Dreyfus Peninsula Volume 3 Issue 1

LUXURY HOMES AND LIFESTYLES AROUND THE PENINSULA / SUMMER 2016

The

PENINSULA

THE NEW FAMILY COMPOUND SO YOU WANT A BEACH HOUSE? SUMMER CONCERTS IN THE PARK

TSSIR.COM NEW! Anytime Info For recorded information or to speak to the listing agent, call 208.449.0071 and use the 5-digit property code.

ThunderMtnWildlifeEstate.com $4,495,000 #15649 Moyie Springs, Idaho 83845

AlmostIdahoScenicRanch.com $6,950,000 #15729 Newport, Washington 99156

PremierLogEstate.com $3,990,000 #10029 Rathdrum, Idaho 83858

SunnysideWaterfrontEstate.com $3,295,000 #11189 Sandpoint, Idaho 83864

La-ZPackRanch.com SunriseBayLakefront.com $1,975,000 #11919 $1,775,000 #11429 Selle Valley-Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 Lake Pend Oreille-Sagle, Idaho 83860

LuxurySeasonsPenthouse.com $1,550,000 #11709 Sandpoint, Idaho 83864

HarmonyOnTheLake.com $1,495,000 #10849 Hope, Idaho 83836

BottleBayLuxuryWaterfront.com $1,199,000 #11959 Lake Pend Oreille-Sagle, Idaho 83860

WestwoodWaterfront.com $895,000 #13319 Sagle, Idaho 83860

BottleBayLakesideHome.com $894,900 #15159 Sagle, Idaho 83860

RiversideAtBaylorLane.com $849,000 #11079 Priest River, Idaho 83856

CampbellPointWaterfront.com $729,000 #10399 Laclede, Idaho 83841

WhiskeyJackLakefront.com $719,000 #10139 Sandpoint, Idaho 83864

HolidayShoresCondo.com $395,000 #11739 Hope, Idaho 83836

BigIdahoLodge.com $2,995,000 #15609 Bonners Ferry, Idaho 83805

B

Cindy Bond Associate Broker, Owner GRI, CRS

H

www.CindyBond.com

elping buyers and sellers see possibilities before they become obvious.

208.255.8360 | cindy.bond@sothebysrealty.com | 200 Main | Sandpoint

© MMVII Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Claude Monet’s “Red Boats at Argenteuil,” used with permission. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a licensed trademark to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated, Except Offices Owned And Operated By NRT Incorporated. Sandpoint office: 208-263-5101, 200 Main Street, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

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.

THE NEW FAMILY COMPOUND

15

Contents SUMMER 2016 6 19 SPOTLIGHT Q&A

Meet Rich Bassin 6 Green Living in Emerald Hills 9

10

ENTERTAINING

Beach Party: Classic Summer Fun

22

ARTS & CULTURE

LOCAL INSIGHTS

What Motivates the Chinese Buyer? 10 Summer Concerts in the Park 11

15

Why Prints Event

27

SPECIAL GETAWAYS

PROPERTY OF NOTE

The New Family Compound

So You Want a Beach House?

34

VINTAGE

A String of Vineyard Pearls

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.

Founder Michael Dreyfus Publisher/Sales Sandie Timm

The

Managing Editor Toni Sieling

Contributing Writers Laura Ness, Kathy Cordova, Marianne Lipanovich

Creative Director Phong Giang

Contributing Photographers Denise Donegan Kouzoujian, Allie Foraker

Printer HomeFolio Media

Distribution Susan Foster

PENINSULA

Finance Manager Lacey Ragland

Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty 728 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA 94301 | 640 Oak Grove Ave, Menlo Park, CA 94025

Just reduced to $8,500,000

ATH E RTO N E STATE 393 Atherton Avenue, Atherton | 393atherton.com

Beds 5 | Baths 9 Home ±7,649 sf | Lot ±1 acre

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.

Just reduced to $8,500,000

FAMILY COMPOUND OPPORTUNITY 75 Reservoir Road, Atherton | 75Reservoir.com

Beds 4 | Baths 3 Home ±2,740 sf | Lot ±3.47 acres

MICHAEL DREYFUS Broker

NOELLE QUEEN Sales Associate

ASHLEY BANKS Sales Associate

650.485.3476 michael.dreyfus@dreyfussir.com

650.427.9211 noelle.queen@dreyfussir.com

650.544.8968 ashley.banks@dreyfussir.com

License No. 01121795

License No. 01917593

License No. 01913361

Meet Rich Bassin

SPOTLIGHT

Q&A

Atherton’s Luxury Real Estate Broker Rich Bassin, Broker, knows luxury real estate. Named one of The Wall Street Journal’s Top 100 Realtors nationwide, he has represented nearly $1 billion in residential and commercial sales throughout his 35-plus year career.

Rich’s success stems from an unmitigated commitment to his clients and an unrivaled understanding of the Silicon Valley Corridor real estate market.

We caught up with him to find out what The Peninsula readers need to know about Atherton’s housing market.

You’ve been selling real estate for 35 years. How did you choose this career or how did it find you?

I graduated from UC Berkeley in 1973 and there was a significant recession underway. Graduate school was an option, but expensive, and I hadn’t found any field of study compelling. Four years of economics was enough.

A friend, who had mentored me, was involved in real estate and suggested I might enjoy selling. He encouraged me to pursue joining a small real estate office in Palo Alto. An hour into the interview I was hooked. I wanted to start the next day. I felt certain I could learn the business and I loved the concept of being an independent contractor.

6 / THE PENINSULA SUMMER 2016

How did you get your start?

What advice do you have for buyers?

I sat at my new desk looking at my phone and all the real estate ads and listening to others conduct business. I was itching to engage and had no clue as to how to meet my first client. My manager suggested I try knocking on doors, his logic being I had nothing to lose. I was just naive enough to think people were waiting for agents to come to them. It was plain good luck that the first door I knocked on, the owners wanted to sell, and had no idea how to get started.

First, locate a great agent and make sure you both understand your goals and objectives. Then the both of you should study and understand the marketplace, explore the comparable sales, see all the properties you can, preferably more than once, then make your move.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received in this business?

Spend a few hours each day actually talking with clients and agents.

To what do you attribute your success?

Confidence that I can get the job done.

The confidence comes from knowing what the right thing is for my clients; knowing the techniques to close the deal. I know what my clients want because I ask them.

That’s important.

What are your favorite parts of the job?

What is unique about selling real estate in Atherton?

It’s ever changing, from the high I get from relating well with my clients and their knowing that I’m keeping their best interest in mind, all the way to negotiating — it’s all fun to me.

There are relatively few sales in Atherton compared to Menlo Park and Palo Alto. The barrier-to-entry selling homes in Atherton is high. The numbers are huge and the risks are substantial. It is expensive to gain a foothold here.

You have to spend considerable money marketing these homes and you have fewer transactions, so you have to have staying power. You have to develop relationships with other knowledgeable agents in Atherton along with builders and you have to know the people who live here.

