Bob Dylan, Madonna’s Father and Diane Sawyer

Bob Dylan professed his love for Scotland in 1997, writing his hit song “Highlands” with the lyrics, “Well my heart’s in the Highland, I’m gonna go there when I feel good enough to go.”  Not only did he feel good enough to go to Scotland, he bought a place there. In 2006, Dylan, now 82, alongside his brother, purchased what’s known as the Aultmore House for $2.9 million. Before Covid Dyland and his brother would normally go there for a few weeks a year.  But the singer and Pulitzer Prize winner is selling the home and now mostly living in Malibu.

The property has quite a history.  the Edwardian mansion set in 25 acres, was built between 1911 and 1914 as a holiday home for Archibald Merrilees, a son of the Scottish merchant who co-founded Russia’s first department store in the mid-19th century.  The house was sold in 1922 when the family’s fortunes declined in the Russian revolution.  It then saw periods of use as a hunting lodge, World War Two convalescent hospital and a finishing school owned by a New Zealand-born spy who survived imprisonment in Colditz.

Made up of 16 bedrooms and 11 baths, the home — situated on 24 acres of land — is now on sale for $3.9 million.  Tom Stewart-Moore with Knight Frank holds the listing.  Occupying over 18,000 square feet, the home holds many of its original features including marble fireplaces, detailed plasterwork on ceilings, archways and timber floors Amenities include a billiards room, a drawing room, a garden room, primary and secondary kitchens, and a guest or staff wing. There are also offices, a workshop, an old coal cellar and a music room.

The estate also has several other detached properties, including a Victorian greenhouse, an orchard, a walled garden, a fountain and even a croquet lawn. Additionally, there are three four-bedroom cottages, according to the listing.

Here is an article from the BBC complete with pictures.

Madonna’s father, Silvio “Tony” Ciccone is selling his vineyard, Ciccone Vineyard & Winery, located in Northern Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula.  He has owned the property since the late 1980s.  Madonna’s sister is the vintner. Chardonnay, pinot gris, riesling, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, dolcetto, and sangiovese grapes are harvested on-site and used to make the wine. Their first vintage was in 1998, and a tasting room was added in 2000.  The Ciccone family was one of the first to plant grapes in Northern Michigan, but there are 40 wineries there now.

The property has been on the market since June for just slightly less than $5M.  It will be sold turnkey and includes 15 acres of planted vines, a renovated barn, a tasting room and a main house built in 1990.  The property sale also includes plans for expanded vineyard production,  an on-site cafe,  a new production building and an event pavilion.

To see the pictures, just click here.

If you are interested in a vineyard in Virginia, then you will be happy to hear that there are several for sale.  Take a look at these and then give the Lise Howe Group a call at 240-401-5577 to arrange a tour in person.

DIANE SAWYER IS SELLING HER MARTHA’S VINEYARD HOME 

If you are someone who prefers a fall weekend at the beach rather than one in the heat of summer, it’s not too late to consider buying Diane Sawyer’s home on the Vineyard.  Listed for $24M, this property is a 20 acre beach compound, called Chip Chop.  It has ten bedrooms, nine bathrooms and two half baths.  (With a home like this, you should be ready to host lots of friends and family that you didn’t even know you have!)

The beachfront property, listed by Mark Jenkins of Wallace and Co. Sotheby’s International Realty, was purchased by the former Good Morning America co-host and her late husband Mike Nichols in 1995. The property was built in 1937 for Broadway star Katharine Cornell

Chip Chop sits on two separate lots, one features 17.4 acres and the second with 2.84 acres. A short walk will take you to 2,000 feet of sandy shores with beautiful views of the waters of Vineyard Sound, which are perfect for swimming on a hot summer day. There’s also the beach on Lake Tashmoo to explore.  There is a tennis court on the property and a swimming pool in case you think the beach is too cold.   If an estate on the Vineyard is your idea of fun, then check out this article from MSN, complete with pictures!

Perhaps these properties listed by Bob Dylan, Madonna’s father and Diane Sawyer are not to your liking.  After all, not everyone wants a Scottish highlands estate, a vineyard or a beach property.  Perhaps you would rather have a condo in Bethesda or a home in Spring Valley.  Here are some links to properties for sale in the DC metro area.  If you find what you want to see (or need help narrowing the choices), give the Lise Howe Group a call at 240-401-5577 or email us at lise@lisehowe.com.

If you want to see what is on the market in Bethesda, click here.

Curious what is on the market in Chevy Chase? Click here.

Potomac has lots of beautiful properties for sale.  Find them here.