LUXURY HOMES AND LIFESTYLES AROUND THE PENINSULA / WINTER 2015
The
PENINSULA
WINTER GETAWAYS ROCKY MOUNTAIN RETREATS OWNING A PIECE OF TAHOE HISTORY
Downtown Palo Alto 728 Emerson Street, Palo Alto | 650.644.3474 Downtown Menlo Park 640 Oak Grove Avenue, Menlo Park | 650.847.1141
S I LI CO N VA L L E Y E S TATE Resort-like estate in a bucolic setting in Los Altos Hills, one of Silicon Valley’s exclusive residential communities. The 20,000 sf home on 8+ acres is designed for entertaining on both a corporate and personal level for events in the tens or hundreds. Amenities include an indoor swimming pool with a retractable roof, massage room, movie theatre, vineyard, wine cellar and tasting room. The home features a freestanding office building perfect for board meetings or other business needs. Easy access to San Francisco and San Jose airports make the home a perfect West Coast hub for its owner. This is a secure and private retreat from which to welcome guests and explore all California has to offer. $88,000,000
properties.dreyfussir.com/losaltoshills
dreyfussir.com | Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.
MICHAEL DREYFUS, BROKER 650.485.3476 michael.dreyfus@dreyfussir.com License No. 01121795
19 0 A L M E N D R A L AV E N U E , ATH E RTO N 6 BEDROOMS • 7 BATHROOMS • HOME ±13,350 SF • LOT ±1 ACRE 19 0A L M E N D R A L .C O M
THE GROUNDS
OTHER AMENITIES
• Pool and spa surrounded in Connecticut bluestone
• Half-bath adjacent to large, fully customized mud room with sink, desk, and stacked LG washer/dryer
• Main terrace with fireplace and linear gas fire pit • Pergola-covered, heated dining terrace and outdoor kitchen with Viking barbecue, refrigerator, and sink
• Laundry rooms on all three levels, each with sink and full size LG washer/dryer; drip dry cabinets at upper and lower levels
• Lower-level garden terrace
• Attached and detached 2-car garages, each wired for electric car charging station
• Many mature oak trees, stately magnolias, and 100 year-old olive trees around the property
• Distributed sound system inside and out
• Heated loggia, at guest house, with fireplace and television
• Parterre rose garden • Automatic irrigation, including decorative pots • Electronic gated entrance
• Nest managed heating and air conditioning systems with 8 zones • Savant home automation system with touch screen control for audio, video, and security • Prepped for solar
RICH BASSIN, BROKER ASSOCIATE
640 Oak Grove Ave, Menlo Park
Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.
650.400.0502 rich.bassin@sothebysrealty.com richbassin.com License No. 00456815
MARLENA LYON, DIRECTOR OF SALES 650.793.5934 marlena.lyon@dreyfussir.com License No. 01971666
ABOUT US
As founder of Dreyfus Properties, I have spent the last 25 years helping people move to and within this place I feel so lucky to call home. I’ve worked to assemble experienced, professional, can-do agents who love living here as much as I do, and who pride themselves on their intimate knowledge of the ever changing, and sometimes challenging, housing market. A few years ago, we joined Sotheby’s International Realty. Now our clients get the best of all worlds: a boutique brokerage with an insider’s knowledge of the premium neighborhoods and home values in this area, combined with the professionalism, depth of experience and superior marketing of an established global network. This magazine is our tribute to living on the Peninsula—a chance to showcase some of the finest homes available for sale, highlight the neighborhoods that make this area unique, as well as share current trends in local design, style, art, and wine.
Michael Dreyfus, Broker/Owner Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully. Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) service marks used with permission. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.
WINTER GETAWAYS On the Cover: Telluride Paradiso Property Above: Park City Property
Contents 7
WINTER 2015
ARTS & CULTURE
Chinese Tea Art
8
ENTERTAINING
The Most Wonderful (Sparkly!) Time of the Year 8
9
LOCAL INSIGHTS
Savoring the Season 9 Holistic Horse Care 12 Menlo Park’s Marsh Manor 13
15
24
OUR MARKET
Have Your Cake and Eat it Too: Tax Strategies For Selling
16
IN OUR COMMUNITY
20
SPOTLIGHT Q&A
24
PROPERTIES OF NOTE
36
VINTAGE
It Really Is Better to Give Than to Receive 16 Annette Smith, ACS Board President 17
An Artist’s Retreat
Rocky Mountain Retreats 24 Owning a Piece of Tahoe History 32
The Ultimate Boy-Toy Destination: AutoVino
Founder Michael Dreyfus
Creative Director Phong Giang
Managing Editor/External Sales Toni Sieling
Printer HomeFolio Media
The
Contributing Writers Laura Ness, Kathy Cordova, Marianne Lipanovich
PENINSULA
Director of Operations/Internal Sales Sandie Timm Finance Manager Roxanne Sanchez
Contributing Photographers Toni Sieling, Phong Giang
Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty 728 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA 94301 | 640 Oak Grove Ave, Menlo Park, CA 94025
THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015 / 5
G R A N D W E S T ATH E RTO N E S TATE
Move in or build your own brand new dream estate on two prime Atherton acres 120 Selby Lane, Atherton | 120Selby.com | Offered at $10,495,000 ±11,000 sf, 7 bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms, carriage house, 8-car garage complex, pool, tennis court
8 CAR GARAGE
TENNIS COURT
COMPLEX/WORKSHOP 1,000 SQ. FT. STUDIO APT.
SWIMMING POOL 10,000 SQ. FT.
MAIN HOUSE
COTTAGE
2 ACRES LOT SIZE
Downtown Menlo Park 640 Oak Grove Ave, Menlo Park 650.847.1141 Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.
MARY JO MCCARTHY, REALTOR® 650.400.6364 maryjo.mccarthy@dreyfussir.com maryjomccarthy.com License No. 01354295
ARTS & CULTURE
Chinese Tea Art
If one thing can make a place home, it is a sensory connection among time, space and our heart, which can be found in Chinese tea art. For more than 1200 years the cultural history of Chinese tea, or tea art, has been integrated not only with the essence of Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucius, but also rooted into one’s lifestyle.
Touched by soft orange light, embraced by the rhythm of a Chinese harp and the gurgling sound of flowing water, tucked among the shade of green bamboo, comes the fragrance of Chinese oolong tea. It is a state of mind, prepared after 36 steps by a lady’s heart in traditional dress. That is a scene of Chinese Tea Art.
