Lavender Fields

On a calm afternoon, as the marine layer breaches the rolling hillsides of California's North Coast, it refreshes the air in the valleys beyond, bringing with it notes from the redwood, eucalyptus, and fir it met along the way. In western Sonoma County, it might also pick up hints of lavender. Monte-Bellaria di California, located at 3518 Bloomfield Road in the historic farming town of Sebastopol, is a singular property with an even more singular distinction: it’s the largest lavender farm in Wine Country. The charming estate, nestled just over an hour’s drive from San Francisco in the coveted Russian River Valley AVA, draws its name — “mountain of clear air” in Italian — from the fragrant phenomenon. Some 38,000 lavender plants, a hybrid of English and Portuguese varietals, fill 9.5 of Monte-Bellaria’s 14.07 acres, framed by mature olive groves, apiaries, and rolling views over the surrounding vineyards.

Five horses and one dog trot on a flat beach with turquoise-blue waters behind them.

Small pink building with green trim labeled “Ice Cream Shack,” featuring a menu board, decorative tables, a potted palm, and a golf cart nearby under a partly cloudy sky.

While that certainly makes for great landscaping, Monte-Bellaria is a working agricultural property, with an on-site farm store to prove it. The estate has produced its own lavender and honey products for more than a decade, along with a premium line of cold-pressed olive oil — pressed within 24 hours of harvesting, on an Italian-made Rapanelli press, less than two miles from the grove.

Yellow sign reading “Welcome to Harbour Island Home of Friendly People” with a red golf cart parked nearby, surrounded by greenery.

Two-story house with a white roof, light yellow walls, red-shuttered dormer windows, and a front porch, surrounded by a white picket fence and a landscaped yard.

Waterfront scene with boats moored to a wooden dock, with colorful buildings, palm trees, and people in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Large white yacht with multiple decks and a slide extending into turquoise blue water.

Lavender Fields Forever

BY E.J. KELLEY

In the Russian River Valley, just over an hour north of San Francisco,Monte-Bellaria brings a touch of Tuscany to the heart of Wine Country.

While that certainly makes for great landscaping, Monte-Bellaria is a working agricultural property, with an on-site farm store to prove it. The estate produced its own lavender and honey products for more than a decade, along with a premium line of cold-pressed olive oil — pressed within 24 hours of harvesting, on an Italian-made Rapanelli press, less than two miles from the grove.

Living here is equally grand. The main residence, completed in 2014, channels a classic Italian villa on today’s terms, emphasizing that quintessential indoor-outdoor flow in true Mediterranean fashion. 4,125 square feet of well-appointed interiors include grand-scale living spaces, three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, and an upstairs loft, as well as a flex space perfect for use as a home office, media room, or studio. An elevator connects all levels of the home. Outside, rambling terraces, patios, and courtyards embrace the dramatic mountain-and-vineyard vistas enjoyed across the property. A covered outdoor kitchen boasts a wood-fired oven, changing the game for pizza nights. Paths and trails beckon further exploration of Monte-Bellaria’s natural wonder.

Sales Associate, REALTOR®

VIEW LISTING

Pamela Ranella

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Awaiting its next chapter under the California sun, this iconic Tuscan estate is now listed with Corcoran Icon Properties, presenting the rare chance to own a remarkable residence with its own turnkey agri-business — lovingly cultivated in good taste.

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Sales Associate, REALTOR®

Mallory Lambert Silipo