This $64.5 Million Wine Country Estate Brings a Bit of Tuscany to California
Ever dream of running away from it all and living on a vineyard compound in California’s Santa Ynez Valley?
A newly listed wine country retreat occupying over 200 acres in Santa Barbara County is the long-haul project of sellers Julie and Jack McGinley. Dubbed the Westerly Estate, the couple is asking a whopping $64.5 million for the bucolic spread in Happy Canyon, which was overhauled with the help of renowned architect Mark Rios and interior design expert Michael S. Smith, aka, President Barack Obama’s former “decorator in chief.”
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The 20,000-square-foot Tuscan-inspired villa is surrounded by 82 acres of vineyards, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and olive groves. There’s also a two-acre lake stocked with bass and extensive equestrian facilities, including a barn that currently houses the family’s three horses.
The McGinleys, who also own property in Illinois and Massachusetts, shelled out a cool $24.2 million for the compound back in 2006, The Wall Street Journal reported. At the time, one celebrity resident in particular drew them to the area. “I told Jack that if Oprah picked Montecito as a place to live, I think we should be going out to look,” Julie told the newspaper.
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The couple dropped an extra $10 million on renovating the estate, including installing a new swimming pool, HVAC systems, an infrared spa, and a pickleball court. The main villa comprises three bedrooms and three full bathrooms. Plus, there are five additional bedrooms split between the guest wings and a stable apartment.
Some of the abode’s standout perks include its 10 wood-burning fireplaces, a wine cellar, and an interior central courtyard with 40-foot ceilings. The billiards room doubles as a formal office and library and is decked out with a 19th-century Ver de Mer mantel, antique lighting, glass-front bookcases, and a coffered ceiling.
Elsewhere, you’ll find a farmhouse-style kitchen equipped with a walk-in butler’s pantry and wood cabinetry, and a deluxe primary suite that occupies a private wing on the second floor with dramatic lake views and a two-level walk-in closet and dressing area.
According to the Journal, the McGinleys originally planned on retiring at Westerly, but in actuality, they only spend about five months of the year here, so they have decided to sell the property and downsize.
The couple’s Illinois home is in Lake Forest, and they also maintain a shingle-style dwelling in Dartmouth, Mass., which they reportedly snagged after it was featured on the cover of a magazine. “I’m a house junkie; I just love real estate and homes,” Julie added. “But I can’t keep them all.”
Riskin Partners Estate Group and Carey Kendall, both of Village Properties/Forbes Global Properties, hold the listing.
Click here to see more photos of Westerly Estate.
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