BY ELLA (YAN) LIANG
As you are seated, well-shaped, tender tea leaves are taken out by a wooden spoon which lays on a bright plate. Waiting to be infused with the purest boiled spring water, tea leaves gradually stretch open by the tease of warm water. While the aroma cup and drinking cup are catching up with the heat, ready-todrink tea slowly flows into the center of the aroma cup. Gently squeezing and lifting the aroma cup to your nose, you are filled with the fragrance of the tea. The mesmerizing sensation is filled with the joy that you are able to leave everything else behind. Carrying the pleasure brought by the fragrance, you perhaps see the reflection of
ELLA (YAN) LIANG Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty 408.656.9816 ella.liang@dreyfussir.com liangrealty.com License No. 01933960
the mind in the fluctuating surface of the tea. Bring it to your mouth while it is still hot, roll it with the tip of your tongue tentatively, no matter if it is plain or rich, experience it with all the senses, then give yourself up, until you are fully emerged. When you may just forget the time and space, the purest sweetness of the tea starts to expand from your throat, till it reaches to the home of your heart… Extraordinariness can be reflected in the way a pot of tea is appreciated, and a connection starts from a simple wish of sharing its beauty.
I consistently exceed the expectations of my clients, now my friends, with their real estate needs in Silicon Valley. I invite you to connect with me to chat about real estate, and Chinese tea art… THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015 / 7
ENTERTAINING
The Most Wonderful (Sparkly!) Time of the Year BY MICHELLE TASER
As much as I adore the casual, low-key vibe of Palo Alto, I also love any excuse to break out the glitz! And, if there’s any time to bring on the sparkle, it’s the holidays. Silver and gold decorations, glittery tinsel and, let’s face it, when else can you rock a sequined dress? But beyond all the brilliance of the holidays, the most important sparkle is the bright light of being with good friends and family. That’s why this year we decided to host our first ever (soon to become an annual tradition) holiday sparkly party for our very best friends and family. To make this a really special celebration, we’re inviting gentlemen to wear dinner jackets and ladies to wear something sparkly. We’re tenting off the back yard, putting up a bunch of colorful, sparkly lights and some shimmery silver curtains in the tented area for a glamorous effect.
Everyone will bring a favorite appetizer or dessert and we will host the drinks, with a special, signature cocktail, a Sparkly Shiraz (see recipe). And, although the food and drink and sparkly attire are sure to be fabulous, it’s really all about celebrating our family and friends and doing something a little special to let them know how much we love and appreciate them. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season, filled with the love of family and friends, and a fabulous, sparkly 2016!
Sparkly Shiraz (Serves 10)
How to Host a Sparkly Holiday Party
• • • • •
• Invite your most luminous friends and family.
3/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 7 lemons) 1/4 cup sugar 3 liters of chilled club soda 2 bottles of good Shiraz, chilled Fresh mint
In a Punch bowl Mix together the lemon juice in a large punch bowl until dissolved. Stir in the club soda and Shiraz. Serve in champagne or martini glasses. Add fresh mint as garnish. Enjoy.
MICHELLE TASER Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty 650.575.7782 michelle.taser@dreyfussir.com License No. 01775122
8 / THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015
• Decorate like Martha Stewart on eggnog— and don’t skimp on the glitter. • Serve a signature cocktail with lots of holiday verve. • Dress to excess and encourage your guests to do the same. • Create a sizzling playlist of holiday songs. • Dance like Santa’s not watching.
Nationally Ranked No. 155 Among the Top 250 Agents in the US by The Wall Street Journal / Real Trends
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL & REAL TRENDS
TOP 250 REAL ESTATE AGENTS IN THE US BY AVERAGE SALES PRICE
LOCAL INSIGHTS
Savoring the Season
BY PETER GIOVANNOTTO
Having grown up as a regular at Palo Alto’s year round Farmer’s Market on California Avenue, I can tell you that eating seasonally doesn’t need to end once the last tomato has been harvested.
From apples to turnips, there are a surprising number of fresh options out there to keep you in seasonally appropriate vegetables and fruits until spring arrives. You don’t even need to give up your vegetable garden for the winter, as many of these do better in the cooler winter months. Lettuce, spinach and leafy greens thrive in cooler weather, while kale and collards actually taste best when they’ve experienced a touch of frost. Broccoli is a tried and true favorite, but I think it’s worth considering some of its cole family relatives as well. Think about adding Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower to your dinner table. If you really want to explore other options, experiment with grilling fennel or adding it raw to a salad.
Fall and winter are also prime time for classic root cellar crops such as beets, carrots and potatoes as well as the winter squashes, such as acorn and butternut squash. It’s hard to find a favorite among the aforementioned options; I find that Brussels sprouts and cauliflower are the mainstays in my refrigerator during the winter months, but there’s something about roasted beets or butternut squash soup in the winter that really hits the spot. On the fruit side of the equation, apples and pears come into their own in fall, ready to be eaten raw, added to a salad or turned into a tasty desert. Fuyu persimmons are my favorite winter fruit and if you haven’t tried one, you’re missing out.
For most people, the true stars of the winter fruit world is the various citrus. They’re at their best throughout the winter months. They also don’t need to be harvested immediately; you can often let the fruits sit on the tree until you’re ready to use them. If lemons and oranges in particular are starting to near the end of their life span, simply freeze the juice to enjoy in summer. This winter, take some time to dive in and enjoy seasonal options. And if you see me wandering through the Farmer’s Market stands, make sure to say hi!
PETER GIOVANNOTTO Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty 650.464.1403 peterg@dreyfussir.com License No. 01875954
58 Tuscaloosa Avenue, Atherton SOLD
1944 Bryant Street, Palo Atlo SOLD
183 Vista Verde Way, Portola Valley FOR SALE | $3,995,000
THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015 / 9
AWARD WINNING MARKET REVIEW 2015MARKETREVIEW.com
Dawn did an awesome job, gave great advice, and was extremely thoughtful and considerate of us during the process. She has great leadership and negotiating skills, and has high integrity. She responds quickly to any concerns. I could not say enough good things about her. I would hire her again in a minute. Iris F. Harrell Board Chair Harrell Remodeling, Inc.
Dawn Thomas BROKER ASSOCIATE (650) 701 7822 DAWN@SILICONVALLEYANDBEYOND.com SILICONVALLEYANDBEYOND.com
Melanie Falls, owner of Whole Equine
Holistic Horse Care
LOCAL INSIGHTS I am very passionate about real estate because I love the thrill and reward of helping my clients realize their dreams. One of these people is Melanie Falls, a client of mine who bought a house in Montara earlier this year, located just north of Half Moon Bay. For Melanie, it wasn’t only about the home or the surrounding community but about her lifelong passion as an equestrian. The home is located just a few blocks from where she keeps her horse, and has the perfect space and layout to grow her e-commerce business, Whole Equine. Whole Equine has grown from a small operation run by word-of-mouth sales in 2013 into a fantastic online resource for horse owners looking for alternative equine care products and information. Whole
BY JAKKI HARLAN
Equine features a user-friendly online retail store with a large selection of premium, all-natural horse care products as well as articles on useful horse-care tips and a “supplements-analyzer” tool that will allow customers to evaluate the ingredient make-up of supplements in the shopping cart. Melanie was inspired to start the business after spending four years rehabbing her gelding from a coffin-bone injury. “I got several opinions…the veterinarians were convinced he would never be sound again. But I just couldn’t take no for an answer,” says Melanie. After tireless trial and error and research, she developed a natural, holistic care program for her horse that now keeps him healthy in his older age. Through this
experience, she realized that other concerned horse owners needed a convenient way to develop holistic care programs. It has been rewarding watching Melanie settle into her home in Montara and grow Whole Equine into the premier supplier of natural care products. It’s also been a great experience helping a local small business thrive.
