Have you ever dreamt of having your own estate winery-distillery, but shied away from the idea because of the logistics that come with starting a winery? Luckily, a family-run, internationally renowned winery is up for grabs — Carone Estate Winery, located in Lanoraie, Que. 

Located along the St. Lawrence River in the Lanaudière valley and just 45 minutes from Montreal on a 5.6-hectare (13.6-acre) lot with more than 18,500 vines in full production, the Carone family started selling their wine by a few hundred cases in 2005 under an artisanal wine-making permit. 

Built up from abandoned land purchased in the early 1980s, now featuring 5 hectares (12.35 acres) of grapes, the Carone Estate Winery presents itself as a unique opportunity for winemakers and wine-lovers alike, “A turnkey winery-distillery, situated less than one hour from Montréal, is a rare and truly unique opportunity,” said Michel Poissant the property’s real estate agent. 

In 2019, the winery released Quebec’s first grape-based gin, Black Raven, under their artisanal distillery permit, which added to their dedicated customers of collectors and daily wine and liquor lovers. Carone Estate Winery is also the province’s first commercially planted Pinot Noir and Cabernet Severny varieties, alongside modern American hybrid vines, like Marquette and Frontenac.  

Today, Carone products are sold worldwide. The winery currently offers its wines under six brands — Apex, Italus, Venice, Double Barrel, Bin 33 and Verità — and its craft spirits under the brands Black Raven, Utica and Brereton.  

As the wine was distributed, having had to expand their state-of-the-art production facility three times, the fruits of their labour received widespread praise from wine critics, international chefs and celebrities across the globe. 

Comprised of 19 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and 1 powder room, the building on the Carone Estate is an ideal property for someone who would love to live and breathe the art of running an artisanal winemaking compound, “Every year, we received inquiries asking if the business was for sale, and I would answer YES, by the bottle or case. We look forward to seeing the foundation that my family and I created grow under new ownership,” said Anthony Carone, president of CARONE.

With Mr. Carone planning on embarking on a new chapter, the estate is ready to be passed on to another oenophile. “We are ready for a new challenge, but we expect to remain in the industry,” said Sarah Hoodspith, director at CARONE. She continued: “Both Anthony and I have already acted as consultants to alcohol beverage producers across North America. From planting and production consulting to brand development and content marketing, we’ve done it all. We plan on remaining active in the industry, and we’re excited to see continued growth of Quebec-made products.”