Are You Moving to A Wine Country | Living In A Wine Country

Are You Moving to A Wine Country? 
You Need To Know What To Consider When You Are Buying Real Estate Near Stellar Wineries.  

Whether you are buying a primary residence, acquiring a second home, discovering a long-term investment property, or charging into the wine business, there's plenty of opportunities for those who dream big. 

Real estate in California's North Coast is a unique affair. There's plenty of variety beyond the wine, such as the numerous cities and towns and their respective housing options. For those with even greater ambitions, there's the land itself to consider.

By themselves, Napa and Sonoma are the Bordeaux of the United States—wine-producing powerhouses where many Wine Country dreams get their start. As the country’s premier wine-producing region, these two counties are also the primary real estate draws to Northern California. Please see Napa Valley Winery Map here. 

The more famous and idyllic of these two counties is Napa. If you have a preferred Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Aside from the incredible selection of wineries—there are over 400 in Napa alone—the county has some cozy little burgs to call home. The city of Napa retains much of its late-1800s charm and serves as the front porch of Wine Country.

Heading north, you'll encounter a number of charming hamlets before reaching St. Helena, nicknamed "Napa Valley's Main Street." It earns this moniker by proving that all of the best stereotypes of Wine Country are true—outstanding eateries, luxurious accommodations, and first-class wine. 

Calistoga, with its abundant hot springs and indulgent spa treatments, is Napa's version of an escape from the escape. 

Napa County is unquestionably the soul of California's Wine Country. Heavy on tourism, it's also the hotbed of real estate activity in the region. Within its individual cities, there's a lot of property movement. 

For the first quarter of 2020, the city of Napa saw much of the transaction volume, accounting for over 70% of sold properties. The average sales price was $925,000. St. Helena and Calistoga saw less activity but commanded considerably higher sales prices— $2.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively. The tradeoff is the opportunity to secure grander homes and more acreage the further north you look. As one might expect, Napa County is where the action is when it comes to both existing vineyards and plantable land. In prime Napa Valley locations, vineyards are valued at upwards of $450,000 per acre, with plantable parcels in the same locales assessed between $200,000 and $275,000 per acre. Both markets are stable with strong demand. 

For comparison, vineyards and plantable acres in the less frequented outlying areas of Napa County both run between $50,000 and $165,000 per acre. While there is less demand, these areas still maintain stable values.

In prime Napa Valley locations, vineyards are valued at upwards of $450,000 per acre, with plantable parcels in the same locales assessed between $200,000 and $275,000 per acre. Both markets are stable with strong demand. 

For comparison, vineyards and plantable acres in the less frequented outlying areas of Napa County both run between $50,000 and $165,000 per acre. While there is less demand, these areas still maintain stable values.

Head west, however, and Sonoma County has plenty of its own appeal. Set along the Pacific Ocean, this area features the oft romanticized Highway 101 as its central artery. It also provides the most direct route from Wine Country into the Bay Area and San Francisco.

As a result, Sonoma is the most widely-developed of the four primary wine-producing counties, with the city of Santa Rosa as its major hub of activity. Offering a mix of major wine houses and smaller, family-owned operations, Sonoma is home to nearly 450 wineries, serving as the region's biggest wine producer.

The further north you head, the wilder side of Sonoma shines through. Here, rivers, lakes, and vineyard-laden valleys are the rule—not the exception—exemplifying the peaceful settings found in the North Coast's more rural locales. Case in point is Healdsburg, a delightful town along the picturesque Russian River.

Overall, Sonoma home prices are more modest. Healdsburg had the highest per transaction value for the first quarter at $1.2 million per sale. But it also saw the least activity among the county's major cities. Santa Rosa had nearly 300 homes sold at an average price of $700,000, and the popular Sonoma Valley averaged $911,000 across approximately 70 transactions.

For those seeking an even more dynamic water view, the Pacific Ocean should do. A westward trip along the Skaggs Springs Road from Geyserville to Stewarts Point and the state's other celebrated roadway—Highway 1—is a harrowing, otherworldly journey with a Pacific payoff at the end.

Some Highlights

Key Terms To Know When Buying a Home

My Favorite Winery:
Elhers Estate, St Helena, CA

Certified Organic Farming

On July 1, 2008, after three years of verifiable organic farming, Ehlers Estate was awarded organic certification from the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF).

As part of a vineyard-focused, socially responsible approach to winemaking, the Ehlers Estate vineyard is farmed exclusively using earth-friendly organic farming methods. These methods help to preserve the purity and character of the estate’s fruit, leading to stellar wines reflecting an authentic sense of place. 

An innovative way to discover the flavors and aromas hidden in your favorite Ehlers wines! 

 Journey through our verdant and lush estate garden while awakening your senses with our newest tasting experience: the Garden Sensory Tasting. A hands-on experience that includes four wines paired with harvested seasonal herbs, flowers, and fruits from our garden.  An interactive way to explore the flavor profiles of each wine.  

You'll collect these seasonal samples with your Ehlers Estate host and identify the characteristics of each corresponding wine in a curated flight. 

Garden baskets, bonsai clippers, and collection jars are provided. During this experience you will be outdoors and immersed in our working garden with an active bee and insect population that may or may not be present during your visit. You may see ladybugs, butterflies, lizards, and other curious creatures.

When: Monday-Sunday at 10 AM starting in May. Reservations are required. Closed on Martin Luther King Jr Day, President's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Tasting Fee: $125 per person for groups up to four. Full table participation required. A credit card is required at the time of booking. Changes or cancellations require 48 hours advance notice.

Please call 707-963-5972 or submit this form to make a reservation.

Crocker & Starr Winery  – St. Helena

What began as an accidental meeting between grape grower, Charlie Crocker, and winemaker, Pam Starr, led to a long-lasting partnership founded on the love for excellence in wine. Crocker & Starr was established with a common goal of resurrecting the historic Crocker Vineyard Estate and creating world-class wines from the extraordinary terroir. Today, 25 years later, the winery still upholds this philosophy.

Guests at Crocker & Starr are invited to “touch the vines and taste the wines.” What better way to spend the day!