If you have horses or know someone who does, be sure to spread the word. Whole Equine can be found at WholeEquine.com and facebook.com/WholeEquine
JAKKI HARLAN Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty 650.465.2180 jakki@jakkiharlan.com jakkiharlan.com License No. 01407129 12 / THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015
151 Laurel Street, Atherton FOR SALE $11,388,000
1210 Bay Laurel Drive, Menlo Park SOLD $6,350,000
137 Moore Road, Woodside SOLD $7,650,000
LOCAL INSIGHTS
Menlo Park’s Marsh Manor BY SUMMER BRILL
One of the misconceptions of the neighborhoods between El Camino and Highway 101 in Menlo Park, is that those neighborhoods are not well served by a downtown area and lack local amenities. Suburban Park, Flood Park, Fair Oaks, Menlo Oaks and Lindenwood are walking and biking distance to the recently renovated Marsh Manor Shopping Center, which is located on the corner of Marsh Road and Florence Street. The center is owned and run by the family who originally developed the shopping center in the 1950s. Vibe Yoga
Recent renovations to the property include a nice central patio for outdoor eating, and dining options and amenities have expanded as well. Anchored by Delucchi’s Market, the shopping center also features a micro brewery (FreeWheel Brewery), a new breakfast spot (Squeeze In), a taqueria (Los Gallos Taqueria), coffee shops, a pastry and ice cream shop, a flower shop, cleaners, yoga, dentist, beauty salon and more. During the summer they host a free music series called Music on the Patio, featuring a different genre of music every week, June through August. Visit the Marsh Manor website for details at marshmanor.com, or better yet, visit in person.
Freewheel Brewery
SUMMER BRILL Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty 650.468.2989 summer.brill@dreyfussir.com License No. 01891857
14700 Manuella Drive, Los Altos Hills FOR SALE | $4.750M
316 McKendry Drive, Menlo Park SOLD | $1.395M
115 Walnut Street, Menlo Park (rep buyer) SOLD | $1.399M
THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015 / 13
BE CONFIDENT IN YOUR MORTGAGE DECISION
mortgage
+ decision tech + ďŹ nancial planning
opesadvisors.com | 650.319.1617 | 2875 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306 Opes Advisors is licensed by the CA Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act, License #4150089, CA Bureau of Real Estate 01458652, loans will be made pursuant to the Residential Mortgage Lending Act, CO Registration, Idaho MBL8530, Montana Mortgage Lender License #235584, Oregon ML4902, Washington CL1178435, Wyoming #2667 and NMLS 235584. Equal Opportunity Lender. Opes Advisors is a registered investment advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Š 2015 Opes Advisors, Inc. All rights reserved.
OUR MARKET
Have Your Cake and Eat it Too: Tax Strategies For Selling
BY OMAR KINAAN
“One of the main reasons we chose to list our home with Omar was because he created a sales strategy that will greatly reduce our capital gains exposure…we will put that money to work for us in our retirement instead of paying it to the IRS.” This home on Santa Margarita Avenue in Menlo Park was leased in 2015 and will be sold using a tax deferred exchange in 2017.
When home owners consider selling their primary residence, especially when they have owned it for a long time, one question they will have to ponder is the tax burden of selling. Internal revenue code (IRC) 121 allows a married couple to shelter $500,000 of taxable gain, single person $250,000 of taxable gain, as long as they have lived in the home two of the past five years. For many parts of the country, this is sufficient to make the sale of a primary residence a tax free event. However, locally, where we have had many years of high appreciation, many sellers have taxable gains that far exceed these limits. These would-be sellers feel trapped by the tax consequences of selling their primary residence. Faced with daunting tax bills, many sellers are opting to
stay put, even when their retirement goals are to downsize or move out of the area. For these sellers, tax planning has become an important component of selling. Savvy sellers can consider turning their primary residence into an investment property and defer paying any taxes when selling by using a Tax Deferred Exchange as provided in IRC 1031. IRC 1031 allows you to sell an investment property and buy another “like kind” investment property, deferring any taxable gain from the sale. With careful planning, sellers can combine IRC 1031 and IRC 121, with some limitations, to shelter up to $500,000 taxable gain and
JOHN WERTZLER, MENLO PARK defer the remainder of their taxable gain at the time of sale. These sellers will literally pay no taxes at the time of sale, end up with $500,000 in their pocket and an income producing investment property after selling their home. While owning and managing investment property in one’s retirement may not be for everyone, it can be a way to defer paying large tax bills and can provide investment diversification. Who wouldn’t want to have their cake and eat it too? For a free consultation, please contact Omar Kinaan, REALTOR®.
Individual tax circumstances are unique, sellers are encouraged to seek the advice of their tax advisor. Omar Kinaan is not a tax professional and does not offer tax or legal advice.
OMAR KINAAN Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty 650.776.2828 omar@kinaan.com License No. 01723115
252 Colorado Avenue, Palo Alto FOR LEASE
20 Tevis Place, Hillsborough FOR SALE
229 O’Connor Street, Menlo Park SOLD
THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015 / 15
IN OUR COMMUNITY
It Really Is Better to Give Than to Receive BY COLLEEN FORAKER
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) is best known for the thrift stores it operates, but less well known for the important safety net it provides to the neediest in our communities. Founded in 1833 by Antoine-Frédéric Ozanam to serve the poor on the streets of Paris, SVdP has grown into an international network of charities active in 142 countries. Its primary mission is person-to-person outreach to address the needs of the impoverished and marginalized. Through its five thrift stores, three Homeless Help Centers, a Family Resource Center and a Restorative Justice Ministry, the San Mateo County SVdP is working to meet basic survival needs and to help break the cycle of poverty. Everyday necessities are provided to the homeless such as meals, bus tokens, showers, haircuts and sleeping bags. Those precariously housed are served by home visits arranged through the Family Resource Center. Volunteers go out in teams of two delivering groceries, vouchers for the thrift store and rent or utility assistance. Both victims of crime and the incarcerated receive support from the chaplains in restorative justice. Employment opportunities and re-entry programs are also in place to provide guidance to those coming out of incarceration.
