Wine Country Real Estate Blog

I recently toured several unique properties near Calistoga for a potential client looking for winery properties without brands that might have the potential to produce $100/btl wines.  In my scout for the best fit for the client, we were networking throughout the Napa Valley to source potential wineries that may be for sale.   There are currently 4 properties with homes for sale in Calistoga, but each has less than 10 acres for a vineyard (read not what the client had in mind).

Further down the road, we came across a property listed by Mel Gilson & Paul Krawchuk 707-331-1400, with 110 acres.  Thinking this might be a close match, we stopped to look around (sorry for the phone pics – I need to keep a “real” camera with me!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There really are some beautiful vines here.  It has 15 acres of Chardonnay planted, and there are between 10 and 15 acres that are available to plant.  It’s located on gently slopping hills, with good drainage.  (want to know why all of that is really important if you are buying a Vineyard in Napa Valley?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There appear to be adequate water sources on the property, although I haven’t pulled to permits yet.  Additionally, there’s a home that’s been updated, but my guess is, with all of the beautiful home sites located on this property, the new buyer will just do a custom build.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Want to know more about how I value vineyards?  I think it’s all about the Earnings before Interest and Taxes and the ROI you can expect.  I have a unique perspective about Vineyards like this, because my degree is in Agricultural Business, and I also served as CFO of Gundlach Bundschu, repositioning a prominent wine brand and expanding direct marketing and sales.  In addition to this, my wife and her family own Leveroni Vineyards / Wine – so I’m reminded daily of what it takes to make great wine!

I don’t know if this property will work out for my client – (it’s listed at 2,250,000) but I’m always looking for the right fit for each client. If you are in the market to buy a vineyard in Napa Valley, or a winery in Sonoma Valley – call Mark Stornetta 707-815-8749 I source all kinds of vineyards for clients, like this Pinot Noir Vineyardfor sale I found a few weeks ago in Sonoma Valley!

I recently toured a wonderful piece of land in the Howell Mountain Appellation with a friend.  For the right owner and the right management team, it could be a profitable investment.  But as we were walking the land and talking about it’s history, I was struck by the fact that understanding the history of the land, and the climate, and the types of grapes planted there, the age of the plants, and the quality of the production that comes from a particular area is just part of what I try and explain when I meet with a new client.   Most of the folks I work with, even if they are ready to make a 3 or 4 million dollar investment, need some education about WHERE they purchase a vineyard in one part of Napa or Sonoma.  When purchasing a land for a vineyard, or an existing home with a winery or vineyard as part of the deal – all of these things come to a point to determine the value.  So, I want to introduce you to the “clouds” of the Howell Mountain Appellation.

The Howell Mountain AVA is blessed with regular, strong, “fogs” that look like the clouds are hanging on the Mountains. Overlooking the St. Helena, Howell Mountain is located in the Vaca Mountains on the northeast side of Napa Valley around the town of Angwin.   Because of the vineyards are planted between 1,400 feet and 2,200 feet above the Napa Valley floor, they also benefit from the cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean.   The moist air, cool mornings and warmer afternoons, and great drainage, make this a great location to grow grapes.

There are currently 45 Vineyards listed as part of the over 14,000 acres that make up the Howell Mountain Vitner’s and Growers Association. Howell Mountain was the first subappellation in Napa Valley to earn AVA status (in 1984).  This area is well known for producing outstanding Zinfindels.

In the “boom” of California wine production of the 1880′s Jean Adolph Brun and Jean V. Chaix planted the first acres of vineyards in the mostly forested mountains. Pioneers, who traveled straight up the mountain roads, Brun, a native of Bordeaux, believed the poor volcanic soils and mountain climate would be ideal for growing vines.

He and his partner Jean Chaix planted 20 acres of Bordeaux varieties on the vineyard they named Nouveau Medoc, making wine that would win the first of many awards in the 19th century granted to Howell Mountain  Like most of the Napa and Sonoma Valley AVA’s, the operation sold out to others and was closed during Prohibition. Ladera Vineyards purchased and renovated the winery, and now calls this historical land home.

