Photo Credit: Village Properties
The Area:
The Santa Ynez Valley is located a scenic two-hour drive north of Los Angeles and just thirty minutes from Santa Barbara. The Valley, as it is locally known, is comprised of a series of quaint townships offering fine dining, casual cafes, world-renowned wine tasting, and an enviable pace of life. This classic California landscape is spectacularly beautiful with wide-open valleys bordered by dramatic mountain ranges. Here, ranches, vineyards, and a graceful lifestyle are celebrated and well-protected as residents successfully preserve and integrate the natural beauty with carefully measured growth.
The Valley averages about 16 inches of rainfall per year which allows the hills and pastures to turn a rich green. Springtime brings gorgeous fields of lupine and poppies. During the summer, afternoon breezes from the Pacific Ocean moderate the temperatures; together, the combination of cool nights and mornings with warm days has made Santa Ynez an ideal and unique climate for growing premium wine grapes.
The Valley is also one of the last of the true great year-round equestrian areas with all disciplines and dozens of breeds represented. There are state-of-the-art veterinary facilities and top veterinary care all centrally located.
The Ranch:
Set on 65+/- acres, Great Oaks Ranch is ideally located within the heart of Santa Ynez Valley. Located approximately 35 minutes from both the Santa Barbara and Santa Maria airports, Great Oaks is centrally situated in the Valley yet easily accessible from anywhere in the world. The property offers a truly remarkably appointed compound, with multiple residences, an award-winning vineyard, a 5 hole golf course, pool, tennis court and a full complement of professional horse facilities, including the rare commodity of a large covered riding arena. In addition, Great Oaks has breath-taking views of the Coastal Mountain Ranges.
Great Oaks offers a myriad of opportunities; a wise choice for anyone looking for a full-time residence, vacation property, multi-generational living, world-class vineyard, or incomparable equestrian facilities. Regardless of your dreams, Great Oaks Ranch offers a number of amenities not easily replicated in Santa Barbara County.
Main Ranch Home:
A long drive meanders through vineyards, down a pepper tree-lined drive, past bucolic pastures to arrive at the main residence. A wide front porch welcomes guests in style while owners continue on to a motor-court and attached four-car garage.
From nearly every inch of the home, panoramic views of the coastal range of mountains and the Santa Ynez Valley are on display. The home features beautiful wood-beamed ceilings, large open spaces, and a spacious master suite with a sitting room and balcony. Three additional bedrooms offer comfortable accommodations for guests and loved ones. In addition, the main residence has a lower level gym and a private suite for staff, a home office, or an au pair. The overall ambiance is one of casual but elegant comfort and early California ranch-style living.
Outside, exquisite landscape and gardens, a beautiful 25-meter swimming pool and flag-stone terrace are perfect for lounging, laps, drinks, and naps. Stonemasons worked for months to create masterful walls, walkways, and expertly crafted flagstone patios, along with a built-in Pizza Oven! Should you prefer to work on your serve, a lighted tennis court with a special surface is just around the corner.
On the backside of the residence, a second, two-car garage in the private motor court also features a staff office. Over the garage, a fabulously appointed owner’s office overlooks the pool and gardens; an additional guest suite with balconies adjoins the office.
Other Residences:
In addition to the main residence, Great Oaks unfolds to encompass a number of structures for guests, staff, fitness, and farm life.
On the eastern end of the ranch, a spacious 3-bedroom, 2-bath home features a large entertaining area, fireplace, a private detached 3-car garage, and spectacular views.
Two additional, recently remodeled, 2-bedroom homes complete the compound, which would be perfect for staff or other guests.
Equestrian Facilities:
Many ranches in the Valley have room for horses but few, if any, have facilities that compare to Great Oaks.
A beautiful wood and block Center Aisle barn is designed with a large tack room, feed room, conversation area, restroom, and wash rack. The barn is home to 9 stalls that open to turn-out pens. A tongue and groove beamed wood ceiling complement the design of the barn. In addition to the main barn, there are two storage barns; one for hay and shavings, and the other for equipment storage and the ranch workshop. A building, once used as a private heliport, could easily be used for additional hay storage.
Great Oaks is home to a large covered riding arena, a rare and coveted amenity that would be extremely difficult to replicate. Two round pens, one covered and one open, complement a roping arena. Should you prefer, there are also holding pens for cattle.
Vineyard:
The Santa Ynez Valley AVA is known for producing some of the Central Coast’s best wines. In this idyllic climate, grapes thrive and are in high demand. Great Oaks’ 20+/- acres of award-winning vineyard were planted in 1997 and comprised of Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. The grounds and vineyards of Great Oaks are aided by three wells, each drawing from one of the Valley’s largest and best aquifers. Two are for agricultural purposes and one is for residential usage.
Syrah (approximately 8.5 acres)
Sauvignon Blanc (approximately 7.5 acres)
Cabernet Sauvignon (approximately 2.5 acres)
Cabernet Franc (approximately 1.5 acres)
Exquisite Grounds:
Great Oaks Ranch unfolds over +/-65 acres and is home to many entertainment and environmental districts. Work on your swing at your own private 5-hole golf course. Spend an afternoon on the dock of your private pond. Meander through a garden path that leads from the main residence to the barn and horse facilities. A newly restored, temperature-controlled greenhouse is set amongst gardens. Throughout the estate, lush and mature landscape, meandering walkways, and specimen plantings offer a tranquil and aesthetic back-drop for this remarkable estate. Take a meditative moment in the gazebo overlooking your own peaceful pond, or sit under the massive oaks tasting your own wine. This is what you’ve been dreaming of!
The grounds and vineyards are kept lush by two large agricultural wells; a third well is for residential use. An underground cistern provides excellent storage for additional water.
Address: 2450 Calzada Ave., Santa Ynez Valley, CA 93460
Price: $10,900,000
For more information please contact Carey Kendall at (805) 688-1620 or carey@clkre.com
Carey Kendall is the exclusive agent representing the Santa Ynez Valley, CA real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of his listings here.
Photo Credit: Village Properties 
Photo Credit: Village Properties 
Photo Credit: Village Properties
Photo Credit: Village Properties