SVdP Stats
Last fiscal year at a glance: 2014
1,190
11,240
Volunteers
Home Visits
28,000+
People from all over the local community took the opportunity to clean out their garages and brought us their bikes. We collected 117 bikes of all shapes and sizes that were distributed to day laborers, farm workers and families with children. All were thrilled to receive them. Some even learned to ride a bike for the first time! If you are considering a year-end donation of any kind, financial, clothing, furniture or household items, please join me in supporting SVdP. Go to svdpsm.org and decide how best you can give. Help us help others. We appreciate your generosity.
Distinct Individuals Served
100,000+ Meals to the Homeless
$483,716
Rent & Lodging Assistance
8,036
Vouchers Given to Struggling Families
11,000
Distinct Children Served
$2M+
Worth of Food to the Hungry
$64,829
Utility Assistance
$351,383
Free Merchandise
101,480
Upcoming: Books 4 Hope Drive
Total Hours of Service
Our local SVdP conference will be collecting books in the spring for online resale to raise money for all SVdP programs and for distribution during home visits. Text I began volunteering for home visits with SVdP books, business books, self-help/motivaa couple of years ago. In addition to food and tional books, children’s books and biograclothing, our conference decided that transphies are especially welcome. Please email portation was another need we could fill, so me at colleen@colleenforaker.com for we organized the first ever SVdP Bike Drive. more information.
COLLEEN FORAKER Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty 650.380.0085 colleen@colleenforaker.com License No. 01349099
16 / THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015
Mountain Home Road, Woodside SOLD
Doris Drive, Menlo Park SOLD
W. Portola Avenue, Los Altos SOLD
IN OUR COMMUNITY
Annette Smith Adolescent Counseling Services is a non-profit that has been providing counseling, substance abuse treatment, support and preventive education to local teens and families for 40 years. ACS provides four types of services: on campus counseling, adolescent substance abuse treatment, community counseling and Outlet, which empowers Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQQ+) youth through support, education and advocacy.
manage this time in their life. So many kids suffer from depression and it’s heartbreaking. The teenage years should be a really fun time of life and too often it’s not. We live in this area where there are so many high achievers. Everybody wants to be at the top—the best student or the best athlete, and sometimes the parents want it more than the kids. That’s a lot of pressure. A lot of kids feel overwhelmed and get depressed or start abusing substances.
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH ACS?
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED SINCE YOU’VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH ACS?
I’ve always been interested in teens and years ago volunteered with another non-profit that focused on teens. When a friend of mine who was on the board invited me to a fundraiser and I learned about ACS, I knew I needed to be involved with this organization.
So many things! One particular thing I learned after listening to a talk by a child psychiatrist is that our ideas about “awful adolescents” and their “raging hormones” are all wrong. What happens is that from birth to about the age of 12, children’s brains are taking in information. Then around puberty they start sifting through this information, forming opinions and becoming themselves. That’s not always an easy transition for teens or their parents.
ACS BOARD PRESIDENT WHAT IS ACS?
WHAT WAS IT ABOUT ACS THAT WAS SO COMPELLING? ACS is doing important work because these kids are our future and we need to help them WHAT YOUR GIFT CAN DO $1,000 pays for four weeks of family and individual counseling for three high school students in the On-Campus Counseling Program. $500 supports Outlet staff leading an LGBTQQ sensitivity training workshop for an entire student body. $250 provides Substance Abuse prevention workshops for students at one of the nine schools we partner with.
Annette with her daughter, Syd
HAVE YOU HAD ANY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH ACS? Yes, one of my daughters had a friend who was having a hard time adjusting to high school and was beginning to act in some self-destructive ways. They came to me to talk about it and I quickly got the girl and her mom in touch with ACS and they were able to help her. ANYTHING ELSE? I LOVE the booklet, 99 Tips For Talking With Your Teenager. It has helped me so much in talking with my daughters. When I give it to friends, they tell me they use it all the time and it sits on the bedside nightstand. ACS offers it at no charge to anyone who requests it through their website.
$100 funds an individual or family session in the Community Counseling Program. $50 enables Outlet staff to provide a phone consultation with a parent seeking support for their LGBTQQ child. $25 funds one drug test in the Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program. $10 provides two parents with a copy of Ninety-Nine Tips for Talking With Your Teenager.
To learn more about ACS, to donate or to request your copy of 99 Tips for Talking with Your Teenager, go to acs-teens.org
ANNETTE SMITH Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty 650.766.9429 annette.smith@dreyfussir.com annettesmithhomes.com License No. 01180954
1975 Avy Avenue, Menlo Park $2,350,000 | FOR SALE
20 Willow Road #19, Menlo Park $1,200,000 | SOLD
1357 Woodland Avenue, Menlo Park $2,898,000 | SOLD
THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015 / 17
O F F M A R K E T E XC LU S I V E I N C R E S C E NT PA R K , PA LO A LTO Extensively renovated in 2010, a classic exterior artfully blends into a contemporary interior showcasing modern materials and an ideal setting for outdoor living and entertaining. 6 bedrooms, office, fitness room | 4 full baths, 2 half-baths Approx. 6,500 sq. ft. on 3 levels | Approx. 17,000 sq. ft. lot | One mile to downtown Palo Alto Offered at $9,950,000
Downtown Palo Alto 728 Emerson Street, Palo Alto | 650.644.3474 Downtown Menlo Park 640 Oak Grove Avenue, Menlo Park | 650.847.1141 dreyfussir.com | Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.
16 0 G R E E R ROA D, WOO D S I D E Wonderful Central Woodside location | Approximately 10.4 acres | Lovely western hill views Mostly level land | Pre-approved plans for a new home | Possible sub-divide Offered at $18,000,000
SHENA HURLEY 650.575.0991 shena.hurley@sothebysrealty.com License No. 01152002
SUSIE DEWS 650.302.2639 susie.dews@dreyfussir.com License No. 00781220
SPOTLIGHT
Q&A
An Artist’s Retreat
ELLEN SUSSMAN & NEAL ROTHMAN
Tucked away on half an acre in Los Altos Hills is a retreat full of charm and artistry. Originally the caretaker’s cottage for the Hills mansion (Hills Brothers coffee) and built in 1928, the 3,285 square-foot home is the crown jewel of this exceptional property. In addition to the main home, the property includes a guest house, workshop, wine room, and two-car garage. The current owners, Ellen Sussman and Neal Rothman, are a best-selling writer and a woodworker/ furniture designer and builder. This home was Neal’s project, creating a place where two artists spend their days working and living—Neal in his remarkable shop (once the greenhouse) and Ellen in her study overlooking the lush gardens. You looked at this home on a whim but had barely crossed the threshold before you decided to buy it. Why? ES & NR: We were both immediately charmed by the house and felt the creative energy in every space. We also responded to it very personally—it felt like the kind of house that would express our taste. You have remodeled much of the house while still maintaining the home’s old world charm. How did you decide what to remodel and how did you manage to maintain the home’s original feel? ES & NR: We never wanted to lose the old world charm but we wanted the house to be more comfortable and somehow more contemporary. Neal created an open and airy master bedroom and a luxurious bathroom. He built in bookcases throughout the house and added a fireplace to the living room. He updated the kitchen and great room. And because we spend so much time in the garden, he redesigned the landscaping as well as the pool/hot tub area.
