Wine lovers often dream of owning a winery in rustic, chic Sonoma, CA. Now that dream can become reality.
This 8-acre property in the Alexander Valley AVA, a renowned wine region just outside of hip Healdsburg (home to dozens of restaurants and boutiques), comes with 6 planted acres of zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon, and viognier grapes.
Nestled right along Highway 128, it's on the market for $5.75 million. "There's a nice old farmhouse on it -- really sweet, well-done," says listing agent Grace Lucero. The house went on the market in early July and is currently listed as a vacation rental for around $350 a night.
That 1912 Craftsman-style home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The master bedroom provides access to a deck and hot tub. The house also features custom woodwork (look at that gorgeous front door!) and other cool details, including a bedroom window seat, walk-in showers, and a soaking tub.
Now housing a boutique winery with off-site production, the property has an on-site facility with a 5,000-case limit. Outside the powder-blue, barn-style tasting room are cozy Adirondack chairs. The sellers bought the property in 2001 and developed the winery soon after.
The location is a major selling point. This is not a winery off a dusty path in the middle of nowhere. "It's minutes to Jimtown Store, downtown Healdsburg, downtown Geyserville, and 30 minutes to Calistoga in Napa Valley," says Lucero.
The property could be appealing to several types of buyers, Lucero says. "Either people who want a hobby or somebody who wants to add more to their existing winery production," she says, noting a trend for wineries to expand across appellations. "Alexander Valley is one of the most desirable wine appellations."
And the right buyer might come from out of state -- or be nearby. "I've had some people from Napa look at it, who own things in Napa and want to expand into Sonoma," Lucero says.
And Sonoma County is getting worldwide attention: "I've been selling to Texas. I've had a couple of good Australian clients and a lot (of clients) from San Francisco looking for second homes," she says.
"It's a good time right now. It's still a strong market," Lucero adds.