What do you do outside of real estate?

When I was younger it was watching over my six kids and playing handball — perhaps the most fun athletically I’ve ever had. Recently my wife and I built a new second home in the Santa Lucia Preserve and that was a great experience. Now my wife, dog and I split our time between the Preserve and playing golf.

Why Atherton?

Atherton was a natural market for me.

I lived there for 25 years; my best client builds some of the best homes in Atherton and my friends live and play nearby.

How has Atherton changed over the years?

Atherton was sleepier 25 years ago.

There were fewer transactions and smaller homes. There were large estates, for sure, but mostly there were simple ranchers. Like the rest of the Valley the pace was slower.

Construction is fast paced. You cannot go down a street without seeing homes under construction. In the “old days” most of the homes were less than 5,000 square feet.

Now, the new construction is closer to 10,000 square feet. There are basements, theatres, guest houses…

How has it stayed the same?

The town itself is still a mostly a low profile town — just a few public administration buildings and a small post office.

Commercial business is still not allowed, although there are plans to build a large library and new city administration building. It will always be a wonderful place to live and raise a family.

All homes pictured were recently sold in Atherton by Rich Bassin.

RICH BASSIN Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty 650.400.0502 rich.bassin@sothebysrealty.com richbassin.com License No. 00456815

123 Austin Avenue, Atherton $12,950,000 | SOLD

190 Almendral Avenue, 400 Selby Lane, Atherton Atherton $19,950,000 | SOLD $8,750,000 | FOR SALE THE PENINSULA SUMMER 2016 / 7

O F F M A R K E T PA LO A LTO H I LL S 4100 OLD ADOBE ROAD, PALO ALTO | 4100OLDADOBE.COM Offered at $3,998,000 | Beds 3 | Baths 2.5 | Home ±2,640 sf | Lot ±1 acre • Two-car detached garage and spacious driveway can provide additional outdoor living space.

• Ample light from the sliding glass door and open beam ceiling give a spacious feeling to the living room.

• An Italian marble fireplace serves as the focal point of the living room. An additional fireplace is located in the family room.

• Sliding glass door allows easy access to the backyard from the lower level bedrooms.

• The wrap-around deck stretches around the home.

• Rear views from the home include mature trees and sweeping views of Silicon Valley.

• The backyard has been apportioned into a smaller hedge-lined space and an ample lower yard with many possible uses. Space abounds on this approximately 1 acre corner lot.

• Close to Top Palo Alto Schools: Lucille M. Nixon Elementary, Terman Middle, Henry M. Gunn High (buyer to confirm enrollment) • Shopping and dining are nearby in the quaint downtown of Los Altos.

• Closely located to major Silicon Valley companies and has easy access to Highway 280.

FABIANE MALUCHNIK Sales Associate 650.274.9744 fabiane@dreyfussir.com BayAreaFabiane.Realtor Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

License No. 01860256

Green Living in Emerald Hills

SPOTLIGHT

Q&A

Susan Tanner, Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty

Far above the bustle of Silicon Valley, with sweeping views of bays, mountains and bridges, Susan Tanner makes her home, a peaceful haven and urban farm with an abundance of fruit trees, vegetable gardens and chickens who have names. Although it’s only 20 minutes from Palo Alto, it seems a world away.

Susan says, “I feel like I am on vacation whenever I walk into our home.”

What drew you to this place?

We were happily living in Menlo Park, not looking to move at all, and I came out to see if this property would work for a client to buy. It didn’t work for them, but I was totally intrigued by the view and the old house and the sunny yard, so I brought my husband up to see it. We never had a view like this before and did not even know we wanted it, but now it would be impossible to imagine not having it.

What do you grow?

So many things! We have a small orchard of fruits with everything from kiwis to mandarins. We grow vegetables according to the season. To name a few, we now have tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers, and in the winter we grow kale, leeks and onions.

You are living pretty “green” here. What inspired that?

When I made the change in my career from law 10 years ago, I had more time for gardening and it all grew out of that. Once you

start growing what you eat, you pay attention. You don’t want to use pesticides. You take note of what they are selling in the grocery stores. When you grow food year round with only organic methods, it’s really funny how different it looks from the produce you buy in grocery stores — and how much better it tastes.

What are some of the things you do to live “green?”

We have electric cars, rain barrels, solar panels, and we hang our laundry out to dry. One of the big selling points of the house was that the laundry room was on the ground floor, only a few steps out to the clothesline. Our next project is to convert the washing machine to use the water for landscaping.

How can people get to know Emerald Hills?

The properties here are so different. Some are small and steep with no views, and others have big, beautiful yards with spectacular views. The best way to learn about the neighborhood is to walk it.

Or call me and I’ll show you around!

SUSAN TANNER Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty 650.255.7372 susan.tanner@dreyfussir.com susantannerhomes.com License No. 01736865

1188 Clark Street, San Jose $1,950,000 | SOLD

735 Hillcrest Way, Emerald Hills $1,699,000 | SOLD

140 Forest Lane, Menlo Park $2,300,000 | SOLD

THE PENINSULA SUMMER 2016 / 9

LOCAL INSIGHTS

What Motivates the Chinese Buyer?

BY GLORIA YOUNG

Summer is just around the corner as we enter June. What was traditionally a quiet period for residential real estate sales on the Peninsula has changed over the past years.

Chinese buyers often visit in the summer to buy real estate.

“What motivates the Chinese buyer to buy around here?” is an understandable question to anyone thinking of buying or selling a home these days. In 2014, 37.4 percent of the Bay Area population of three million were foreign-born, of which 15 percent (or roughly 170,000) are from China or Taiwan. What draws Chinese buyers to our community?

Aside from the temperate weather and easy access to China, the biggest attraction for many Chinese immigrants are the wonderful schools. Education is the number one priority for most families.

Stanford University is the most desired school for most Chinese. I have clients who have bought homes in Palo Alto in anticipation of their children’s acceptance to Stanford. They are often wholeheartedly committed to this positive vision of their family’s future.

Spending a couple of weeks in the summer camps — like Camp Galileo, sports camps at Stanford and dance camps — is often the highlight of a Chinese family’s year.

As the children get older, more academic programs like the Center for Talented Youth at Stanford (CTY) and Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG) at Berkeley are popular.

Mothers (typically) of these children spend their summers in the Bay Area looking after their children while the fathers are working overseas. They gather to exchange notes on their summer camp experiences.

It’s not uncommon to discuss buying a home in the Bay Area as an investment, a home for their kids’ future education, or as a summer home; many fall in love with our community’s obvious attractions.

Who wouldn’t?

The “all cash Chinese buyers” might seem mysterious and private, but they share the same goals as us locals — to provide their children a safe environment (clean air and safe food) and the best education. They are often senior executives in China’s equivalents of Facebook and Google, and see the same entrepreneurial culture here as back home. And they are often status

Stanford University is a desired school for many Chinese buyers moving to Silicon Valley.

conscious, desiring to live their dream life in a tree-lined community with the cachet of a Palo Alto or Atherton. So they are, in the end, just like us, striving to give the best to their children in a caring and nurturing community.