20 / THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015
You have somehow mixed modern/industrial with traditional? How did that happen? How does that impact the feel of the home? ES & NR: The metal truss work was already exposed when we bought the house and we loved it. So we kept that and worked with it, setting up lighting and design that would highlight that modern/industrial feel and yet compliment the old world character. What are your favorite spaces in the house? Why? ES: I love the living room best of all. Many evenings we build a fire and read there. We often have friends over and will spend hours lost in conversation. And of course I love the outdoor area. We feel like we’re in Provence when we’re sitting by the pool or at the outdoor dining table.
This home has so many spaces for entertaining. How have you used it to entertain and host others?
Neal, this home has an unusual and amazing workshop. How did this large space come to be and how is it used?
ES & NR: We love to throw dinner parties both indoors and out. Last summer our daughter got married at the house and we had a sit-down dinner for 120 people there, followed by dancing poolside. We’ve hosted benefits for up to 220 people. It’s a magical place for a party.
NR: The workshop was originally constructed as a greenhouse when the property was part of a much larger estate owned by one of the Hills brothers of Hills Bros. Coffee. It served as a testing ground for small botanical experiments that the owner conducted. Since the estate was divided, the space has been in continuous use as an artist studio/workshop: first by a sculptor who also created the mosaic tile turtle that graces the bottom of the swimming pool and then as a fine jeweler’s studio and now as a woodworker’s shop. More than sixty years of combined history.
Neal, you custom designed much of the furniture for this home. What is your process and how do you determine what works where? NR: Most of the time I design on a CAD program and then, in some cases, I will build a half size proto-type so that I can refine the design and make sure that the joinery fits together the way I imagine. The order in which pieces were built was a function of family needs: first of course being a desk for Ellen; second, if I remember, was a bedroom set for my younger step-daughter who I was having some trouble charming. Neal, which of the rooms did you design? How did you design the space? NR: The rooms that I designed from bare studs out were the living room, media room and the master suite. The older section of house was constructed using steel beams and framing which presented some challenges for a stick carpenter, so those areas were more augmented than reconfigured.
Ellen, where do you write when at home? ES: I write in the study. It’s small and cozy with a great view out into the garden. Ellen, you have said that “where we live matters.” Why? ES: Where we live does matter—it can shape us and inspire us. Neal and I both work at home and we care so deeply about our surroundings. Our house feeds our soul and our creative spirits.
This home is offered for sale. For inquiries or to schedule a visit, please contact Michael Dreyfus of Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty at 650.485.3476. THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015 / 21
PARK CITY, UT MORE THAN A SKI TOWN
LET SCOTT GUIDE LET YOU TOSCOTT LIVE THEGUIDE PARK CITY LIFESTYLE YOU TO ENJOY THE
PARK CITY LIFESTYLE
SCOTT MAIZLISH 435.901.4309 | MAIZLISH@GMAIL.COM | SCOTTMAIZLISH.COM Scott Maizlish | Summit Sotheby’s International Realty | PO Box 2370 | 1750 Park Avenue | Park City, Utah 84060 USA
LIVE YOUR DREAM IN PARK CITY, UTAH •
35-MINUTE DRIVE TO SALT LAKE CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
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300+ INCHES OF ANNUAL SNOWFALL
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YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITIES FOR THE OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST
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INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
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BIG CITY CULTURE—SMALL TOWN FEEL
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TOP 1% IN UTAH EDUCATION SYSTEM
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TWO WORLD FAMOUS SKI RESORTS
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NEWLY COMBINED PARK CITY AND CANYONS RESORT—NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST SKI RESORT WITH MORE THAN 7,300 ACRES OF SKI-ABLE TERRAIN, 17 PEAKS, 14 BOWLS AND 300 TRAILS
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DEER VALLEY HAS 2,026 ACRES OF SKI-ABLE TERRAIN, 21 SKI LIFTS AND 101 TOTAL RUNS
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PROPOSED ONE WASATCH SKI EXPERIENCE— CONNECTING SEVEN SKI RESORTS, WITH 18,000 ACRES AND 100 SKI LIFTS, ALL ACCESSIBLE WITH ONE PASS
©MMXV Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a licensed trademark to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. An Equal Opportunity Company. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.
Scott Maizlish | Summit Sotheby’s International Realty | PO Box 2370 | 1750 Park Avenue | Park City, Utah 84060 USA
PROPERTIES OF NOTE
Rocky Mountain Retreats BY MARIANNE LIPANOVICH
24 / THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015
L
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES BECKON WHERE SILVER MINES ONCE REIGNED SUPREME
uxury homes close to both worldclass skiing and world-class amenities and just four hours away from the Bay Area? No, it’s not Lake Tahoe. Instead, these second homes can be found in the Rocky Mountains, in towns known for their winter—and summer—outdoor activities along with first-class restaurants and bars and a wide range of festivals and events that draw
people from all over the world. Bay Area residents are rapidly discovering that while Telluride in Colorado and Park City in Utah may look far away on the map, they’re surprisingly easy to get to thanks to good airports and direct flights, often in less time than it takes to reach the ski resorts in the Sierras. And once they’ve arrived, the relaxed atmosphere combined with the wealth of activities can make it difficult to leave.
Continued on Page 26 THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015 / 25
TELLURIDE: LOVE POWDER, HATE CROWDS Its yearly accumulation of 300 inches of powder and claim of 300 days of sunshine combined with its no-traffic, no-waits low-key locale is one of the reasons Telluride, nestled in a box canyon in the San Juan mountains of southwest Colorado, has become a second-home destination for Hollywood A-listers, media moguls, venture capitalists and tech giants. Another reason is the availability of properties such as Paradiso, located in a gated community just 10 minutes from Telluride’s private airport and 12 minutes from both the town and the ski lifts. With 12,452 square feet of living space, six bedrooms, eight full bathrooms and one partial bathroom set on 35 acres, this home is, as Bill Fandel of Telluride Sotheby’s International Realty describes it, “powerful, forward-leaning architecture that is serene in its setting.” Renowned architect Eric Cummings designed this home as a small enclave that showcases the best in sophisticated contemporary design. The 360-degree views of the meadows and mountains that surround it are stunning, whether you’re relaxing beside the oversize reflecting pond, sipping wine further down the hillside in the lounging area overlooking the San Miguel River, hosting guests by the fire pit on yet another patio, watching the kids and adults play on the built-in outdoor trampoline or simply sitting outside the master bedroom at night, taking in the grandeur of the Milky Way above you.
