Napa’s Gold Coast

Nestled at the foot of the Oakville Bench, bordering both Far Niente and Harlan Estate, and with Martha’s Vineyard just to the south, this seven-acre farmstead is blessed with the same rich vineyard terroir as its illustrious neighbors, while serving as an historical touchstone for Oakville’s agricultural beginnings. Purchased by the Kirkham family in 1955, and farmed by them ever since, they wisely retained and tended the property’s heirloom grape varietals, along with the natural beauty and integrity of the site. They kept, groomed and enhanced the living quarters, including the 2BR, 1BA farmhouse and the bunkhouse (sleeps 8-10), and they adapted another structure, built to keep foodstuffs cool, into a petite guesthouse. They commissioned renowned landscape architect Tommy Church to create beautiful tiered grounds and a swimming pool while preserving the old growth, native trees, and privacy that encompass the property. They have also maintained the existing tractor shed, chicken coop buildings, and small barn.

The vineyard is approximately 2.0 acres in area, with potential for vineyard expansion. It is the oldest standing, and the first hillside vineyard in the Oakville appellation, planted sometime in the 1930s. The vineyard sits on a 0 – 5% slope of highly desirable Coombs gravelly loam, is organically farmed, and contains a field mix of heirloom grape varietals, including French Colombard, Zinfandel, Carignan, Petit Sirah, Napa Gamay, Alicante, and the rare and recently identified Negrette. For over 30 years, Casa Nuestra Winery has created highly distinctive and award-winning wines from this old growth vineyard.

Ellis Kirkham, the matriarch of the family and purchaser of the property, proclaimed the farmstead to be possessed of a “fragile enchantment.” And so it remains today, a result of the fond stewardship of its historical land and structures, its gorgeous views of the adjoining vineyards and eastern hillsides, and its desirable mixture of personal privacy with proximity to Napa’s top restaurants and wineries. This property is easily capable of joining the elite wine estates that surround it, by expanding its vineyard and replanting to cabernet sauvignon. And yet, you may choose to retain and revel in its special character – authentic, real, and true. www.OakvilleFarmstead.com

Property Highlights