San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Stonewood Estate radiates true romance, provincial charm
Spread across 186 acres, Stonewood Estate epitomizes Wine Country living. In addition to the four-bedroom main house and two-bedroom cabin, the Sonoma compound includes a barn built from reclaimed timber, a lake with a dock and 56 acres of vineyard in the Moon Mountain American Viticultural Association.
A two-story main home anchors the property known as Stonewood Estate.
“The stone home sits atop a knoll with commanding views and is the architectural gem of Sonoma Valley,” said Mark Stornetta of Compass, who is listing 18000 Gehricke Road in Sonoma for $19.5 million. “More than 30 years in the making and built from hand-chiseled stone and rock found in its own vineyard, the elegant home is exquisite yet warm inside and out.”
The design features a range of custom details, including fanciful owls carved into the stone and multiple sets of arched French doors. Its eatkitchen boasts stainless steel appliances and custom cabinetry while revolving around an island and wood-burning oven.
Throughout the home, woodframed windows look out at the rolling, tree-studded hillsides. San Francisco Bay is also visible from portions of the main house. Its material palette blends stone, plaster, glass and metal for an elegant, timeless aesthetic. An inviting owner’s suite includes a sitting window beneath the pitched ceiling, a private balcony and spa bathroom with a soaking tub.
Outside, patios connect to the verdant landscape. Mature trees shade portions of the grounds as native plantings sprout from the earth.
Perfectly situated next to the property’s pond rests a country cabin constructed from timber reclaimed from San Francisco’s docks. It boasts a broad front porch that cantilevers over the water. The cozy cabin is designed for indoor/outdoor living with windows and doors opening onto the porch and boat dock.
Both a large vegetable garden and fruit orchard reside nearby.
Built from wood salvaged from San Francisco’s Pier 41,
Stonewood Estate’s rustic barn includes parking for four cars, a wine cellar, a tool room and an office.
Upstairs, a cabin-style guest retreat includes a living room, bedroom and full bathroom.
A second one-bedroom suite with a kitchen and full bath rests at the opposite end of the floor.
Nestled in the rolling hills above town, the estate’s historic, 56-acre vineyard offers masterfully terraced slopes of vintage grape vines.
The well-drained, rocky and
volcanic soil produces intensely flavored fruit, resulting in awardwinning wines prized by collectors the world over.
Named for the thickets of hardwoods that dotted the land, Los Chamizal was first planted between 1976 and 1978 by Peter Haywood.
Now it represents some of the best Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec cultivated in Sonoma Valley.
The vineyard’s southwestfacing location allows for ample exposure to the afternoon sun, as well as the crosswinds from the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay.
“This estate is remarkable,” Stornetta said, “and offers tax benefits under the Williamson Act.”
Learn more at www.stonewood-estate.com.
Mark Stornetta, Compass, 707-815-8749, mark@markstornetta.com.