Inside is no less grand, from the dramatic center-pivot glass door that greets you upon arrival to the stunning views from every room and the easy access to indoor-outdoor living found throughout the space. The interior features custom materials from around the world. The kitchen features top-chef-worthy custom Bulthaup cabinets, top-ofthe-line appliances, a bar for casual relaxation and an outdoor galley for easy entertaining. Open spaces throughout the home that are perfect for larger gatherings mix with more intimate living spaces. Each of the spacious guest bedrooms and attached bath has its own style, including double-bed bunk beds in the modern take on a bunkhouse, but even those rooms are dwarfed by the master bedroom with its expansive master bath that includes a one-of-a-kind limestone tub. Multiple media rooms can be found throughout the home along with a wine room that can hold 500 bottles, a fitness room and indoor and outdoor spas as well as a home salon. There’s literally everything you need for the perfect getaway. When you do venture out of the enclave, there’s an amazing wealth of amenities to enjoy. The town of Telluride may be tiny, only four blocks by eight blocks in size, but according to Fandel, the range of activities you can enjoy in his adopted hometown is huge. It starts, of course, with the skiing. This one-time silver mining town that’s also home to the first bank that Butch Cassidy robbed has become a world-class ski destination in its own right, winning best ski resort accolades from publications such as Ski Magazine, Conde Nast, Travel Paradiso: Telluride, CO
26 / THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015
+ Leisure and Forbes. The slopes, which are reached from town by a free, wind-powered gondola, offer runs for everyone from beginners to experts, including in-bounds hike-to terrain and snowboarding areas, making it a perfect family destination. An added bonus is that Telluride’s location limits the number of skiers who make the trek from the more populated areas of the state. As a result, you’ll spend more time on the slopes than in line. And if you want a break from those same slopes, there’s everything from Nordic skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing to ice skating, sledding and winter fly-fishing.
Park City: modern living
Come summer, those same mountains are home to equestrian, mountain biking and hiking trails; rivers and lakes for fishing, rafting, kayaking and stand up paddle boarding; and the highest concentration of 13,000- and 14,000-foot peaks in the state. Closer to home are tennis and squash courts. You can also test your golf skills on a course that is more than a mile high. In addition to its ski accolades, Telluride has also gained recognition for its historic small-town atmosphere and restaurants, which are as world-class as it’s ski slopes. Festivals celebrating everything from mushrooms to music run almost non-stop through the summer and the area is also home to live theater, art galleries and spa offerings for when you need to take a break. You can even bring your dogs; there are options for dog sitting for when you’re out playing.
Park City: Seamless indoor/outdoor living
Paradiso: 360-degree views
PARK CITY: FROM SILVER MINES TO GOLD MEADOWS The world took notice of Park City, Utah, when the town that began life thanks to the silver mines in the area became the site of the 2002 Olympic Games, the most successful of any of the Winter Olympics. Since then, the town has built on that success to become a year-round destination with some of the best skiing in the Rocky Mountains at its two world-class resorts, the cozy Deer Valley Resort and the much larger Park City Mountain, which merged with neighboring Canyons Resort this past summer as part of Vail Properties.
Paradiso: The best in mountain living
It’s also become a second-home destination for more and more Bay Area residents, thanks to its easy access from Salt Lake’s International airport, and homes such as this contemporary stunner with rustic highlights that overlooks Park City and sits adjacent to miles of hiking and biking trails. With six bedrooms, eight bathrooms and 8,600 square feet of living space, it’s the perfect year-round retreat. Everything about the home was designed with meticulous attention to details, according to Scott Maizlish of Summit Sotheby’s International Realty. Many homes claim killer views, but in this case the architect used astronomical tracking software to site the house so there’s no doubt that you have the best vista possible when overlooking Park City. To make the most of the location, the home opens to the outdoors with a patio off the downstairs family room and balconies off the rooms above. Continued on Page 28 THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015 / 27
Light and airy in Park City
The design of the home combines modern lines and Craftsman-style details with a façade that blends rock and stone with steel, stucco and wood. Inside, it’s a light and airy space that includes vaulted ceilings lined with wood, walls of windows and three fireplaces. It’s also a space where no expense was spared, from the Portuguese wine cellar and $300-a-yard carpeting to the custom cedar-lined sauna off the master bath and the metal details throughout that were fabricated on the site. There’s plenty of space for lavish entertaining, but at the same time there’s plenty of intimate spaces such as the family room off the kitchen for relaxing with family and close friends. It’s all within a five-minute drive to the slopes in winter and down the street from an extensive network of mountain biking and hiking trails for summer fun. Skiing is a major draw during the winter months, with snowboarding close behind and tubing, hot-air balloon excursions and sleigh rides as fun low-key alternatives. The world-class athletes who train in the area can also inspire you; if Park City were a nation, it would have placed 10th in the medal counts during the past Winter Olym-
pics. It’s not unusual to find yourself hobnobbing with medal winners in a number of different sports or taking a break from your own time on the slopes to watch World Cup events as they unfold. If you’re looking to branch out to something with more of an adrenaline rush, you can also try out the bobsled run at the Olympic venue. For Maizlish, Park City is an often-overlooked gem, especially if you’re looking for a place to go during the rest of the year. It starts with the 450 miles of single-track mountain biking trails that are part of the first gold-certified trail system in the world. It continues with options for hiking and water sports, with the added advantage of no bugs and no humidity in the summer. Once you’re off the slopes or the bikes, you can take in the festivals, roam the galleries or simply enjoy the variety of restaurants—and, yes, says Maizlish, you can get alcohol, even in Utah. The town also boasts a cosmopolitan atmosphere, thanks in part to the Sundance Film Festival that is held there every year. If you want to branch out, Salt Lake City is an easy half hour away by car.
FINDING YOUR WAY If it’s time to think about second-home or vacation options in the Rocky Mountains, both Telluride and Park City are easily accessible, both in terms of flying there and in terms of getting around once you arrive. Telluride might be quite a drive from Denver, but it’s only 70 miles from the commercial airport in Montrose and only minutes from the smaller airport (with killer views of the slopes) that handles
28 / THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015
private planes and general aviation just outside Telluride itself. Park City is about a half-hour drive from the airport at Salt Lake City, which is being rebuilt with better services. Rental cars or car services are readily available once you arrive at either airport, and once you’re in town, both towns are easy to navigate with or without a car.
ELEMENTS OF BEAUTY TELLURIDE COLORADO
115 Francisco Way
Nestled deep within the rarest assemblage of nearly 300 acres of rolling meadows and mature forest, just 12 minutes from the historic town of Telluride, this rare estate offers the ultimate retreat for those seeking privacy, scenic beauty and serenity.
