Gable

Gable spreads across three and a half acres in the hills of Santa Rosa, a hilltop retreat looking out over vine-covered slopes. The setting is the story: sweeping views from the house and grounds, and room to breathe on every side. It is a wine-country house in the truest sense, made for gathering a group, opening a few bottles and letting the afternoon run long. Nearby, Safari West, the wildlife preserve in the Santa Rosa hills, makes an unexpected morning outing, with giraffes and zebras roaming its acreage, and the wineries of the northern county are within easy reach for tastings. Downtown Santa Rosa's restaurants are a short drive down the hill when no one feels like cooking.

Inside, the house is grand but warm, with a stone-wall fireplace at its center, warm wood finishes and tall windows that flood the rooms with light. Most of the stay, though, happens outdoors. An extensive patio is set up for hosting your own tasting with the slopes as the backdrop: bring back a few bottles from the day's wineries and pour them for the group as the sun drops. The grounds hold a private pool and hot tub for afternoons, a firepit for the evenings and a barbecue for dinners outside. It is the kind of house where the group gathers once and stays, letting the views do the entertaining.