Other award winning winegrowers who moved to the area were Charles Drug, W.A.C. Smith, Frederick Hess, and W.S. Keyes who started Liparita Vineyards and then built another stone winery, known as La Jota today. At the end of the decade, there were more than 600 acres of wine grapes planted.

A review from Food and Wine Magazine says:

Dunn Vineyards, with its powerful, tannic Cabernets, first brought attention to Howell Mountain in 1979. Beringer Vineyards is also a significant presence and renowned for its Bancroft Ranch Merlot and its three single-vineyard Howell Mountain Cabs. Other top Cabs include those of Cornerstone Cellars, Lokoya (which makes several mountain appellation wines), Robert Craig, O’Shaughnessy Estate and Howell Mountain Vineyards. Ladera Vineyards is a promising newcomer. The best Zins, brambly and elegant, come from Howell Mountain Vineyards, a partnership between the owners of Beatty Ranch and Black Sears Vineyard; the peppery Black Sears bottling is the star.

If you are considering a trip up the mountains to visit the vineyards in the Howell Mountain AVA, consider coming for the Harvest Celebration in November!

Many of my buyers are looking for vineyards that can create a great ROI.  That means identifying properties in areas, like Howell Mountain AVA that have potential, great history, and yet are not branded.  What are we doing to identify winery properties without brands and have the potential to produce $100/btl wines?  We are networking throughout the Napa Valley to source potential wineries that may be for sale.  These properties are not easy to find, so we ask for your patience.  If you are interested in purchasing a Premium Winery in the Sonoma/Napa Region call Mark Stornetta.

Check out this great Howell Mountain AVA property for sale.

In Glen Ellen, CA there is a beautiful Vineyard for sale at 2401 Nelligan Road – Nun’s Canyon Vineyard Glen Ellen, CA 95442 The vineyard is a large piece of land that totals over 134 acres!  My friend Paul Spitler at V&E Properties has it listed, and asked me to go tour it with him.  I love this part of Sonoma, and I think for the right owner, with the right ownership team, this could be a profitable vineyard.

114.1 acres are planted on this large 134.23 acre parcel, with high quality red grape varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Sangiovese.

The property has 3 wells, and two water storage tanks.  According to Paul, the current seller might be interested in a Grape

In Annapolis, a small town in Sonoma County there’s a wonderful small vineyard for sale.  The property sits far enough back from the Coast to get tons of light, and it also benefits from the cooling effects of coastal fog.  This property has a 3 acre Pinot Noir ridgetop vineyard with an 3 additional plantable acres just 4.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean.

The vineyard is planted on a 40 ac parcel, elevation 720′+/-, excellent fruit + vineyard designated wine. Planted in 2002 to clones 115, 828,777 & Pommard.  The vines are planted in  4×6 ‘spacing.  The property has 2 wells and it also works as a beautiful building site.   Want to build your dream home in Wine Country?  It could be the right income producing property for you!   This property is a gem for the Burgundian wine producer.

Want to know more about how I value vineyards?  I think it’s all about the Earnings before Interest and Taxes.  I have a unique perspective about Vineyards like this, because my degree is in Agricultural Business, and I also served as CFO of Gundlach Bundschu, repositioning a prominent wine brand and expanding direct marketing and sales.  In addition to this, my wife and her family own Leveroni Vineyards / Wine – so I’m reminded daily of what it takes to make great wine!

If you are interested in building a new home in Santa Rosa,  or purchasing a Vineyard near the Coast in Sonoma – call Mark Stornetta!