$59,000,000
TELLURIDE COLORADO
851 Wilson Way
Gracefully set upon one of the most dramatic 35-acre sites in the spectacular Telluride region, this masterpiece of contemporary design is unmatched in its setting, quality, and design. $39,100,000
TELLURIDE COLORADO
The BBR
A truly exceptional opportunity to own one of the Rocky Mountain’s finest recreational ranches on over 1,400 breathtaking acres, located just 13 miles from the legendary resort town of Telluride. $45,000,000
TELLURIDE COLORADO
146 Hood Park
Inspired by the finest villas of the Dolomites and Tuscany, this dramatic stone residence is the most authentic example of traditional Italian design in the Telluride region, set directly slope-side with private ski-in/ski-out access.
$12,750,000 BILL FANDEL TELLURIDE SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY +1 970 708 4141 BILL.FANDEL@SOTHEBYSREALTY.COM TELLURIDELUXURYPROPERTIES.COM
SHAKESPEARE RANCH TAHOELEGACY.COM
606 LAKESHORE BOULEVARD INCLINELAKESHORE.COM
535 LODGEPOLE LAKETAHOEWATERVIEW.COM
1580 VIVIAN LANE LAKETAHOEVILLA.COM
BUYTAHOEHOMES.COM
Each office is independently owned and operated.
2219 LANDS END ROAD GLENBROOKLAKEVIEW.COM
591 PINTO COURT TAHOE-LAKEVIEWS.COM
471 EAGLE DRIVE LAKETAHOEVIEWHOME.COM
790 FAIRVIEW BOULEVARD TAHOECUSTOMHOME.COM
Lexi Cerretti 775.833.1646 | Claudia Thompson 775.233.4014
PROPERTIES OF NOTE
Owning a Piece of Tahoe History TWO UNIQUE PROPERTIES THAT SPEAK TO TAHOE’S PAST AND PRESENT
I
BY MARIANNE LIPANOVICH
t’s rare when a historic property comes on the market around Lake Tahoe. Yet Sierra Sotheby’s International Realty has not only one, but two such properties currently available. Both Shakespeare Ranch in Glenbrook on the Nevada side of the lake and the Squaw Valley Homestead in Squaw Valley give buyers unbelievable views, acres of land and easy access to the recreational activities, cultural events and entertainment Tahoe is famous for. What truly makes each of these properties special, though, is the two different but equally important roles they played in the development of the Tahoe area into a destination playground.
Shakespeare Ranch’s Horse Stable
32 / THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015
Shakespeare Ranch’s Entertainment Barn
LUXURY PROPERTY FOR TODAY’S PIONEER Co-listing agent Lexi Cerretti describes Shakespeare Ranch as having a view “like you’d find in Montana,” thanks to its 130 acres that includes more than 200 feet of lakefront property that hasn’t changed much since Tahoe pioneer D. L. Bliss first set up his sawmill on the property in the 1800s. It qualifies as Tahoe’s oldest settlement, and while the family eventually moved the sawmill, they replaced it with the Glenbrook Inn, which four generations of the family operated from 1907 until 1976.
family, with more than 34,000 square feet of living space including 15 bedrooms and 16 full baths in cottages scattered throughout the property, the ranch also includes an indoor pool and steam spa, outdoor hot tub, full gym, art loft, office, horse stables, a hobby farm with a green house, vegetable gardens and animal enclosures. The shared
community pier has a launch service to the five private boat buoys. The 5,000-square-foot Entertainment Barn is something special, even for this property. Built in 1873, it was moved to the Ranch and remodeled to include an entertainment bar, gourmet kitchen and glass-enclosed loft with chilled wine storage.
Since that time, the current owners have turned the property into a destination in itself. Large enough to host the biggest
Paulsen Ranch’s Indoor Pool
SQUAW VALLEY’S BIRTHPLACE On the opposite side of the lake, the land that Squaw Valley’s founding family has cherished and safeguarded since the 1940s is now on the market as well, giving a dedicated buyer the rare opportunity to continue the thoughtful blend of development and conservation that has been the hallmark of the resort’s history. The almost 30-acre Homestead Ranch has been home to the Poulsen family since ski pioneer and visionary Wayne Poulsen and his wife Sandy bought 640 acres in the valley in 1943 and spent the summer living in a tent by the side of the creek. Poulsen dreamed of creating a world-class ski area, a dream that came true when Squaw Valley hosted the 1960 Olympic Winter Games. At the same time,
Squaw Valley’s Poulsen Ranch is nearly 30 acres.
Wayne and Sandy, who were raising their eight children in the community, continued to buy land in the valley and played a prominent role in shaping the area, balancing development with protecting the environment and saving the meadow they loved. “In many ways, the Poulsens defined the character of the valley,” co-listing agent Tamara McKinney said when announcing the sale. “He was one of the few early giants in the industry able to find that perfect balance between carefully developing facilities and amenities while keeping pristine the very traits that brought people here in the first place.”
The Homestead Ranch property includes that original campsite by the creek and the dream home the family built on the property. The 5,425-square-foot chalet-style home includes four bedrooms and four and a half baths and is the ideal mountain property, with large stone fireplaces, massive redwood beams, wrought-iron accents and expansive windows that take in the views of the open meadows and pine and aspen forests that surround it. In keeping with Wayne and Sandy Poulsen’s approach of development combined with conservation, the property also offers more than 14 acres zoned for high-density residential use with over 13 acres zoned as a conservation preserve and an acre-plus of forest recreation.
For more information on these properties, contact Tamara McKinney at tamara@tamaramckinney.com for the Squaw Valley property, and Lexi Cerretti at lexi.cerretti@sothebysrealty.com or Claudia Thompson at claudia.thompson@sothebysrealty.com for the Shakespeare Ranch property. THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015 / 33
POULSEN RANCH AT SQUAW VALLEY “The Last Best Ski Property�
The last significant landholding at the base of an internationally recognized ski resort.
One contiguous, level parcel situated at the base of Squaw Valley California, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics. This extraordinary 29.6-acre enclave is the ultimate canvas for building something truly unique in the heart of a world-class, four season resort. Built and maintained by one of the founding families of Squaw Valley, this is a Legacy Property deserving of a new generation of visionaries. Price upon request.
TAMARA MCKINNEY
JEFF HAMILTON
CA BRE# 01451608
CA BRE# 01362610
530.412.0302
530.412.2645
Tamara@TamaraMcKinney.com
Jeff.Hamilton@sothebysrealty.com
Artfully uniting EXTRAORDINARY SKI HOMES with extraordinary lives.
