to One of the World’s Richest Men—and It Has No Restrictions

In Virginia's sweeping wine country, 1850 sprawling acres offers something far rarer than scenic mountain views and historic brickwork: complete freedom.

Once owned by luxury titan Bernard Arnault, the $35 million estate in Scottsville, VA seamlessly blends a turnkey winery, a private retreat, and 2.5 miles of Hardware River frontage into a single canvas.

Because the property carries no conservation easement, which is an incredibly rare find in these parts, a new buyer can run a bustling hospitality empire, a secluded retreat, or even subdivide the land altogether.

"Usually, you kind of have to choose between one or the other when you bring a hospitality component to a farm like this, but a new owner has full flexibility, which is pretty special," says Alex Webel with Hall and Hall, who is co-listing the property along with Daniel Heider with TTR Sotheby's International Realty.

"If somebody wants to come in and use it similar to how the current owner has used it, for a private family retreat, you can do that. Both can exist at the same time because of the way that the property has been laid out and improved."

A barn is an event space. (Townsend Visuals) The private lake is big enough for boating. (Fortem Media)

Webel adds that having no conservation easement, "which is becoming increasingly rare in Virginia and also many parts of the mid-Atlantic", gives the new owner complete flexibility.

Several buildings are part of this listing, including an historic brick manor house dating back to 1810, but renovated in 2024.

"It's got just a lot of really interesting architectural features that if you're a historic architecture buff, I think will be really appealing to anyone," Webel says about the 4-bedroom, 5-bathroom home. The property also has a 2-bedroom guest cottage, as well as other structures to take care of the farm.

"[The manor house is] in a pretty remarkable spot. I think any future owner would want to keep that, just as a tie to history," Webel says. "And then there's some pretty stunning home sites if somebody wanted to create something of their own."

The manor house dates back to the early 1800s. (TTR Sotheby's International Realty) The working barn. (TTR Sotheby's International Realty)

The property also boasts a 12,000-square-foot event space, making it ideal for events.

"It's really neat. It's an old barn that they converted and you could host events, big and small, there. [There is a] caterers' kitchen and everything that you would need and pretty spectacular views looking out," says Webel.

From the property, there are views of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance, and the Hardware River, which runs for about 2.5 miles through the farm.

"Even at 2,000 acres, believe it or not, when you're on it, it actually feels bigger than it is, and that's just a function of the way that the land lies, going from high ground down to the river, and then you actually climb up again to get to the road. So when you're on the property, you really are kind of in a world unto yourself," he adds.

There is also a 22-acre private lake, big enough for boating, as well as a swimming pool and tennis court.

The current owners have had the place for about 20 years, and if it seems familiar, parts of it have been for sale before.

One of the event spaces is 12,000-square-feet. (Townsend Visuals)

"They have sold off some pieces of it because this is an assemblage that was put together over time," says Webel.

He adds that the buyer pool for large properties like this can be limited, which was part of the reasoning for separating some of the pieces.

"This is the core component and really the crown jewel of it. It highlights all the best aspects of the farm and puts it in a more manageable package," he says.

In the 1990s, Bernard Arnault, one of the world’s richest men and chairman and CEO of luxury goods company LVMH owned the property, and some luxurious qualities are present on the property.

"I would say it is a very tasteful, quiet, country luxury and it's just the right balance and I think that's really hard to achieve," Webel says, adding the historical elements co-exist with the modern amenities.

"It's luxury, but not something that would overwhelm you or have you forget where you are and I think that's really important with these properties. The ones that are really special have that intangible piece where you're very rooted to that sense of place."

Webel says his favorite thing about the property is how it combines history with modern business.

"There's a real story I think that's told in the land and these older houses, so there's just a tremendous sense of place, which I think is that's one of those intangibles," he explains. "When you get into really special properties and what makes them special is that sense of place. When you're on the farm, you wouldn't think that you're anywhere else."

The property is spread across 1,850 sprawling acres. (Townsend Visuals)

The property’s winery, tasting room, and restaurant are on the Monticello Wine Trail, with dozens of other wineries all within a short drive from Charlottesville, but Webel says whoever buys the land does not need to continue making wine and could even subdivide the property.

"As long as it complies with county zoning, you're free to do what you like and I think that freedom and flexibility is a big deal moving forward," he says. "While I think any future owner is going to be drawn to the land itself, just knowing that you have options, I think makes it that much more appealing."

But the business is turnkey and is physically separated from the more private parts of the property.

"That's the benefit of somebody purchasing something like this. You're stepping into something that exists as opposed to building it from the ground up," Webel says.

"The way it's laid out and the way that a future owner could continue to use it could be very private and separate from the public-facing components of the farm, and that's pretty special and rare."