Wine Country Homes

According to Food & Wine magazine (April 2006) the 10 essentials for an enviable Napa Valley Estate include:

1. A HUGE GREAT ROOM. A casual living room with a fireplace at one end and a showplace kitchen at the other.

2. BUILT-IN ESPRESSO MACHINE. Preferably a model from Faema.

3. PIZZA OVEN. Most popular: Mugnaini ovens (from $5,000, mugnaini.com).

4. WINEGLASS WASHERS. A commercial model like the Hobart LxiG.

5. POOL CABANA. Daytime temps can run hot and cold and cabanas have become de rigueur.

6. WOOD KITCHEN CABINETS. To give wine country kitchens a rustic look, appliances are covered in wood, not stainless steel.

7. BOCCE COURT. This Italian version of lawn bowling is more popular than golf in Napa Valley.

8. OUTDOOR FIREPLACE AND HEATERS. A necessity for outdoor living in Northern California.

9. DRIVING THE RIGHT CAR. SUVs still reign as the car of choice, especially the BMW X5, Lexus LX 470 and Mercedes ML 500. Most locals have a serious American pickup truck for when they need to do real work, like hauling wood or delivering cases of wine to a restaurant.

10. WINE CAVE. Wine rooms tunneled into the hillside.-S.K.

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