PICTURED ABOVE, TOP TO BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT:
Northstar, $9,300,000 / Incline Village, $342,000 / Northstar, Price Upon Request / Tahoe Keys, $859,000 Squaw Valley, $5,450,000 / Alpine Meadows, $1,250,000 / Squaw Creek, $829,000
info@sierrasothebysrealty.com | sierrasothebysrealty.com
Incline Village 775.832.4900 Heavenly/Stateline 530.541.4002 South Lake Tahoe 530.494.7600
Squaw Valley 530.581.1800 Tahoe City Gallery 530.282.1436 Tahoe City Lakeside 530.583.4004
Tahoe Donner 530.587.3505 Downtown Truckee 530.587.3500 BRE# 01362610
Proud Member of
VINTAGE
The Ultimate Boy-Toy Destination: AutoVino BY LAURA NESS
Down a non-descript street in an industrial area of Menlo Park, you will find a very well-hidden winetasting destination that doubles as a multi-million-dollar storage locker for vintage automobiles and equally fine wines. A small sign for Woodside Cellars discreetly directs you to the back of the building, where you’ll spy a few car transport vehicles. You’ll then notice some barrels, a few grapevines, umbrellas, picnic tables and a pizza oven. You have no idea what awaits you inside this completely humble, non-descript exterior. Be prepared to gasp in amazement as you take in the sea of shining collector cars that await your viewing pleasure. 36 / THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015
Winemaker Brian Caselden’s Harley is stored in the barrel room.
AUTOVINO HOURS & INFO Winetasting + Pizza Saturdays and Sundays, year round, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with pizza for purchase Special barrel tastings twice yearly. Join the mailing list to receive updates. AutoVino is available for private events.
Winemaker and proprietor Brian Caselden
Rightfully so, this place has been referred to as a “boyfriend day care center,” with its fabulous display of fine automobiles that range from the latest million dollar plus hybrid Ferrari’s to vintage mighty muscle cars, all surrounded by barrels, with a very high-end modern wine press lurking in the background. It’s the only wine production facility I know that boasts flat screen TVs, a pool table, private lounges and meeting rooms. In the center is a wine bar, serving up Woodside Cellars wines by the glass and bottle and wood fired pizza every weekend. On Tuesdays and Fridays during the lunch hour they fire up the grill for wine club members and neighbors and serve up tri-tip sandwiches that require the Woodside King’s Mountain Cabernet, and salmon salad that begs for the juicy Woodside Pinot Noir or the delightful 2013 Chardonnay that tastes like a whirlwind romp up Page Mill Road in a Maserati.
Tastings are $10, refundable with bottle purchases, and you’ll want to grab a bottle to enjoy outdoors in the charming wine garden or indoors, as you watch the light play off the haunches of a vintage roadster. We asked winemaker and proprietor, Brian Caselden of Woodside Cellars, who happens to own a beautifully appointed Harley, how he ended up here, amidst all this off-thehook horsepower. He explains that original owner of Woodside Vineyards, Bob Mullen, made wine beginning in 1960 at a property on King’s Mountain Road. When Woodside Cellars received its bond, it was the 125th winery in California to do so: now there are more than 5,000 wineries in the state! In 2010, Bob sold majority interest to Buff Giurlani, who, along with his business partner, Dick Burns, created AutoVino, combining winery operations with fine auto storage. One of Woodside Cellars’ original sources was a historic 24-acre vineyard called La Questa, up in the hills by Roberts Market. Although only two acres of that storied
Sip & dine next to a line-up of Ferrari’s
vineyard, which was initially planted by the legendary E.H. Rixford in 1884 from cuttings hand-carried from Chateau Margaux in France, remain, Caselden still has plenty of great vineyard sources to choose from in creating the 3,000 cases of wine he produces under the Woodside Cellars label. His core business is installing and maintaining forty-some vineyards in the back yards of homeowners throughout the hills of Portola Valley, Los Altos and Woodside. Most vineyards are under two acres in size, and the primary varietals are Chardonnay, Pinot and Cabernet: that’s what grows best here, and that’s what people want anyway. Caselden makes wine for most of his vineyard clients, and some of them take advantage of the wine storage options available on site. Grab some friends who love the sheen of a highly polished Porsche as much as they enjoy the bouquet of a fine Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet, and make an afternoon of it at AutoVino. There’s nothing else like it in the entire Silicon Valley.
Photos by Denise Donegan Kouzoujian Should you have a few cherished chariots lying about your stable that could use some personal pampering, consider storing them at AutoVino. For a mere $500 per month, your Bugatti can make eyes at the curvaceously sexy sheetmetal of an E-type Jag or challenge a neighboring Cobra to a mano a mano decibel-level contest. Storage options of $350 per month are available at the Redwood City location.
Wine storage lockers at AutoVino
Should you prefer to store vintage vino instead of auto, lockers holding up to 24 cases can be rented for $50 monthly, a solid steal. Fear not, though, it comes with full 24-hour surveillance camera security, and the ability to access your wines any time you wish. At your disposal are private lounges where you can enjoy your precious bottled bliss. There’s even a cigar lounge, a necessity in a big boy’s toyland. THE PENINSULA WINTER 2015 / 37
LOS ALTOS HILLS RETREAT PALO ALTO SCHOOLS
14700 Manuella Road, Los Altos Hills 14700Manuella.com
ATHERTON ESTATE 393 Atherton Avenue, Atherton 393atherton.com Offered at $9,995,000
OFFERED AT $3,998,000 MAIN HOUSE Beds 3 | Baths 2.5 Home ±3,285 sf Lot ±22,880 sf
GUEST HOUSE Studio | Bath 1 | Kitchen Workshop: ±835 sf Wine Room: ±170 sf 2-car Garage: ±580 sf
CRESCENT PARK 725 Center Drive, Palo Alto 725center.com Offered at $4,998,000
Downtown Palo Alto 728 Emerson Street, Palo Alto | 650.644.3474 Downtown Menlo Park 640 Oak Grove Avenue, Menlo Park | 650.847.1141 dreyfussir.com | Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.
Co-listed with Peter Giovannotto 650.464.1403 | peterg@dreyfussir.com
PORTOLA VALLEY
183 Vista Verde Way, Portola Valley 183vistaverde.com
Offered at $3,995,000 Bedrooms 4 | Full Baths 3 | Half Bath 1 Home ±4,680 sf | Lot ±40,616 sf
ATHERTON 75 Reservoir Road, Atherton 75reservoir.com Offered at $9,950,000
DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY Miller Pond, Gilroy millerpondgilroy.com Offered at $5,500,000
MICHAEL DREYFUS, BROKER 650.485.3476 michael.dreyfus@dreyfussir.com
NOELLE QUEEN, SALES ASSOCIATE 650.427.9211 noelle.queen@dreyfussir.com
ASHLEY BANKS, SALES ASSOCIATE 650.544.8968 ashley.banks@dreyfussir.com
License No. 01121795
License No. 01917593
License No. 01913361
Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty agents proudly support the following organizations:
NCEFT
Downtown Palo Alto 728 Emerson Street, Palo Alto 650.644.3474 Downtown Menlo Park 640 Oak Grove Avenue, Menlo Park 650.847.1141 DREYFUSSIR.COM | Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.