DOBSON — The owner of Carolina Carports, Javier Herrera, is the new owner of the former Black Wolf Vineyards, which went on the auction block last Friday.

The property, which was divided into five tracks, sold for $876,330. Dale Fulk of Rogers Realty & Auction Co., handled the auction along with Iron Horse Auction company of Rockingham. The tax value on the more than 17-acre property is $1.4 million.

Herrera purchased the wine making facility, the two-story restaurant building, a two-bedroom riverfront cabin.

Herrera already owns a vineyard, but has his wine made by someone else. “This is an opportunity for us to have equipment and make it ourselves,” said Herrera.

Although the grape vines in the vineyards are some of the oldest in the county, planted in 1991, he said neglect during the period the property was up for sale will force him to replant the entire vineyard.

“I don’t think we can save it because they have not been attended in the last two years, so there is a lot of disease on the vines. We are just going to have to get rid of everything and replant,” said Herrera.

He plans to produce both red and white wines.

He also plans to reopen the restaurant, formerly known as the Wolf’s Lair.

“I don’t know how long it’s going to take us, but we will try to do it as soon as possible,” he said.

Herrera is still considering the type of cuisine that will be served in the restaurant.

“I would like to have something different from what everyone else has around here. We still don’t know what, but it will be something good,” Herrera said.

He first became interested in wine making as a child growing up in Mexico. Then after the Shelton brothers opened Shelton Vineyards, he felt a deeper need to become involved in the industry. He hopes that reopening the vineyard and restaurant will create more jobs in the Dobson area.

Herrera employs more than 180 people at Carolina Carports.

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.