Casa Sebastiani, Historic Sonoma Home, Sleeps 14

Description from the manager

Overview

When you stand on the veranda of Casa Sebastiani and gaze out over the vineyards below, you are sharing the experience with generations of the prominent wine family who stood here before you. Built by August and Sylvia Sebastiani in 1947, the property is a leisurely stroll up from the acclaimed winery.

A grove of olive trees and rustic stone walls define the approach and a remarkable profusion of flowering plants create a tapestry of color. Bird of Paradise, trumpet vines and fragrant lavender surround the home, along with numerous fruit trees heavy with succulent oranges, lemons and apples.

There is an unmistakable... sense of the many gatherings and memorable moments that have taken place here over the years.

The gracious hand-hewn stone home was fashioned after a Tuscan villa with its arched entries, deep porches and expansive terraces. An old-world air of hospitality is apparent in the design and the setting.

The sun-filled terraces and decks that encircle Casa Sebastiani offer views on all sides and the dappled shade of the ancient live oaks beckon for a meditative stop under their tall branches. Large boulders are interspersed with indigenous plants and trees and masses of blooming flowers, creating a natural backdrop for special events.

This is a place that has been connected to a significant part of Sonoma Valley’s history ever since 1904 when Samuele Sebastiani acquired the vineyards of the Franciscan fathers who originally planted them in 1825. From those humble beginnings the winery he founded grew into a name known around the world. Now you can fashion your own bit of history in these splendid surroundings.

Interior

Casa Sebastiani is the ideal setting for celebrations of all kinds. The home has an immediate air of welcome, with a size and scale that invites hospitality.

A circular walkway leads up to the deep, tiled porch with its stone arches and carved wooden door. Inside a wide entry opens to the expansive living room, which can accommodate a cocktail party or a casual family group. The room features a grand piano and gleaming white marble fireplace; floor to ceiling picture windows frame beautiful scenes of the flowering landscape, bringing in the natural, golden light that warms the vineyards.

The home has recently been redecorated and upgraded throughout, retaining the authentic Italian touches that express its origins. The bedroom off the living area offers a relaxing glimpse of the tranquil scenery. There is a small sitting area and a flatscreen TV and a Dutch door to the outside. The bath has a stone tile shower with tiled bench seat, marble vanity, two closets and privacy windows for plentiful light.

A separate guest suite can be entered from outside or through the kitchen area. Completely remodeled, it has a stone-tiled bath, bedroom and views of the stately oaks. Upstairs on the second floor are three bedrooms: a large master suite with a floor-to-ceiling window for private views of the soaring shade trees, and doors that open to a sleeping porch where you can lounge in the shade on a summer afternoon. A marble dressing table area connects to the bath where there is a tub, shower and separate toilet.

Down the hall are two bedrooms, one with a queen bed and one with two queen beds. Each room has views of the vineyards and access to a veranda with an ornate wrought iron railing that runs the length of the house and provides time for quiet contemplation. A shared bath with shower over tub and a toilet separates the two rooms.

The kitchen, always the heart of a home, is where Sylvia Sebastiani tried out her recipes for the scrumptious sauces and hearty Italian meals that are included in her popular cookbook, Mangiamo! Let’s Eat. Newly upgraded for today’s cooks with granite counters and tile floors, the kitchen has marvelous vistas of the fruit trees and vines, and a huge flowering poinsettia with bright red blossoms frames the view. You’ll be inspired to try your own pairings with some of the fine local wines around the oak table in the kitchen, or create a splendid meal to enjoy in the formal dining room.

Arched windows and doorways out to the lower veranda are a hallmark of the congenial indoor-outdoor lifestyle treasured by wine country residents. The veranda has a long carved stone table with umbrellas that seats 16 for alfresco dining, and a charming rock bridge takes you to the sparkling turquoise oval pool.

Beyond the pool is a two-car garage, and a short stroll down the hill brings you to a guest cottage. The rustic, natural wood-paneled cottage has a living area, a small kitchen and a large, appealing bedroom that faces the vineyards. Doors open to a wooden deck that wraps around the house and creates a delightful private guest getaway experience.