GLORIA YOUNG Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty 650.380.9918 gloria@gloriayounghomes.com gloriayounghomes.com License No. 01895672 10 / THE PENINSULA SUMMER 2016

89 Almendral Ave, Atherton $11,088,000 | SOLD

1975 Webster Street, Palo Alto $6,600,000 | SOLD

1730 Webster Street, Palo Alto $5,650,000 | SOLD

LOCAL INSIGHTS

Summer Concerts in the Park

BY ANNETTE SMITH

The music is an eclectic mix of jazz, blues, country, soul, disco and pop. Matt Milde, Menlo Park Recreation Coordinator begins vetting bands in November, and the competition is fierce, with about 100 bands vying for the four or five slots allocated for new groups.

The Star Kings, a Beatles tribute band and crowd favorite, are playing at this year’s kick-off concert. Two newcomers to the series are Long Train Runnin’, a Doobie Brothers tribute, and Hairstrike, an 80s hair band. Although Milde produces 15–20 events each year for Menlo Park, the concert series is one of his favorites. “Fremont Park is very intimate,” he said. “It may be packed with people, but you still get that community feel.”

TA

CR UZ

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MENLO PARK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES JUNE 15–AUGUST 10

SA N

Wednesdays, 6:30–8 p.m.

Fremont Park, Menlo Park

FR PA EMO RK N T

One of my favorite things about living in Menlo Park, and one of the highlights of my year, is the Summer Concert Series at Fremont Park. I love seeing my neighbors and clients there, enjoying a fun, relaxing night grooving to great music. A group of my long-time friends have a tradition of gathering for each concert and bringing a dish and wine to share.

And the best part? It’s all free! Well, for you, at least. I love the event so much that I am a sponsor every year.

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6/15 The Sun Kings / Beatles Tribute 6/22 William Russ Jr. / Soul 6/29 Cocktail Monkeys / Pop/Disco 7/13 Long Train Runnin’ / Doobie Brothers Tribute 7/20 Hairstrike / 80’s Hair Band 7/27 Whee the People / Indie Soul 8/3 Vintage Jukebox / Jazz 8/10 Mister Wonderful / Dance For more information, visit menlopark.org or call 650.330.2200.

Photos courtesy of the City of Menlo Park.

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 | SOLD

9 Bishop Lane, Menlo Park $3,275,000 | SOLD

25 Hallmark Circle, Menlo Park (rep buyer) $3,200,000 | SOLD

THE PENINSULA SUMMER 2016 / 11

Should we stay or sell?

We’ll show you the financial impact of selling before you put your house on the market. We model various mortgage scenarios to answer key questions like: • Can we buy a larger home, send our kids to college and retire on time?

• How does a larger home impact our cash flow?

• Should we pay a premium for a better school district?

Get in front of your move-up decision.

Contact us today for your Financial Review.

Help when you make the most important financial decisions of your life.

2875 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306 | 650.319.1600 | opesadvisors.com 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 Regulated by the Division of Real Estate, Idaho MBL8530, Montana Mortgage Lender License #235584, Oregon ML4902, Washington CL1178435, Wyoming #2667 and NMLS 235584. Equal Housing Opportunity Lender. Opes Advisors is a registered investment advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). © 2016 Opes Advisors, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

ATHERTON OASIS

196 PATRICIA DRIVE, ATHERTON

JUST LEASED FOR $18,000 / MONTH

JUST LEASED 286 WILLOWBROOK DRIVE

252 COLORADO AVENUE

166 ALMENDRAL AVENUE

PORTOLA VALLEY

PALO ALTO

ATHERTON

COMING SOON SOUTH OF SEMINARY

SHARON HEIGHTS

SOUTHGATE

MENLO PARK

MENLO PARK

PALO ALTO

5 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms 2,620 Sq Ft | 6,300 Sq Ft Lot

4 Bedrooms | 2.5 Bathrooms 2,930 Sq Ft | 15,000 Sq Ft Lot

4 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms 2,250 Sq Ft | 5,775 Sq Ft Lot

Listings and Sales • Leasing and Luxury Property Management Investment Properties • Tax Strategies for Selling OMAR KINAAN Realtor ® 650.776.2828 omar@kinaan.com Each office is independently owned and operated.

License No. 01723115

JUST SOLD BEAUTIFUL PORTOLA VALLEY VIEWS THROUGHOUT 4 COALMINE VIEW, PORTOLA VALLEY | 4COALMINE.COM 3 Bedrooms plus sitting area / office adjacent to master bedroom Listed at $2,598,000 | 2 Bathrooms | Home ±2,350 sf | 2-Car Garage

Experience the dramatic entry, wood beam ceilings, gorgeous living room and captivating views of this Portola Valley Ranch home.

Portola Valley Ranch offers choice amenities including a clubhouse, exercise facility, two swimming pools, tennis courts, community garden, vineyard, children’s play area and expansive hiking trails.

MARY JO MCCARTHY Realtor ® 650.400.6364 maryjo.mccarthy@dreyfussir.com maryjomccarthy.com Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

License No. 01354295

PROPERTY OF NOTE

I

The New Family Compound

BY MARIANNE LIPANOVICH

t’s an old idea that’s been revived. Instead of scattering, families are moving closer together, living in the same neighborhood or even on the same property. As with every revival, though, there is a twist. In the past, a family compound might be a multigenerational farmhouse, a two-flat brownstone, a duplex or a vacation home.

Today, it’s just as likely to be a multi-acre property that contains several substantial and permanent homes that are spread out for privacy but tied together by amenities.

For those with older relatives, a family compound provides the reassurance of proximity while still allowing for independence and the ability to age in place. For those whose children might want to stay in the area, it’s an opportunity to invest in land that might be too expensive or simply unavailable in the future. If extended family visits are frequent, it’s a way to provide privacy for all. Most of all, it allows you to create a place where family members can spend time together on a regular basis, even if you no longer need the space on a daily basis. As one empty-nester says, “It’s a chance to create a family gathering place.”

Finding the right place for a family compound does require extra diligence before buying.

Your chosen property should encourage regular interaction between family groups while allowing enough space for individual autonomy. The existing homes may need major renovations or may even need to be replaced. Zoning regulations may limit your options, so confirming beforehand that your plans are feasible is essential. The land itself may be hard to come by. However, being patient and flexible can open up a surprising range of possibilities and approaches, such as these three local properties.

THE PENINSULA SUMMER 2016 / 15

A FAMILY HOME IN WEST ATHERTON Creating private spaces doesn’t always require separate buildings. This turn-of-the-19th century historic home on two acres on Selby Lane is approximately 11,000 square feet in size with seven bedrooms and six-plus baths, so there’s plenty of space for family togetherness plus room to escape if the multiple generations prove to be too much. The property even includes an almost 1,200-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bath carriage house over one garage for those needing a bit more separation. And while the home is part of Atherton’s history, if the Tudor style isn’t yours, you can build your own dream home in its place.

