AUGUSTA — A southern Missouri grape-grower is alleging the Hoffmann-owned Augusta Winery misled him about its plans to purchase his grapes, eventually buying just a fraction of what a representative first discussed.
As a result, Charles Hart, of Wright County, is now claiming in a suit filed in St. Charles County that he had to scramble to find buyers, a portion of his crop went to waste and his business lost money.
Representatives from Hoffmann Family of Companies said they had not seen the suit and did not comment on Tuesday.
The winery is located on High Street in Augusta, a town of just under 300 residents bordered to the south by the Katy Trail, and to the north by the winding Highway 94, a road often traversed by Ƶans making the hourlong trek to Missouri’s wine country.
The Hoffmanns began buying up properties in 2021 throughout Warren, St. Charles and Franklin counties with aspirations to build the region up to rival Napa Valley. At one point, the Hoffmanns operated more than two dozen businesses in the area.
Last year, the Hoffmanns began selling off properties and listing businesses for sale. David Hoffmann, the former CEO of the Hoffmann Family of Companies, said at the time that his sons, who had taken over running the business, were selling off just a small portion of their holdings to refocus on winemaking.
The lawsuit filed last week claims that Hart, the Wright County grower, met with Don Simon, Hoffmann’s chief executive in Missouri, to discuss the purchase of grapes for the Augusta Winery in November 2021.
The petition says Hart told Simon that he was willing to forgo sales to other clients, including some long-term customers, and sell his vineyard’s entire yield to the winery. The following month, Simon texted Hart that he was looking forward to working out a deal, the petition says.
In January, Hart texted Simon to ask if Augusta had enough tank space to process his crop of grapes, which could amount to as many as 400 tons. Augusta did, Simon responded — it had capacity for 1,150 tons already and was building capacity for another 300.
In March, Hart texted Simon again. Another winery was looking to contract with him for grapes.
“What should I tell them?” Hart asked.
“We want them all my friend,” Simon replied.
In May, Hart contacted Simon about whether one of them should prepare a contract. Simon said he was working on it.
“Still a go,” Simon’s text read in part, “need them grapes.”
Hart ultimately sent a contract proposal, but, the lawsuit claims, it was never executed, and Augusta only took a small portion of Hart’s grapes.
In late summer, as harvest season drew near, Hart sent ripeness data for his crop to Augusta’s winemaker, who asked if Hart could begin sending Catawba grapes — a red, seeded grape typically used for sweet wines and blends — the following week. Hart agreed, but a few days later, the winemaker suggested that Hart should talk to Simon.
In the end, the lawsuit claims, Augusta bought a portion of Hart’s grapes. Hart sold some to two other former customers and found some commercial buyers for others. He even opened his vineyard as a “pick your own” crop for the public.
Still, the petition claims, about $170,000 worth of grapes rotted on the vine.