Second homes: Napa County bears fruit for home seekers

— -- Though winemaking in America's cradle of viticulture dates to the 1860s, Napa did not gain prominence until Robert Mondavi opened the first large contemporary winery and welcomed visitors in 1965. This, and a surprising victory in a blind wine tasting against France in 1976, led Napa to explode with restaurants, tourist attractions, hotels, spas, residential developments and wineries.

Less than half the size of neighboring Sonoma County, all of Napa is convenient to the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento; both are about an hour away. The county has retained its rural agricultural feel. Well over half of the 136,000 residents live in one larger city, Napa, and the rest are in small towns, many with just 3,000 to 6,000 inhabitants. Traditionally, vacation-home owners ignored Napa proper, but that is quickly changing.

"The entire county is now a second-home haven," says Mike Silvas, owner of Morgan Lane Realtors. "The city of Napa was blue-collar for decades but is undergoing a renaissance, with new hotels and a gorgeous riverfront mixed-use project. The condos there and in the hotels are almost entirely second homes." Southern Napa County is the more affordable area and closer to San Francisco.

Another recent change in second-home desirability is Calistoga, the county's northernmost major town, which was once considered somewhat isolated. Silvas says it has thrived thanks to Calistoga Ranch, a large resort development offering luxury hotel services and fractional ownership in two-bedroom cottages from $475,000 (calistogaranch.com). "It's been very popular with people who don't want to spend millions."

The median cost of residences for sale exceeds $1 million — or double that — in nearly every popular town, but prices in most begin around $500,000. The exception is the Rutherford/Oakville area, where virtually nothing is offered for under $1 million.

A look at three Napa neighborhoods

•Yountville:In southern Napa, it was the first place settled in the valley, and today it is best known as the county's culinary capital, with Michelin-starred restaurants including The French Laundry. The mile-long town center boasts shops, restaurants and parks, offers easy access to the countryside and is surrounded by top wineries. "It is very popular with second-home owners because it is small, has great food and is closer to San Francisco," says real estate agent Mike Silvas. Prices begin around $500,000 and go skyward.

•Rutherford/Oakville:In the heart of the county, these neighboring towns are small and rural and offer real wine-country living, with easy access to larger St. Helena. Oakville Grocery is a renowned gourmet shop, and the town also is home to the huge Mondavi winery. The cost of land in Napa's "Cabernet country" drives prices here sky-high; modest houses start at more than $1 million.

•St. Helena:North of Oakville, this is considered the county's tourism heart, featuring a charming downtown with shops, restaurants and spas. It is home to the West Coast branch of the Culinary Institute of America and surrounded by top wineries. It is also the epicenter of area olive oil production, home to the Meadowood luxury resort and the northern terminus of the Napa Wine Train. "St. Helena has a wider range of second-home options," Silvas says. "They begin at $500,000, but some go up to $20 million."