Spotlight: Vineyard Communities: Vintage Vacation

Resort communities take root among the vines.

text by: Lisa Selin Davis

June 1, 2008

Most oenophiles harbor no agricultural fantasies of waking up before dawn to dig, plant, and prune the fruit that eventually makes up the wine they so admire. But broach the idea of living alongside several acres of trussed-up grapevines, and it suddenly becomes an altogether different story.

"Before the 1990s, the only people who lived on vineyards were the vintners themselves," says Adam Ducker, a senior principle at Robert Charles Lesser & Co., a real estate consulting firm based in Bethesda, Maryland. But the promise of permanent stretches of open land, similar to those found in golf course communities, is beginning to change that. "For a residential project, green space is a good thing and not just because it’s environmentally correct. Buyers want it and will pay more to be near it," says Ducker, who estimates that the price can be anywhere from 50 to 100 percent higher for vineyard property.

A vineyard community can be as simple as a small patch of earth with a few ornamental grapes or as complex as a fully operational winery that offers its residents a stake in the wine sales and an opportunity to harvest the grapes or make the wine. Some vineyard communities include other draws—polo fields, golf, spas—but the focus is always on the wine enthusiast, with a range of epicurean activities that might include hosted winemaker dinners, winemaking instruction, and cooking classes.

"The common thread among such communities is that the residents all share some degree of passion for wine and wine culture," says Ducker. In the following pages, we offer a sampling of some of the top vineyard real estate opportunities to whet the appetites of everyone from the armchair vintner to the card-carrying winemaker.

The Rise Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

In 1988, Leona Snider, president and CEO of Okanagan Hills Development Corporation, purchased 735 acres of sage-covered fields in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. It was not until 2004, however, that she began transforming the land into a $1 billion wine and golf resort called the Rise. Though residents will live among the vines, they will not actually work them. "Growing grapes isn’t all that romantic," confides Snider, whose son, Jason Rannelli, oversees the vineyard planting. "The activities among the grapes, however, definitely are."

The Rise, which rests along Okanagan Lake near the Monashee Mountains, recently added a Fred Couples–designed golf course to its list of amenities and will soon start construction on a village center and a boutique hotel. When complete, the community will contain some 660 residences and 550 condo-hotel units, but Snider insists that the area will remain "ruban"—a combination of rural and urban—where orchards and farms neighbor the small city of Vernon, which is less than two miles away.Ceágo Del Lago Wine Country Resort & Spa Nice, California

The Fetzer family has been in the wine business since 1958. But since selling their two-million-case-a-year winery in 1992, the family’s second and third generations have turned their attention to organic farming, small-production vineyards, and real estate.

On nearly a mile-long stretch of lakefront property near the town of Nice in northern California, 57-year-old Jim Fetzer created Ceágo Del Lago Wine Country Resort & Spa. The 163-acre former walnut ranch is now home to kiwi, olive, and fig trees; fields of lavender; and several grape varietals, which are used to produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Plans are currently under way to include a 50-room condo-hotel and a biodynamic resort spa. When complete, the residence club will appeal to wine lovers who want to dabble in vintnering. Owners will each have a row of vines and will be able to participate in blending seminars and vineyard planting.

Vineyard Estates at Kluge Estate Winery Charlottesville, Virginia

Residents of the Vineyard Estates at Kluge Estate Winery, located on 511 acres in Charlottesville, Virginia, can own and operate a mini vineyard or sell their grapes back to the winery. The property’s 24 homes, designed by New York architect and interior designer David Easton, are available in one of six styles: Early Virginian, Federal, Gothic, American Modern, Georgian, or Beaux Arts. "The estates are for people who love a genteel lifestyle but don’t mind working with their hands when they are here," says owner Patricia Kluge, though she adds that there are options available for those who wish to keep their hands clean and callus-free. In addition to a winery that hosts dinner parties and wine collectors’ presentations, the development includes 24-hour concierge services and a shop that sells artisanal cheeses and homemade jams.

