Tour a Stunning Wine Country Estate

When the organizers of Harvest Summit were looking for the ideal Northern California wine country location for their event, they wanted it to be someplace out of the box. That stands to reason for a gathering of thought leaders and tastemakers—many of whom are in the food and wine space—for the purpose of discussing innovation. A vineyard would be too expected. A hotel ballroom would be too traditional. So when they discovered a gorgeous multi-use, 300-acre private estate in Sonoma County housing a truffle farm, olive grove and press, planted garden, and unique architecture, they knew they’d found the perfect place.

The first-ever Harvest Summit takes place in Somoma County on November 4, 2016.

What makes the property so different from its wine country neighbors is the absence of grape vines. The bucolic setting is evident in the rolling green hills expanding as far as the eye can see, evoking what wine country looked like 20 years ago. But its most dramatic natural feature is the huge heritage oak tree that epitomizes the local ecosystem. The tree will serve as an idyllic spot for several sessions, as well as a refreshing retreat for spontaneous conversations throughout the day.

With several sessions focusing on food, from trends to nutrition, it’s no surprise that the event will also feature delicious fare. Acclaimed Sonoma County chefs such as Douglas Keane and Dustin Valette will prepare signature bites for attendees to enjoy—all paired with local wines, of course.

Many local wineries will provide additional tastings of hand-selected wines they feel are representative of Sonoma County, yet are largely yet undiscovered.

The high-tech barn combines modern design with green building. Features such as mindful water channels, heated flooring, and dynamic lighting all suit the event’s theme of innovation.

The metal structure with the green roof might look like a modern-industrial loft, but is actually a barn that stores the farm’s tractors.

The wine cave wall was constructed out of salvaged fence posts formerly located throughout the property.

The “spaceship” is a piece of interactive art in the estate owners’ personal collection and will be integrated into the event. A session about the future of transportation will be hosted beside it, and anyone in attendance at the event can go inside and hang out. The fully functional structure not only provides a lounging space, but it also lights up and plays videos on an oh-so retro VCR.