Robin Williams named his Napa Valley home “Villa Sorriso.” It’s a particularly fitting name, considering that “sorriso” comes from an Italian word meaning “to smile.”
The comedian is probably hoping the estate will make someone else smile. Williams has listed his 653-acre Napa Valley property for sale. But the asking price for the Mayacamas mountains mansion is no joke. At
$35 million, the 20,000 square-foot estate is one of the most expensive for sale in the county today.
“This is a true country home … in an area that promises legendary events,” offering the “beauty and bounty of the land,” read a listing brochure.
The Italianate villa on Wall Road boasts five bedroom suites, an oak-paneled library, a 12-seat theater, family room, elevator, climate-controlled art and wine cellars, three “safe” rooms wrapped in Kevlar and tower and bridge, according to a website for the home.
Photos of Villa Sorriso reveal lavish touches including bronze staircase railings, tile mosaics, glass art, mahogany doors, Portuguese limestone exterior walls, copper gutters and stone carvings.
A study shows a collection books, trophies, awards and other recognitions. “Carpe Diem,” reads a painted panel on one wall.
Situated on a ridge between Napa and Sonoma counties bordering Sugarloaf state park, the property also offers a 3,000 square-foot caretaker’s house, seven-stall horse barn, pond, olive trees, cattle and goats, noted the website. Twenty-four acres of vineyards are planted in the Mt. Veeder appellation.
The property is listed for sale by Tina Shone and Donald Van de Mark of Heritage Sotheby’s International Realty in Sonoma. Neither Shone or Van de Mark could be reached to comment on the listing, but other Realtors in the valley shared their opinions.
“It has every bell and whistle,” said St. Helena Realtor Chuck Sawday of Pacific Union International. Sawday helped sell the multi-million dollar Robert Mondavi estate in 2011.
Sawday speculated that another Hollywood personality, or perhaps someone from China, Hong Kong or other Asian country might be a likely buyer.
“Wall Road is a unique spot,” he noted. However, while the estate’s proximity to Oakville is a selling point, to some buyers it might not be close enough. “Does it have the feel of the Napa Valley being one ridge removed?” he asked.
Recent months have been quiet for the high-end estate market in Napa Valley, he said. One 500-acre Knights Valley property, the home of retired San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana, is also listed for sale for $35 million.
Other high-end estates for sale include a Meadowood property priced at $29.5 million, a Chiles Pope Valley Road estate for
$25 million, and Vineyard Knolls golf course for
$17.5 million.
“The high end is very desirable,” for would-be Napa Valley buyers, Latife Hayson with Sotheby’s International Realty said.
“People come up here for the romance of the Napa Valley lifestyle,” Hayson said. “Its all about the ambiance … and definitely having a view of vineyards,” she said. But selling a Napa Valley property in that price range that does not include a commercial element, such as a winery, can be difficult, she said. And with prices down from the real estate peak of several years ago, “Everyone wants a bargain.”
Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley Realtor Cyd Greer, who recently closed a deal for an $11 million estate in Oakville, said that high-end buyers look for private and exclusive properties.
“These are sophisticated buyers. If they are going to live in an extraordinary place like Napa Valley, they want something fabulous,” she said. The convenience of a “turn-key” property is another plus, she noted. “I wouldn’t be surprised at all it was sold furnished,” Greer said of Villa Sorriso.
“It’s going to take a long time to sell any of these very high-end properties,” Sawday said. “Part of it might be the economy,” or buyers waiting until the election is over.
“It’s so hard to price some of these mega-estates,” he said. “Thirty-five million is a big number.”