The Vineyards Columbia Valley, Washington

Often referred to as the "fruit bowl of the nation,"
Washington’s Columbia Valley is renowned for its apples, hops, and grapes. Some 125 operational vineyards in the region have also caused some people to compare it to the California wine countries of Napa and Sonoma—although Italy might be a better comparison, thanks to the Vineyards’ 582 Tuscan-style residences.

Set on 500 acres near the Cascade mountains, the Vineyards also will contain a boutique hotel, a golf course, and a clubhouse—but no working vineyards. The idea, says developer Rich Barnes, is to give residents the opportunity to rub elbows with Washington winemakers through the community’s Vintner Club, which offers a personal locker, wine concierge, and exclusive wine allocations.The Vineyard at Florence Florence, Texas

Some people are surprised that the Lone Star State has a thriving wine country. Located just outside of Austin, in what is popularly known as Hill Country, Texas’ 90-mile stretch of some 20 wineries now includes the 600-acre Vineyard at Florence development, the state’s first residential winery. In addition to wine tasting, leisurely pursuits will include horseback riding and nature hikes. The Vineyard at Florence currently has 60 homesites, each with views of the vineyards or the surrounding landscape, which is filled with foliage, waterways, and ancient oak and pecan trees. Residents will also have access to a wine-tasting villa that hosts art exhibits and concerts.

The Ranches at Figueroa Canyon Santa Ynez Valley, California

Locals call it Happy Canyon—an area dotted with ranches and award-winning wineries about 30 miles north of Santa Barbara. One of the happier things about this mountainous landscape, which has drawn much attention since the movie Sideways was released in 2004, is that it is zoned for agricultural uses, which protects it from suburban sprawl. This is exactly what encouraged the developers of the Ranches at Figueroa Canyon to purchase a large tract of cattle land to repurpose as six subdivided vineyard estates.

The vineyards, however, do not yet exist; the hope is that buyers will cultivate their own. The developers say that more than half the land has an excellent rating for wine production. The infrastructure to support a home and guesthouse is in, and wells are in place to provide the future grapes with necessary water. Each of the six ranches will contain a caretaker’s residence, so owners can have a place to stay while designing the main house and vineyards. And although such distinguished architects as Howard Backen and Barry Berkus have been made available to create preliminary designs, buyers are not obligated to use them. Ultimately, it will be up to the owner to envision the land in its next incarnation. Until then, it continues to be grazed by 150 Black Angus cows.

The Lodges at Calistoga Ranch Napa, California

In addition to working the vineyards with winemakers Nils Venge and Kirk Venge, vintner members of Calistoga Ranch’s fractional-ownership lodges can participate in year-round private events at some of Napa’s most celebrated estates, including Chateau Montelena and Far Niente. Some local vintners invite members to be among the first to taste a new release, while others may stage pruning, harvest, or blending parties at their vineyards. On site, Calistoga Ranch conducts wine-pairing classes and dinners within the property’s wine cave.

Fractional-ownership members are guaranteed a minimum of two weeks of use per year of their two-bedroom bungalow lodges and unlimited use depending on availability. Each residence takes full advantage of its surroundings—which, in addition to vineyards, include ancient oaks, a private lake, and rock-hewn streams—with an outdoor living room (complete with a fireplace) and a master bath that opens to an outdoor shower. Non-wine related activities include a variety of programs, such as yoga, photography, poetry writing, and hiking and biking through the region’s famous redwood forests.

Aetna Springs Resort Pope Valley, California

Criswell Radovan, the Saint Helena–based developer of Calistoga Ranch, now has its sights set on restoring the historic Aetna Springs Resort in nearby Pope Valley. The property, which originally opened in 1870 as a hot springs resort and was frequented by the likes of Ronald Reagan during the 1960s, had fallen into disrepair over the last several decades. Today, Criswell Radovan co-owns the 672-acre site with viticulture heavyweights Michael Mondavi and Billy Getty. The idea, says developer Robert Radovan, is to return the property back to its glory days, with craftsman-style cabins (originally designed by renowned northern California architect Bernard Maybeck) in a bucolic yet luxurious resort setting. Only 18 homesites will be available for sale, each with design restrictions that require the new homes to reflect Aetna Springs’ rustic look.

