Malvasia

Malvasia shares its name with one of the oldest grape families in wine, a Mediterranean clan of mostly white varieties that most likely began in Crete. The name is thought to come from Monemvasia, a Byzantine fortress port in southern Greece that traded the wine, and in English it became Malmsey. The house is a fitting namesake for something a little out of the ordinary: an architectural retreat in the rural countryside of Santa Rosa, with a striking exterior, valley and mountain views, and an upscale, curated interior full of natural light. The land around it is left deliberately wild, its open grasslands mowed only twice a year to protect the habitat. Several Sonoma Valley wineries are within twenty minutes, and both downtown Santa Rosa and downtown Sonoma are close.

The house is built to hold twelve without anyone feeling crowded. Five bedrooms and four and a half baths share two living rooms, one with a pool table, and two dining areas, so a big group can split up and come back together. A kitchen island with extra stools becomes the natural gathering point. There is a dedicated office, and several bedrooms have their own desks for anyone who brought work along. Outside, the private pool looks out over the valley, the place to spend a summer day; in cooler months it can be heated for a fee with two days' notice. For outings, Safari West, the Charles M. Schulz Museum, the Russian River and the shops and restaurants of The Barlow in Sebastopol are all within easy reach.