120 Selby Lane, Atherton

A family compound allows you to create a place where family members can spend time together, even if you no longer need the space on a daily basis. As one empty-nester says, “It’s a chance to create a family gathering place.”

16 / THE PENINSULA SUMMER 2016

But for those who love a home with history, listing agent Mary Jo McCarthy is quick to point out that not only has this home housed three generations in the past, the layout with its separate servant quarters on both floors is ideally designed to carve out private, spacious private suites, complete with baths and sitting areas. All of this can be done without losing the original character and details of the home, which include generously sized rooms, multiple family areas, leaded glass windows and tray ceilings.

The outdoor space offers the same blend of togetherness and privacy. The home is surrounded by Thomas Church-designed gardens, with almost an acre of land between the house and the street. There’s plenty of open space, perfect for badminton and croquet, multiple gardens and patios, a one-room cottage as well as a pool and tennis courts and a viewing pavilion that connects the two. It adds up to the perfect family homestead.

The Selby Lane property is offered for sale by Mary Jo McCarthy of Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty. Reach her at 650.400.6364 or email maryjo.mccarthy@dreyfussir.com.

(Pages 15–16 background images: 120 Selby Lane, Atherton)

75 Reservoir Road, Atherton

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX IN THE ATHERTON HILLS When you get out of the center of town, lot sizes become larger and often much more interesting. That’s the case with this 3.47acre property on Reservoir Road above Alameda de las Pulgas.

It’s unique shape includes a creek wandering along part of its boundaries, with almost an acre of the land on a sloping section that could be almost a “tail” to the main parcel; listing agent Michael Dreyfus likens it to a teakettle.

Such an unusual space almost demands innovative thinking.

The majority of the property offers an opportunity for multiple dwellings, with space for a barn or even a vineyard tucked away.

For the adventurous, though, Dreyfus envisions taking the idea of a family compound to a different level and instead building a “deconstructed” house. “Imagine a regular house that’s pulled apart, with a central kitchen and living area but the other rooms, such as the master bedroom, separated by walkways and paths,” he says, adding that this is a good match for the temperate Peninsula climate. The rooms would “float” around the central area, providing closeness tempered by privacy for a contemporary take on family living.

The Reservoir Road property is offered for sale by Michael Dreyfus of Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty. Reach him at 650.485.3476 or email michael.dreyfus@dreyfussir.com.

160 Greer Road, Woodside

COUNTRY LIVING IN OLD WOODSIDE Finding a relatively flat, sunny space for building in Woodside can be a challenge. When the property consists of more than 10 acres near the village center and sits just below the hiking and horse trails of Huddart Park, it’s considered a find. As a place for a family compound, this parcel on Greer Road ticks all the boxes.

There’s a lot of land here and the options for using that land are surprisingly flexible, according to listing agents Shena Hurley and Susie Dews. Think of this as a country retreat with the advantage of easy accessibility to major roads, the location is perfect. It’s just down the road from Buck’s, Robert’s and local schools and a quick drive to both 280 and 101. At the same time, it’s almost hidden in plain sight, off a little-traveled side road that offers plenty of privacy and a clean slate to design a compound that works for you and your family, a main house, multiple accessory buildings and amenities from pools to tennis courts.

The property is also zoned to be subdivided, which provides even more opportunities for building a multigenerational space for now and the future.

The Greer Road property is offered for sale by Shena Hurley and Susie Dews of Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty.

Reach them at 650.575.0991 or 650.302.2639 or email shena.hurley@dreyfussir.com or susie.dews@dreyfussir.com.

(Background Image: 75 Reservoir Road, Atherton) THE PENINSULA SUMMER 2016 / 17

High-quality care for your family Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS) exists to support the well-being of all teens, tweens and young adults in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

ACS oers comprehensive on-campus and community counseling, substance abuse treatment, LGBTQQ support services and education programs.

Contact us: 650.424.0852 p 650.424.9853 f info@acs-teens.org

Adolescent Counseling Services 643 Bair Island Road, Suite 301 Redwood City, CA 94063

www.acs-teens.org

ENTERTAINING

Beach Party: Classic Summer Fun

BY TONI SIELING

When the Peninsula heats up into the 80s and 90s, there’s nothing better than heading over the hill to a comfortably warm and slightly breezy San Mateo County or Santa Cruz County beach.

There are plenty to choose from, so gather friends and family and head to the coast. If you’re also bringing your four-pawed family member, dogs are allowed at Bean Hollow State Beach in Pescadero, Mavericks Beach in Half Moon Bay or Its Beach in Santa Cruz.

Beach toys, a blanket to sit on, a cooler packed with food and drinks and sunscreen are the basics, but adding a few extras will make your outing even more enjoyable. An umbrella or a small tent provides shade for you and your cooler.

Grab a fitted sheet to set under your beach blanket: turn up the corners and put your coolers and bags in them to lift the sides of the sheet and keep the sand out. If you’re staying past sunset, scatter battery powered candles or lanterns around the edge.

Don’t forget the music. Create your own playlist from your favorite summer-inspired tunes or check out the summer playlists on Pandora or Spotify.

Keep your beach picnic simple with things that are easy to serve and can be held in

your hand. Let guests create their own perfect sandwiches by providing pre-sliced baguettes and offer a variety of toppings like hummus, creamy goat cheese, olive tapenade, onion marmalade or fig jam along with a variety of sliced meats.

Containers of fruit cut into cubes and wooden skewers let each guest build their own fruit kabob.

For a refreshing take on rehydration, make your own infused water. Simply fill a large mason jar with water and ice and add in sliced lemon, orange or cucumber and fresh mint.

Favorite beers or wine are always a hit with adults, but try mixing up a cool, beachy cocktail by combining vodka and your favorite tropical fruit juice. For the adult

version of a juice box, decant individual servings into Ziplock® bags and bring straws to fit through the top for a spillproof beach container. Of course, check the beach guidelines first to be sure alcohol is allowed.

If you’d like to party beside a bonfire for the evening, head for Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz where ten fire pits are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

You’ll need to get there early in the day to nab one. Don’t forget to bring the chocolate, marshmallows and graham crackers for S’mores. For an interesting twist, how about using peanut butter cups or peppermint patties instead of chocolate bars?

So as summer heats up, head to the coast for a day of sand, saltwater, sun and fun!

THE PENINSULA SUMMER 2016 / 19

PO RTO L A VA LLE Y R A N C H

3 S U N H I L L S T R EE T, P O RTO L A VA L L E Y Offered at $2,947,000 3 Bedrooms Plus a Study | 3 Bathrooms | Home ±3,270 sf | Lot ±31,799 sf One of the most spectacular views in Portola Valley is the starring attraction of this elegant and comfortable three bedroom, three bathroom home with a separate office. Almost every room in the house enjoys great views and opens to decks, creating perfect indoor / outdoor flow. The main living areas are on a single level, including the living / dining room, chef’s kitchen, and the master suite plus an additional bedroom and bath. Clerestory windows and skylights fill the home with sunshine. The lower level features a family room, large office, the third bedroom and bath and a 2,000 bottle wine cellar.

