Former Wiederkehr Wine Properties up for Auction

A big chunk of property once owned by one of the state’s oldest wineries, Wiederkehr Wine Cellars Inc. of Wiederkehr Village near Altus, is up for sale for $3.5 million. The property will be available through an online auction on Sept. 27.

The property is owned by Allied Bank of Mulberry, which bought the property from the winery in April 2010, according to Franklin County real estate records.

The listing is by Micoley & Co. of Green Bay, Wisconsin. The firm specializes in bank-owned properties. The list price is $3.5 million with an opening bid of $1.14 million if no offer is received before Sept. 27. The listing includes six tracts totaling 447 acres, two small vineyards, a 5,093-SF building that housed Wiederkehr Village Wine & Spirits and the Swiss Family Bistro, and commercial frontage, according to Micoley documents posted online. The properties at the intersection of Interstate 40 and Arkansas 186 are being sold as-is.

Al Wiederkehr, the company’s president, could not be reached for comment.

According to Franklin County real estate records, Allied Bank bought the property from WWC Inc. — Wiederkehr Wine Cellars — in April 2010. The winery bought the property in the early 1990s, according to Franklin County real estate records.

Alex Golden, president of Allied Bank, could not be reached for comment to discuss why the property is just now going to auction.

According to Wiederkehr’s website, the winery was founded in 1880 by Swiss immigrant Johann Andreas Wiederkehr. The winery produces a handful of varietals including white, rosé, red, sparkling and sweet. The winery held its 50th annual Weinfest last October at Wiederkehr Village.

Jimmy Crimmins, director of sales with Micoley, said a buyer can purchase the property before the auction date. Crimmins said he gained the listing on July 25.

“We specialize in bank-owned properties,” Crimmins said. “We’ve had activity on the listing.”