US winery owner dies in Brazil

A German-born businessman who owned a New York winery has died while summing in the ocean off of Brazil, police said Friday.

Christian Wolffer, 70, suffered a deep cut while swimming on New Year's Eve near the colonial town of Paraty, about 150 kilometers (100 miles) west of Rio de Janeiro, said police investigator Luiz Carlos.

Authorities are investigating whether the cut was caused by a passing boat. It isn't clear if Wolffer drowned or died from the cut.

A former investment banker and venture capitalist, the native of Hamburg, Germany, owned the Wolffer Estate vineyard and winery — formerly known as Sagpond Vineyards — near Sagaponack, New York, in the Hamptons area of Long Island.

Before going into the wine business, Wolffer had founded Euro Investors Property, Inc. — also based in Sagaponack — and had worked for the German chemical company BASF in Mexico.

A woman answering the phone at Wolffer Estate offered no details but said the family would release a statement soon.

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