Robert Mondavi's Napa home set for auction
Robert Mondavi is the man who put Napa Valley wines on the map, and his innovative techniques and flair for marketing made the wine label famous around the world. He passed away in 2008, leaving his sprawling estate to his heirs, and they put it on the market for a cool $25 million. Two years later, the home is set to hit the auction block with a reserve price of just $13.9 million - an $11 million discount.
The 11,500 square foot home sits on 56 acres of land in Napa, Calif., and features 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains. The home was designed by renowned architect Cliff May, considered by many to be the father of the modern California Ranch home. In addition to stunning views and two acres of land suitable for growing grapes, the home offers an open floor plan that is perfect for entertaining guests.
The home's finishes are impeccable throughout, but a few of the most notable features include an iconic Cliff May fireplace, a 50-foot indoor swimming pool and a wood-burning oven reminiscent of those in the Mondavi family's native Italy. The walls are hand-troweled artisan stucco both inside and out, and there are travertine marble floors throughout most of the house. To combat cold feet, these floors are warmed with radiant heat.
Not surprisingly, the home offers extensive wine storage, and plans detailing the construction of new caves are available to the next owner.
If there's one down side to the Mondavi estate, it's the bedroom situation - the home currently has only two bedrooms, one of which is the master. The other is a lower-level second bedroom that was previously used for household help.
Charles Sawday, a broker with Pacific Union International, assures Zillow and potential buyers there will be renderings that show how two additional bedrooms and a bath can be added. According to Sawday, it can be done "without interrupting the integrity of the structure. It can be done under the existing roof."
The $13.9 million price tag is certainly big for a two-bedroom home, but buyers interested in a home like this have cash to spare. In fact, the brochure provided by the Sheldon Good real estate auction house assures the multi-millionaire clientele they won't have to worry about where to park their airplanes. The home is "20 minutes to the Napa County Airport, with capacity for large private jets including the Boeing 737."
To get an idea of what it would be like to fly over the estate in your private plane, check out the Mondavi Auction site. The video gives viewers a peek into the size and span of this enormous Napa Valley property.
If you think this property would be perfect for you and you've got the cash to spend, prepare your sealed bid and send it to the auction house -- just make sure you have the money to close the deal. Proof of income is required even to view the property.
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