Concealed behind an unassuming, rustic wood, double-door gate, the 16-acre estate, that includes a 7,500-square-foot, singlestory home, winery and seven acres of rolling vineyards, is located on a tree-lined street named for Spanish explorer José Joaquín Moraga. The vineyard may be in the middle of a residential neighborhood and a mile or so from the 405, but from the moment you clear the gate, you feel as if you are exploring the terroir of Tuscany in Italy or the Rhône Valley in France. The most dramatic views of its vine-covered, terraced hills are seen from overhead—or from a certain vantage point at The Getty Center, across the Sepulveda Pass. With a history spanning over eight
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VENTURA BLVD | NOVEMBER 2017
decades, the estate has played host to U.S. presidents, dignitaries, moguls and movie stars. President Ronald Reagan was known to go home with fresh chicken eggs after visiting. Within the last 30 years, its two wines have been made in a Bordeaux fashion— a pure Sauvignon Blanc; and the red, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with a touch of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. They have been poured by some of the world’s most acclaimed restaurateurs, including Alain Ducasse, Wolfgang Puck and Piero Selvaggio. The vineyard is private, with access only through membership to The Club at Moraga Estate. Moraga’s annual yield of approximately