Palatial playground surrounded by vineyard views in Ukiah
Two hours from the Golden Gate Bridge and about 45 minutes from Mendocino, Ukiah is secluded but not far-flung. Such a distance from the city keeps the region private, yet accessible to Bay Area residents searching for a low-key hideaway.
Highway 101 cuts alongside Ukiah as the Russian River twists to the east. The Ukiah Municipal Airport is a few minutes away, offering executive aircraft a convenient spot to touch down for a weekend getaway.
Enter 480 Fircrest Drive, a five-bedroom, five-bathroom home with nearly 5,000 square feet of living space.
“It’s an extraordinary custom home that sits on a knoll with city and vineyard views,” said Peter Colbert of Sotheby’s International Realty, who is listing the custom home for $1.599 million.
Any number of spots on the 2.25-acre estate could serve as the standout. For those who like to cook, the home offers a superlative indoor chef ’s kitchen, as well as a sheltered patio with a built-in grill and pizza oven outside. Towering evergreens surrounding the home will inspire any landscape painter. Those who simply want to disconnect and unwind will likely flock to the
sparkling pool that’s fed by an assortment of man-made waterfalls.
Sections of stacked stone articulate a traditional facade studded with peaked gables and dormer windows. The angular footprint bows the home toward the driveway, and the front door stands within a shady portico. The same material palette is used along the rear facade with wraparound decks overlooking the pool and spa.
The home opens to a tiled, two-story foyer that segues into an en suite bedroom with a fireplace. A right turn off the foyer ascends to an enticing great room sheltered by a vaulted ceiling. Here, stacked stone identical to that adorning the facade fashions a wood-burning fireplace. Repeated use of the material evokes architectural continuity inside and out.
Skylights and tall windows brighten a living area that opens into an open kitchen with stone counters, integrated appliances and a cooktop built into an alcove.
Anchoring the far end of this level is the master suite, a getaway defined by a walk-in
closet and spa bathroom with jetted tub.
Abundant built-ins like ceiling speakers, a bar counter and another gas fireplace await in a sprawling game room that opens to a view deck with the outdoor kitchen.
Organic agriculture plays a prominent role in Ukiah, but the region’s fruits and vegetables aren’t all that wind up on menus. The town is home to Ukiah Brewing Company, America’s first certified organic brew pub. Ukiah has also carved out a niche for itself as a grower of organic wine grapes. Of the 17,000 acres of vineyards in Mendocino County, roughly a quarter of them grow certified organic grapes.
The Mendocino County appellation is home to 10 American Viticultural Areas including Potter Valley, Redwood Valley, Yorkville Highlands and Anderson Valley. Redwood and Porter valleys are north of the property, while Anderson Valley and Yorkville Highlands stretch to the south.
Visit www.480fircrest.com.