3SUNHILL .COM FOR PHOTO PORTFOLIO AND PROPERTY INFORMATION DAWN THOMAS 650.701.7822 team@SiliconValleyandBeyond.com SiliconValleyandBeyond.com

COLLEEN FORAKER 650.380.0085 colleen@colleenforaker.com ColleenForaker.com

License No. 01460529

License No. 01349099

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.

SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY Artfully uniting extraordinary properties with extraordinary lives HIGHLIGHTS OF RECENT ACTIVITY

246 Mountain Home Road

1806 Doris Drive

400 West Portola Avenue

103 Reservoir Road

511 Entrada Way

5 Sunhill Street

974 Continental Drive

2191 Gordon Avenue

675 Belden Court

127 O’Connor Street

942 Ormonde Drive

1675 Alameda de las Pulgas

COLLEEN FORAKER Realtor ® 650.380.0085 colleen@colleenforaker.com ColleenForaker.com Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

License No. 01349099

ARTS & CULTURE

Why Prints?

Earlier this year, Dreyfus Sotheby’s International Realty hosted their first gallery event; Why Prints? in partnership with Sotheby’s Auction House. The soaring, light-filled space on Oak Grove Avenue in Menlo Park offered the perfect backdrop for stunning artwork by famed printmakers Nathan Oliveira, Chris Ofili, Laura Owens, Ed Ruscha, Wayne Thiebaud and Charline von Heyl.

Along with the gallery-quality display of prints, the event featured a discussion of the history of printmaking by speakers Kathan Brown, founder of San Francisco’s worldrenowned Crown Point Press, Mary Bartow, Sotheby’s New York’s Head of Prints, and Karin Breuer, Curator in Charge at Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts at the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco.

PRINTMAKING AS AN ART FORM Printmaking as a technique started in the 4th century CE and was used to reproduce religious texts and manuscripts. Over time it became much more than a medium to preserve texts and became a new and original art form.

Just as da Vinci used a paintbrush and Rodin used a chisel, printmakers use a matrix (typically a copper plate) to transfer ink to sheets of paper. Although multiple prints may be made from each matrix, every print is considered an original rather than a copy. This is because each print varies to some extent due to the printmaking process. Multiple impressions printed from the same matrix form an edition. Artists generally sign and number individual impressions from the matrix to form a limited edition; the matrix is then destroyed to insure the integrity of the pieces.

Fine art collectors often start their collections with print due to their relative affordability (thousands of dollars compared to perhaps millions of dollars). And prints created by established artists tend to be safe investments.

For questions about printmaking or investing in prints, please contact Kathan Brown at 415.974.6273.

Background image from left to right: Chris Ofili’s Rainbow-Violet Narcissus, Rainbow-Orange Romo and Rainbow-Turquoise Duo. Photos by Allie Foraker.

22 / THE PENINSULA SUMMER 2016

TAHOE KEYS EXCLUSIVES SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA | UNITED STATES LIGHTHOUSE SHORES _____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ _ _____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____

Lakefront living on one of the world’s most beautiful and largest alpine lakes, Lake Tahoe, The Jewel of the Sierras. This home is located in one of the most desirable, gated-communities in South Shore and offers awesome 180⁰ views, private beach, and a private boat dock with an over-the-water platform near the West Channel to the Lake.   

Downstairs Living 3,306 Square Feet 4 Bedrooms / 4 Bathrooms $3,850,000

TAHOE MARINA SHORES _____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ _ _____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____ ___ ___ ____

Located at the water’s edge of beautiful Lake Tahoe, this townhome offers 180⁰ views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierras, and comes with a private boat slip. Soon to be a gated community, this section of townhomes is also known as the “Front Row,” and offers front row seats for viewing the firework shows, the many types of boats touring the Lake, and the beautiful sunrises and sunsets.   

Downstairs Living 1,558 Square Feet 3 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms

$1,698,000

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Located along the East Channel, this stunning and completely remodeled, contemporary-style townhome offers exquisite waterfront living with all the amenities and expectations of modern, mountain living. Soon to be a gated community, this townhome comes with a private boat slip, which offers quick and easy access to the Lake.   

Downstairs Living 1,560 Square Feet 3 Bedrooms / 2.5 Bathrooms $1,250,000

Linda Szendrey +1 530 314 9546

Linda.Szendrey@sothebysrealty.com TheKeysTahoe.com

550 & 560 SIERRA SUNSET LANE, ZEPHYR COVE, NEVADA Lakefront estate with 378’ sandy beach, private pier, hoist, 2 buoys on 31 acres.

Q&D built in 2004 with 8 en-suite bedrooms game room, theater, family room, gourmet kitchen, butler’s pantry, dining room, wine room, 2 offices, craft room, laundry room, mudroom and 4 car garage. Guest home with 4 car garage and 2 outbuildings. Equestrian barn with 15 stalls, paddocks and irrigated meadow.

Caretaker’s home and workshop. Extraordinary opportunity.

SierraSunsetTahoe.com

Lexi Cerretti

Dan Spano

775.833.1646 lexi.cerretti@sothebysrealty.com

530.318.1945 dan.spano@sothebysrealty.com Each office is independently owned and operated.

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Claudia Thompson 775.233.4014 claudia.thompson@sothebysrealty.com

TAHOELIVING365.COM Each office is independently owned and operated.

Monterey Dunes Colony

236 Monterey Dunes Way $1,100,000 | 2 Beds, 2 Baths

120 Monterey Dunes Way $1,175,000 | 3 Beds, 2 Baths

214 Monterey Dunes Way $1,195,000 | 3 Beds, 3 Baths

Pacific Ocean white water views from this spectacular ocean front beach home community.

Single Family Beach Homes on 125 acres of natural sand dunes, surrounded by World-Class Golf, Restaurants, and Shops. Enjoy Kayaking, fishing, body surfing, horseback riding, and fine dining.

HOA provides tennis courts, pool, spa, jacuzzi, sauna, volleyball, basketball, driving cage, putting green, bocce ball, and club room. Just 25 minutes to The Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, Pebble Beach, Carmel, and Santa Cruz.

Juliette “Jette� Ferguson JetteFerguson@gmail.com TeamJette.com

CalBRE# 01405735

831.402.3800

SPECIAL GETAWAYS

So You Want a Beach House?

TAKE A LOOK AT THESE OFF-THE-BEATEN TRACK LOCALES

BY KATHY CORDOVA

California is the land of iconic dreams. Where else could you be discovered by a Hollywood director at a drugstore counter, build rockets to the moon, or start a company that makes you a billionaire before the age of 30? But there is one dream that truly defines California living — having your very own beach house.