 

Maybe you’ve been to Napa, and you’ve had a few relaxing weekends, enjoying one of our many festivals, or galas benefiting worthy charities, and it left you wishing you could come here more often… Many of the people I talk to who are interested in Napa Vineyards for Sale, are concerned about the maintenance, and the upkeep for a large estate – no matter how much the idea of living here might mean to them.    After all, what attracts you to this area is the opportunity to relax… Great news!  High maintenance, and constant management need NOT need to be part of owning a Wine Country Property.  Let’s look at Dragonsleaf Vineyard, it offers the perfect views, of your own 81+ acre producing vineyard, gardens boat house and more!

Granted, this property is located in Sonoma County, in the Bennett Valley AVA – but right now, this region is actually selling at a little better rate than Napa is!

“Nestled among three mountain peaks in Sonoma County the vineyards of the Bennett Valley AVA lie along mountain bench lands that cradle the marine fog and capture the cool ocean breezes”

Wouldn’t you love to follow this path from your cottage with a cup of coffee in the mornings?  It doesn’t get much more serene than this.

Dragonleaf is actually configured of 2 legal parcels of land.  The 2nd parcel is part of a “forever wild” conservation easement – meaning that the owners will always be able to enjoy the land and hike, knowing that it will remain natural and untouched.

Again, many of the folks we talk to interested in purchasing a vineyard in Napa and Sonoma are not interested in trying to take on the complicated logistics of actually managing an 88 acre estates, and the grapes produced there.

Unlike many wine country properties, Dragonsleaf’s vineyards are leased, allowing the property owner to enjoy the experience of living among the vines without the burden of management or farming.

Dragonsleaf’s current varietals include, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, Viognier and Cinsault. Local favorite Benziger Family Winery currently leases the vineyards creating a positive cash flow for the next owner.

Not Familiar with Benziger? One of the most respected Family Wine companies in the Valley, they’ve operated for more than 30 years – and tend their properties using certified Biodynamic, organic and sustainable farming methods.

This really does mean that maintenance, and stressful management is something you don’t need to worry about with ownership of Dragonsleaf Vineyard!

Completed in 2007, with an eye to Rustic Details, The Orchard House was originally intended to be the ultimate guest house.

Wouldn’t you love to walk up to your own retreat, with a Windmill blowing leisurely in the background?  Stress just blows away!

Located in the bucolic Bennett Valley, between the village of Glen Ellen and Santa Rosa.

Every fixture and detail captures the rustic elegance of a wine country getaway. With 840 +/-  sq. ft. of living space and over 775 sq. ft. of porch area the line between indoor and outdoor living is pleasantly blurred.

In that spirit, the dining room has two walls of glass that fold away creating an unobstructed al fresco dining experience.  Further down the hill – there’s a cozy firepit area – This property is perfect for entertaining.

Designed by architect Chris Cahill, the Orchard House has 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths and a cozy living space with built-in banquette, kitchen and family room.

As you enter the property you pass a small pond dotted with cattails and local birds.  Ahead you wind through over 17.5 +/- acres of gently rolling, organically farmed vineyard.  The 3 + acre lake, located at the heard of the property, provides the perfect summer recreation area for swimmers, fisherman and canoeing.  A swim dock has been anchored near the center, and there’s a 840+/- square foot rustic barn structure with sotrage for kayaks, canoes, fishing gear… and couple of bunk beds, along with a full bathroom.

It offers true romantic, country living among the beautiful vineyards.

Along the south west side of the lake is a proposed estate home building site. From this vantage point Bennett Valley, the lake, vineyards and the hills beyond create a stunning view. For the buyer who desires a main residence, significant progress has been made with engineers, county planners, architects, etc. making the completion of another home far easier, faster and less costly for the next owner. Septic lines are already installed to service up to 7 bedrooms.

This truly is the perfect Wine Country new home site!  The property is marketed by NICKI GERMAINE NAYLOR, RICK TACKETT, and MARK STORNETTA. 

Please contact me for more information about Dragonsleaf – a truly unique Sonoma County Vineyard for Sale, with the perfect location and infrastructure for your new Wine Country Estate home!  Mark Stornetta 707-938-4011