The one place man feels most secure in his home. Generally, we all are house-proud and would love to show off our efforts put into the making of a house to a home. No matter how much you love our abode, once in a while we do come across a home that leaves us speechless and hoping that we too could afford a place like that. Someday…maybe…but till then have a look at this wonderful Wine Country estate called “Shanel” situated at Sonoma Valley. Currently, in the market for a price tag of $35 million, the homeowner Gary Shansby got the 362-acre lot for about $3 million in 1990. The landscaping was done by landscape architect Mai Arbegast and architect Sandy Walker. Shanel incorporates the Californian landscape with its lichen-covered Italian roof tiles and flowers and plants placed throughout the house. The wooden beams in the living room ceiling are 200 years old, adding a touch of history to the place.
The Tuscan-style kitchen features limestone counters and oak cabinets and can accommodate 25 to 30 people at a time. Keeping cozy during the winter monts is not a problem here. The house has seven fireplaces, as well as a travertine marble and oak floor that radiate heat. Adjacent to the owner’s room is the marble-floored and arched-ceiling wine cellar, which can store 140 cases worth of bottles. This room is temperature controlled to guarantee the integrity of the wines’ flavor. The estate comes with its own seven-acre vineyard of high-quality Syrah vines. There is a 20 ft.-by-60 ft. pool to give respite from the Californian sun. The pool is flanked by a cabana, a lawn, a dense garden, a butterfly-filled playground, and a grand terrace, well lit for nighttime dinner parties. There is a 35-ft.-deep lake, a horse stable with four paddocks, five stalls, a covered riding ground, as well as two locker rooms with full baths and a wet bar on the property. It also has a 1,591-sq.-ft. guesthouse.
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