Kitchens in the Vineyards 12th Annual Tour

See below for descriptions of each home on this year's tour!

Napa Valley Spring Home Tour
Saturday, April 25, 2009 -- $65.00

Visit five, stunning, Napa Valley homes in the heart of wine country featuring kitchens, dining rooms, entertainment areas and gardens — all enhanced by springtime floral designs and table settings. At each home enjoy tastings offered by well-known Napa Valley chefs and meet local authors available to autograph their books. Due to the exclusive nature of the homes on this year’s tour, shuttle buses will transport patrons to two of the five homes. Home locations and more detailed information regarding the logistics of the self-guided tour will accompany your ticket.

Preview Party
Friday, April 24, 2009 -- $185.00

Board a luxury mini-bus at Black Stallion Winery at 4:00 pm for a private champagne tour of five Napa Valley homes. Return for a gourmet, buffet dinner complete with wine and an exclusive tour of a private guest home on the winery property only for Preview Party attendees.

Our Home Tour and Preview Party will take place rain or shine! We kindly ask that patrons refrain from bringing cameras, strollers, back packs or pets. Private buses cannot be accommodated and restroom facilities in homes are not open to guests. Thank you!

2009 Home Descriptions
A sneak peek inside homes on the 12th Annual Kitchens in the Vineyards home tour!

Picturesque Palms:

Built in 2002 on a serene vineyard lot, this contemporary home offers stunning views of the forest-laden hillside. The warm and inviting interior design incorporates art and antiques while utilizing lots of natural light to illuminate the vaulted ceilings and open floor plan. The main room and adjoining kitchen allow for a comfortable, relaxing atmosphere ideal for entertaining. The exterior, covered pavilion beckons guests to step outside and lounge by the fireplace and the impressive outdoor kitchen is complete with a prep table, grill and stone pizza oven. Potted lemon trees provide patio decor and picturesque palms line the pool and pool house while still offering a clear view of the surrounding vineyards and hillside.

French Farmhouse:

Originally built in 1950, this French farmhouse was renovated by the current owners after its purchase in 1995. The home’s interior design features warm, eclectic décor and boasts 28-foot high ceilings and open beams. The homeowners use creative, rustic décor such as a moose head mantelpiece sculpted from branches, striped accent lamp shades, and a combination of floral and plaid sofa chairs which all combine perfectly to compliment the farmhouse design. A collection of roosters, baskets and hanging copper pots frame a small fireplace in the charming, country kitchen. The exterior design features a wrap-around, trellis-covered patio, a pool, pool house and fireplace. An old stone sink and outdoor stone shower sit in the side yard next to a French potager garden with raised beds.

Hidden Hilltop Estate:

Built in 2001, this impressive, multi-level estate offers a spectacular, birds-eye view of the Napa Valley from every level. The home rests on a hilltop vineyard with Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux varietals and an on-site winery produces premium wines. The interior design is airy, modern and captures the essence of the property’s exterior beauty as well as showcasing the homeowners’ museum-quality art collection. The estate is ideal for entertaining large or intimate groups and has a separate catering kitchen, infinity pool with two hot tubs, bathing cabanas, and tennis courts.  The exterior property is home to a Jesus Morales fountain and several modern sculptures by notable artists including Andrew Rogers, Richard Mendelson and Brian Hunt.

Modern Estate:

Built in 2001, this ultra-sleek estate rests on a 28-acre estate with a surrounding Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard.  The 4,200 square foot residence won the Grand Golden Nugget award in 2005 for Best Custom Home under 5,000 square feet and has been featured in numerous publications. Glass walls highlight the stunning views while slender, steel columns and exposed roof beams compliment the surrounding black oak forest. Even the wall and floor materials are repeated outdoors, helping further connect the home to its environment. The residence offers a passive solar design with spectrally selected solar glass windows with high solar heat gain and an orientation towards the optimal elements of natural sunshine.  The landscaping features stepped terraces, an infinity pool, spa, barbeque grill and exterior hearth surrounded by wild grasses, boulders and native oaks.

Provençal Retreat:

This Provençal-style estate shares its property and owners with Tamber Bey Vineyards. This secluded, serene property, purchased in 1999 by its current owners, is set amongst towering live oaks and nestled between Yount Hill and Mount St. John. The exterior features a European garden, guest home, an antique fountain imported from France and an arbor-covered lap pool surrounded by roses. In addition to the 60-acre Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard, winery and home, the property also features horse stables housing several world-class Arabian endurance horses, trained and ridden by the owners.