Who wouldn’t want to possess their own little slice of California sun, sand and surf? Here on the Peninsula, when we think of drivable beach destinations, we tend to think of Santa Cruz, Carmel and Monterey. But the California coast is a big place, and some off-the-beaten-track locales offer hidden gems that are more affordable than you might imagine.

So start loading up on sunscreen and margarita mix, because a beach house in one of these towns might just be your California dream come true.

THE PENINSULA SUMMER 2016 / 27

LEFT: Moss Landing. RIGHT TOP: Big Sur. RIGHT BOTTOM/PREVIOUS PAGE: Stinson Beach.

The California coast is a big place, and some off-the-beaten-track locales offer hidden gems that are more affordable than you might imagine.

MOSS LANDING – A CLASSIC BEACH COMMUNITY 236 Monterey Dunes Way / $1,100,000 Just over an hour down the coast is a rare find — the charmingly funky beach community and fishing village of Moss Landing. Fishing boats fill the harbor and rolling sand dunes cover the beaches. The days are simple and there are no pretenses, only peace.

“When I drive up here, I can feel my heart rate slow down,” says Jette Ferguson of Sotheby’s International Real Estate, Pacific Grove. For those looking to leave the worries of Silicon Valley far behind, look no further than this luxury oceanfront two-bedroom, two-bath cottage with panoramic views of the ocean, vaulted ceilings and an updated interior, including a sleek, modern kitchen.

The property is located in the Monterey Dunes Colony, a private community on a one-mile stretch of sandy white beach. The community abounds with recreational activities, including bocce ball, volleyball and tennis courts, a large heated pool, as well as a hot tub, sauna, putting green and clubroom. These amenities, combined with the feeling of a place untouched by urban pressures, create a high demand for homes in this community. “We have 125 acres of protected land around us,” says Ferguson. “People love the quiet, the space, the sand dunes and the down-to-earth feeling.”

For more information on 236 Monterey Dune Way, call Jette Ferguson at 831.402.3800.

Photos by Wayne Capili.

IF YOU GO Eat: Phil’s Fish Market, voted #1 Best Beach Restaurant by BBC Travel.

Be sure to try the cioppino.

Do: Fishing, kayaking or horseback riding on the beach. Moss Landing is the gateway to Elkhorn Slough, one of the largest wetlands in California, and one of the best birding spots in the country.

Stay: If you don’t buy your beach house right away, there’s only one lodging option in Moss Landing – the quaint and friendly Captain’s Inn B&B. Travel Time from Palo Alto: About 75 minutes.

28 / THE PENINSULA SUMMER 2016

BIG SUR: SPECTACULAR VIEWS AND GETTING AWAY FROM IT ALL The Pool House at Santa Lucia Ranch / $2,750,000 Rocky cliffs far above the crashing waves along Big Sur’s coast create some of the most striking views in all of California. Inland, ancient redwood trees and mountains attract hikers and campers. The area has long been a retreat for artists and writers like Ansel Adams and Jack Kerouac, and their influence comes across clearly in the eclectic, creative vibe that permeates this part of the coast.

Along with the construction of Highway One that has made Big Sur physically accessible, the advent of the Internet has also made it a plausible home base for those who want to work remotely. “Today people can own places in Big Sur and go back and forth to Silicon Valley, working a few days at a time in each place,” says Nancy Sanders of Sotheby’s International Realty in Big Sur. That might be the ideal scenario for someone who wants to make a second home at the Pool House at Santa Lucia Ranch, located on a mountainside above Highway One. This 20-acre property offers breathtaking vistas, orchards, gardens and a pool that overlooks the ocean. The guest house and caretaker’s units also have gorgeous views and offer opportunities for remodeling, or enjoying their rustic splendor just as they are. Although the property is miles away from major amenities, that’s part of the allure. “When you get up here, it’s peaceful and private,” says Sanders. “It feels like you are in heaven.”

For more information on The Pool House at Santa Lucia Ranch, call Nancy Sanders at 831.596.5492.

IF YOU GO Eat: The Big Sur River Inn, nestled in the redwoods alongside the Big Sur River, is a favorite of locals and tourists alike.

Do: Whale-watching, hiking in the many state parks or visiting the Esalen Institute for a massage or a dip in the hot springs, which are open to the public for night bathing from 1–3 a.m.

Stay: For a real splurge, The Post Ranch Inn is one of the most acclaimed luxury resorts in the world.

Travel Time from Palo Alto: About two and a half hours.

STINSON BEACH: SMALL TOWN FEEL WHERE THE OCEAN MEETS THE MOUNTAINS 162 Seadrift Road / $5,000,000 About a half hour’s drive north of San Francisco is one of the most charming and naturally beautiful coastal towns in California. Stinson Beach offers the best of both worlds — situated between the ocean and the mountains, but with a sandy rather than rocky beach.

“You get both hiking and beach life, all in one town,” says Sara Sherfey Gemma of Decker Bullock Sotheby’s International Realty. “It’s a sleepy little town surrounded by national parks, so it can’t get any bigger and that’s part of its appeal.”

Especially appealing is one oceanfront cottage in the gated community of Seadrift, located on one and a half miles of a pristine private beach. This home is the epitome of a California beach house, with its white-washed, wood-beamed ceilings, brick fireplace and rooms that open to the outdoors. An abundance of patio and deck spaces inspire outdoor dining and entertaining amidst the sand dunes and stunning ocean views.

For more information on 162 Seadrift Road, call Sara Sherfey Gemma at 415.302.9408.

IF YOU GO Eat: The Siren Canteen, an informal, walk-up restaurant that serves casual food and drinks, is a bargain and also the only place to dine right on the beach.

Do: Hiking, surfing, bird watching and fishing. If you’re up for a challenge, hike the 9.5 mile Dipsea Trail from Stinson Beach to Muir Woods.

Stay: The Sandpiper Inn is cozy and comfortable and also within walking distance to the beach and town.

Travel Time from Palo Alto: About an hour and a half.

THE PENINSULA SUMMER 2016 / 29

theclubatrockcreek.com

950 acre private resort community just 20 minutes south of Coeur d’ Alene.

18 amazing holes of golf, dining, pool, biking, hiking, boating, tennis, pickle-ball and more!

Custom home sites start in the low 100’s.

Masterfully crafted homes start at $699K

John R. Williams Associate Broker 208.691.6816 john.williams@sothebysrealty.com

T S S I R .CO M 221 E Sherman Avenue, Coeur D Alene, ID 83814

*MMXI Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC fully supports the principles of the FairHousing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is Independently Owned and Operated. Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) service marks licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, LLC.