The resort’s 25 acres of vineyards, on-site winery, and proprietary wine club allow homeowners to choose the level of participation they wish to have in the winemaking experience. "We have an all-star cast of wine industry experts, who can either make your private-label wine to specification or teach you how to make your own," says Radovan. "We can even help you get a permit so that you can sell your wine." The resort also offers a nine-hole golf course, which was originally built in 1891 and is thought to be the oldest course west of the Mississippi. After a complete redesign by Tom Doak, the course is expected to reopen this summer.[ DEVELOPMENTS & RESOURCES ]

Aetna Springs Resort
Location: On 672 acres in Pope Valley, California
Residences: 18 residential lots, ranging in size from 20 to 60 acres
Amenities: Access to the property’s winery, 10,000-square-foot clubhouse, and boutique hotel. Non-wine related activities will include fly-fishing and horseback riding
Timeline: Sales begin this June; the hotel and clubhouse are slated to open in late 2009
Pricing: Lots range from $2.7M to $4.2M; prices include membership to the wine club
www.aetnasprings.com

Ceágo Del Lago Wine Country Resort & Spa
Location: On 163 acres, 30 miles east of Redwood Valley, California
Residences: 50 fractional units
Amenities: An interactive vineyard, a spa, and an active biodynamic farm
Timeline: Build-out is expected in two to four years
Pricing: About $600K for a one-eighth share
707.274.1462, www.ceago.com

The Lodges at Calistoga Ranch
Location: On 157 wooded acres in Napa, California
Residences: 27 two-bedroom fractional-ownership lodges
Amenities: Access to the 46-room, Auberge-managed resort, which includes lakeside dining, an open-air fitness center and yoga program, hiking and biking trails, a wine cave, a vintner’s program, and a spa with
a thermal spring–fed bathhouse
Timeline: The resort opened in 2004; the third and final phase of fractional lodges became available this spring
Pricing: Memberships are priced at $475K with an annual maintenance fee of $12,600 for a one-tenth ownership
866.442.9341, www.calistogaranchliving.com

The Ranches at Figueroa Canyon
Location: On 3,286 acres, 30 miles northeast of Santa Barbara
Residences: Six ranch properties from 187 to 1,176 acres
Timeline: The ranches came on the market this year
Pricing: From $6M to $24.5M
866.290.9555, www.ranchesatfc.com

The Rise
Location: On 735 acres, about 275 miles northeast of Vancouver, British Columbia
Residences: 660 residences, including condos, townhouses, and single-family homes
Amenities: A Fred Couples Signature golf course, a residents’ clubhouse, a village center, and a winery
Timeline: The first phase of real estate was offered in spring 2006; the golf course opened in spring 2008; several new homesites are now available
Pricing: From $240K to $1.5M
866.400.8488, www.therise.ca

The Vineyard at Florence
Location: On 600 acres, 35 minutes north of Austin
Residences: 60 custom homes and homesites
Amenities: A wine-tasting center, polo fields, a cafe, and a spa
Timeline: Roads, utilities, and the wine-tasting villa are scheduled for completion in August 2008. Dates for phase two have yet to be determined
Pricing: Homesites priced from $155K to $437K; custom homes start at $1M
254.793.3363, www.thevineyardatflorence.com

Vineyard Estates at Kluge Estate Winery
Location: On 511 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains outside Charlottesville, Virginia
Residences: 24 custom homes designed by David Easton
Amenities: 24-hour concierge service, a farm shop, and a winery
Timeline: Vineyard established in 1999; homesites available later this year
Pricing: From $7M to $23M
434.220.5902, www.vineyardestatesonline.com

The Vineyards
Location: Two and a half hours southeast of Seattle
Residences: 582 residences (condos, golf villas, and townhomes)
Amenities: A golf course, a spa, a clubhouse, a boutique hotel, and a wine concierge
Timeline: Phase one homesites went on sale in May 2007; the first residences are scheduled for completion in summer 2009
Pricing: Homesites range from $300K to $600K, condos from $375K to $650K
866.526.0235, www.vineyardsresort.com