Zin for the Win: A 1912 Craftsman House (With Vineyard) in Sonoma County
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It's a good time right now. It's still a strong market," Lucero adds.