PARK CITY, UT MORE THAN A SKI TOWN

LET SCOTT GUIDE YOU TO LIVE THE PARK CITY LIFESTYLE

LIVE YOUR DREAM IN PARK CITY, UTAH • 35 MINUTE DRIVE TO SALT LAKE CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT • 300+ INCHES OF ANNUAL SNOWFALL • NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST SKI RESORT • PARK CITY HAS MORE THAN 7,300 ACRES OF SKI ABLE TERRAIN

• DEER VALLEY® HAS 2,026 ACRES OF SKI ABLE TERRAIN, 21 SKI LIFTS AND 101 TOTAL RUNS • YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITIES FOR THE OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST • RENT YOUR PROPERTY WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN USE

SCOTT MAIZLISH, ASSOCIATE BROKER REPRESENTING BUYERS AND SELLERS 435.901.4309 | MAIZLISH@GMAIL.COM SCOTTMAIZLISH.COM Scott Maizlish | Summit Sotheby’s International Realty | PO Box 2370 | 1750 Par k Avenue

| Park City, Utah 84060 USA

Shane Herbert 435.714.9225 shane.herbert@sothebysrealty.com MONTAGERESIDENCESDEERVALLEY.COM Montage® and Deer Valley® are registered trademarks of Montage Hotels & Resorts, LLC and Deer Valley Resort Company, respectively. The Project is not owned, developed, or sold by Montage Hotel & Resorts, LLC or its affiliates and Montage Hotels & Resorts, LLC does not make any representations, warranties or guaranties whatsoever with respect to the Project or any part thereof. DV Luxury Resort LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Seller”) uses the “Montage Hotels & Resorts” brand name and certain “Montage trademarks” (collectively, the “Trademarks”) in connection with the sales and marketing of the Project under a limited, non-exclusive, nontransferable and non-sublicensable license from Montage Hotels & Resorts, LLC. The foregoing license may be terminated in the event of a default by Seller under the various agreements between Seller and

YOUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME OWN THE MONTAGE LIFESTYLE WITH A 10,000-ACRE BACKYARD FAMILY TIME TAKES ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING LUXURY SKI-IN/SKI-OUT RESIDENCES FROM $2,800,000 81 RESIDENCES–13 AVAILABLE MONTAGE RESIDENCES DEER VALLEY 9100 MARSAC AVENUE, PARK CITY UTAH 84060

MARKETED EXCLUSIVELY BY SUMMIT SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

Montage Hotels & Resorts, LLC, or may expire without renewal, in which case any part of the Project will not be identified as a “Montage” branded project or have any rights to use the Trademarks. This material is based upon information that we consider reliable, but because it has been supplied by third parties, we cannot represent that it is accurate or complete, and including price, or withdrawal without notice. ©MMXVI 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. Equal Housing Opportunity . Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.

VINTAGE

A String of Vineyard Pearls:

PORTOLA VINEYARDS, CHAINE D’OR AND RHYS

BY LAURA NESS

Len Lehman, Portola Vineyards

PORTOLA VINEYARDS: MUSIC FOR THE SOUL Len Lehman is a man for all seasons.

He’s started and run high tech companies (including OneWorld Systems, formerly Global Village Communication,) helped fund startups through Sand Hill Angels (including a cidery in Sonoma and a medical imaging venture,) founded schools and worked on the recent Ronald McDonald House remodel.

In his spare time, he farms a vineyard, planted in 2004, and a tiny winery in idyllic Portola Valley, where he grows Pinot Noir, and his daughter turns it into wine. The place, sundrenched and serene, was once a cut flower farm.

Giant coolers that stored the blooms before shipping now serve as the winery barrel and storage areas. The old red barn generates its own power, courtesy of solar panels installed back before it was fashionable. An outdoor tasting area includes a pizza oven and a cozy treehouse deck overlooking a tiny, but prolific orchard.

If you love the idea of jazz in a redwood grove, with first-rate musicians playing on a simple rocklined stage, surrounded by fruit trees and vineyards, you are Len’s kind of person. Each year, he hosts top rate local jazz performers for a concert series, beginning June 12. The series always sells out. For a nominal fee of $20, concertgoers can enjoy an afternoon of music, a flight of four wines and they can bring their own picnic.

Len also offers a unique opportunity for wine lovers or avid gardeners to participate in tending his 2,500 vines. Members get to tend a section of the vineyard through the seasons, and help harvest the grapes. The rewards are sweet.

Lehman enjoys being the first stop on a popular Silicon Valley tour that contrasts the tranquility and orderliness of his vineyard with the rampant, traffic-mangled chaos that is the hallmark of the Tech Mecca. Says Lehman, “In technology, change is required. Disruption is the norm. Grape growing is orderly.”

Photos of Rhys and Portola Valley by Denise Donegan Kouzoujian.

34 / THE PENINSULA SUMMER 2016

2016 PORTOLA VINEYARDS SUMMER JAZZ LINEUP June 12 Michael O’Neill & Kenny Washington July 10 Orquesta La Moderna Tradición July 24 A Tribute to Michael Brecker: Tod Dickow with Charged Particles August 7 The Josh Jones Latin Ensemble Portola Vineyards is open for Passport Days and other SCMWA events. Tasting is available by appointment. Follow the Portola Vineyards Facebook page or go to PortolaVineyards.com to join their mailing list.

Reggie and Sophie in the Chaine d’Or Vineyard

Chaine d’Or Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay

Nicolas Vonderheyden, Chaine d’Or

CHAÎNE D’OR: NEW LUSTRE ON A GOLDEN TRADITION Celebrating its 30th year in 2015, Chaine d’Or Vineyards took its moniker from the term Paul Masson and Martin Ray accorded to the sunny Woodside hills region that produced stellar Cabernet and Chardonnay dating to the 19th century.

“Chain of Gold” referred to premium sites with perfect soils and sun.

Planted by scientist and Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Jerry Anderson and his wife, Anne, in 1987, the two-acre Chaine d’Or vineyard is 50 percent Chardonnay, 40 percent Cabernet and smaller amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot employed to flesh out the Cabernet.

For nearly three decades, the couple tended the vineyards, making small amounts of French-style wines for local followers and fans in the wine cellar they dug beneath their home. You can find the wines at Robert’s Market in Woodside.

In 2007, the Andersons turned over vineyard management to a husband and wife team who tended it until 2015, when the reins were subsequently turned over to the current caretaker, young Nicolas Vonderheyden, who also manages the vineyards at The Mountain Winery.

from the soil, they are also vertically trained. This was unusual in California back in 1987.

His family has a chateau in Margaux, France, where winemaking roots run deep. Energetic, yet worldly wise, young Nicholas fell in love with this place and yearns to make wine from here this fall, Mother Nature willing.

Nicholas is busily tilling the soil to increase airflow and fertility, along with adding amendments to promote vine health. He’s also working on a label refresh for the brand, beginning with the 2016 vintage.

Last year, there was no crop at all, due to the paltry fruit set of 2015.

Vonderheyden has also begun making his own wine, and if the 2015 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot is any indication, he’s a true talent.

Walking through this bucolic vineyard, accompanied by the winery dogs, Reggie and Sophie, the stature of the vines, most nearly 30 years old, demands your attention. Trellised fairly high off the ground, in contrast to many French vineyards, where the fruitzone is less than two feet

Vertical trellising encourages sunlight and ventilation needed to prevent mildew and promote ripeness.