Casa Sebastiani is a most welcoming place, embodying the generous spirit of the legendary pioneers of California’s premium wine industry that built this home. It’s a place where you will want to welcome your friends and family and create new traditions of your own.Read more

Additional Location Information

What Past Guests Are Saying

Overall Rating

• FL
  San Francisco

  Memorial Day weekend 2011 at Casa Sebastiani

  Left on 06/14/2011 for a stay in May 2011
  
  

  We had a really enjoyable time at Casa Sebastiani; the house was very comfortable and the location could not be better. We had a big group and we enjoyed spending time hanging out in the kitchen, the living room and downstairs in the billiard room. We really enjoyed the history of the house via the pictures on the walls. While others have commented that some aspects of the house are a little dated, this did not bother us, since Beautiful Places had guided our expectations accordingly. This is the only reason I did not rate the house 5 stars. The bedrooms were very spacious and comfortable.
  
  Ramon, the concierge Beautiful Places provided, was extremely helpful during our stay. I did not anticipate needing much assistance, but he helped me before the trip in setting up a dinner and transportation. But he really excelled when I needed his help in a big way. The weather wreaked havoc on our dinner plans on Saturday night. He must have spent several hours helping us to try to reschedule and find alternatives. It was a huge aid to me to not have to make all the phone calls he did for us. I really appreciated the value that Beautiful Places concierge service, and Ramon in particular, offered to us.
  

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Friends, Groups, Romantic

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• Frequent valley visitor
  Buffalo Ny

  Family together at holidays

  Left on 01/11/2011 for a stay in December 2010
  
  

  House was decent but not up to the standards of other Beautiful Places I have stayed at. Needs internet !!! To heat upstairs had to overheat downstairs. House needs updating, large picture window in LR creaked, bathrom fixtures broken or missing. Fixing those little things would go a long way.

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  Response from Beautiful Places - 01/17/2011

  

  Beautiful Places

  Manager

  We really appreciate your feedback on Casa Sebastiani and are addressing the issues that your raised.
  We would like to point out that BeautifulPlaces uses a 3-5 star system to rate each of our properties and Casa Sebastiani is a 3 star property. We agree with the reviewer that it is not up to the standards of our 4 and 5 star propeties. We strive to be transparant about the pros and cons of each property in our portfolio. Thank you for the feedback.

• Happy Family
  New Jersey

  Felt like home

  Left on 09/24/2010 for a stay in September 2009
  
  

  The staff was exceedingly helpful to us as we prepared for our daughter's wedding in wine country. The moment we saw Casa Sebastiani we knew we made the perfect choice for our family!
  Thanks for making our stay so enjoyable!

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• Jana C.
  San Francisco

  Great location

  Left on 09/15/2010 for a stay in August 2010
  
  

  Casa Sebastiani offered our group a very pleasant stay.
  When it comes to location, it could not be much better than this. It is located very close to the square in Sonoma, close to shops, restaurants, and hotels we used for overflow accommodation.
  
  The house was clean and spacious. We loved the outdoor seating option and enjoyed it very much.We also loved the large family room, perfect for our daily "round table" meetings.
  
  Sarah from Beautiful Places was wonderful to work with. Thank you again, Sarah.
  
  The property is definitely little dated. Some upgrades would be nice. We would have loved a more open floor plan (realizing the house's floor plan doesn't offer it and may not be worthwhile changing for the purpose it serves) and more modern amenities (this could be done). The cooling wasn't working well either and many complained about the inside of the house - not to mention the guest house - being too hot. More bins for garbage and recycling would be welcomed. Overall, the property is completely livable and manageable, enjoyable. We did rent newer, bigger, houses in the past in that area for the same price, however, so maybe it is priced little high.

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  Detailed ratings for this rental

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Friends, Groups, Tourists, Families w teenagers, Families w children, Singles

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  Was this review helpful? Yes