Given all the new energy being injected into this historic plot, one has high hopes for the future of this legendary brand in the capable hands of this young vigneron.

THE PENINSULA SUMMER 2016 / 35

Pinot Noir Vines growing in Rhys Alpine Vineyard.

Rhys winery is housed in a 40,000-square-foot cave that took seven years to carve from the hillside.

Jeff Brinkman, Rhys

RHYS: VINEYARDS SO CLOSE, YET EONS APART Rhys is not just a producer of stellar wines with a reputation for balance and poise: it’s a collection of breathtaking vineyards, strung along Skyline like a giant cosmic choker, made for an Amazon goddess.

And it’s precisely those vineyards that are the keys to the kingdom of Rhys, a Celtic name common in owner Kevin Harvey’s family.

The winery itself is dug deep in the hillside, part of a 40,000-square-feet cave that is a self-contained universe that took almost seven years to carve out of eons of rock.

You feel like you are going into Middle Earth as you descend. Each nook and cranny is custom-created to hold a piece of processing equipment, or to store barrels, case goods or lab carts. Everything is portable. The entire process of winemaking here is gravity fed — no pumps or pumpovers — all grapes are foot-tread by intrepid interns, who stomp their way to exhaustion in small fermenting bins that are grouped in pods of six on platforms for ease of access.

Winemaker Jeff Brinkman says that Harvey, an engineer, carefully studied the geology of the world’s best winegrowing regions, and determined there was a “goldilocks zone” where the soil, ideally sand and limestone or weathered clay, is just thin enough to prevent too much vigor, yet deep enough to sustain 36 / THE PENINSULA SUMMER 2016

vines. It is this geology that defines the area where the finest wine houses in Burgundy are found.

Harvey, of Welsh origin, has sought out each of his vineyards throughout the state with great care: his real estate agent is a trained geologist. Each vineyard, from Corralitos to Mendocino enjoys some maritime influence. Each is planted to pretty much the same clonal selection. All are farmed similarly, picked for balance and ageability, typically in the 23.5–24.5 Brix range, processed as naturally as possible and aged in the same kind of oak. The biggest variable is the site and its soils.

We visited three of the vineyards in the Skyline area to gauge their unique pulses and personas.

The soils of the Skyline “home ranch,” can barely be called soils at all: they are pretty much rock, and the vines are spindly, like underfed waifs. The hills are so steep, the vines must be tended by hand.

This is a labor of insane love.

The Alpine Vineyard, near the top of Alpine Road, hugs the southwest facing hills like a shawl of possibility. Everywhere, wildflowers bloom, clover glistens red and birds flit among the surrounding trees. There is a sense of serenity here that is borne of the nearby sea, glowering under cloud.

At Horseshoe vineyard, down a fir-lined road, the soil is light and porous, and there are signs of frostbite. A robust cover crop of crimson clover and rye are energetic cheerleaders, waving on the naysayer fog layer, trying to impart their life-giving nutrients to the vines. There’s an edgy energy at work here.

Brinkman says that the Horseshoe and Alpine Vineyards are only one mile apart as the crow flies but billions of years apart in geological origin. It’s all about the soil, the place. And you can taste it in the wines.

The 2013 Alpine Chardonnay is floral and stonefruit in the nose and lemony creamy, almost oily on the plate, with distinctive peach jam. The 2013 Horseshoe Chardonnay has decadent aromas of apple pie and Scotch broom, showing baked apple, golden raisins and walnut flavors, almost like a rugulah.

The Pinots are equally distinctive, with the 2013 Alpine showing enormity for only 12.4 percent alcohol, massively raspberry and cranberry with an attractive touch of pine. Even bigger and more intense, with herbal aromas that won’t quit, the Horseshoe Pinot delivers black tea, soy, basil and cherry tobacco leaf.

These are potent cellar candidates.

Join the mailing list to access these amazing wines. rhysvineyards.com

85

Saratoga

Come discover the beautiful wines and vineyards that wine reviewers have been raving about.

9

Big Basin Redwoods State Park

BIGBASINVINEYARDS.COM

Los Gatos

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Memory Lane China Grade

Bear Creek Rd.

Big Basin Vineyards Estate Winery & Vineyards Bear Creek Rd.

Jamison Creek Rd.

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VISIT OUR ESTATE WINERY AND VINEYARDS Saturdays, Noon–5pm

Big Basin Vineyards –Tasting Room

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“Proprietor Bradley Brown crafts some of the most compelling, small-production artisan wines in California’s Central Coast. With each passing year, the wines are more refined and polished, making Big Basin one of the most dynamic up and coming wineries in the state.”

VISIT OUR SARATOGA TASTING ROOM Thursday–Monday, Noon–5pm Friday–Saturday, Noon–7pm

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Castle Rock State Park

Pine Flat Rd.

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Santa Cruz

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· Contemporary Interiors + Dynamic Floor Plans

Seattle’s new multi-billion dollar urban living core. This is an architectural achievement without compromise – advancing modern design and elevating city life to new heights. Make it yours.

· Expansive Sky Club & Rooftop Terrace · Integrated Co-Work Spaces + Guest Suites · Personalization Options + Smart Home Technology · Innovative Amenities + In-Building Services · Enviable Access to Outdoor Recreation

The future is coming. The opportunity is now.

CONTACT MICHAEL CANNON AT 206.258.1088

NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS FOR PRIORITY PRESALES

NEXUSseattle.com

Offered by 1200 Howell Street LLC. Seller reserves the right change the product offering without notice. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.

Life

in the san juan island archipelago WASHINGTON STATE

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT MICHAEL X. FORD AT 206.448.5752 OR VISIT RSIR.COM Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.

MADRONEAGLE ESTATE | ORCAS ISLAND, WA

An island sanctuary of superlatives and an architectural achievement beyond compare. Enviable SW land portfolio of 42.86 acres along a half mile of East Sound ranges from beachfront to high bank surrounded by a reserve. Gated and ultimately private. Reclaimed timbers, matchless craftsmanship and artisan features too numerous to list. Main estate of 7,303-SF, workshop plus a 2,948-SF guest house. Mooring buoy. Offered at $11,988,000 | Madroneagle.com

FRIDAY HARBOR ESTATE | SAN JUAN ISLAND, WA

An unparalleled portfolio of land comprising 38.72 fenced acres in a sheltered Friday Harbor bay with a 360-foot deep water dock for a large yacht. Above the manicured pasture, atop a rocky hill is the 11,686-SF main residence of unparalleled quality and self-sustaining for months on end. Contemporary architecture blends interior and exterior living spaces, designed around entertaining while preserving an owner's pursuit of privacy. Offered at $16,800,000 | FridayHarborEstate.com

S I L I 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

Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

MICHAEL DREYFUS Broker 650.485.3476 michael.dreyfus@dreyfussir.com License No. 01121795