| A drab, rundown piece of property sat seven years | | | | in Mendocino County. His nearly 600 acre estate is |
| on the market. Since my visit in 2003 it gained an | | | | hidden, too, just north of the ranch. There are many |
| amenity a year, instituted by the Gaines family, owners | | | | vintners in the area if you want to go off on a wine |
| since 1987. It's a progressive hide-away and I doubt | | | | tasting trip, but at dinner meals you can taste as much |
| they'll be running out of room to continue further | | | | as you want at the ranch.How to get there.There are |
| additions. Highland Ranch is tucked away next to | | | | two entrances to the ranch, the north and the south. I |
| Hendy Woods State Park featuring a hundred miles of | | | | drove in from the south, taking Highway 101 out of San |
| trails in an old growth redwood forest. It sits a mile and | | | | Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge, through |
| half as the crow flies above Philo, California at an | | | | Sausalito, Petaluma, and Rohnert Park. At junction 128 |
| elevation of 1000 feet obscured further by surrounding | | | | West where a grand redwood lumber mill sits, turn left. |
| apple orchards, vineyards, and nearby olive orchards in | | | | Follow that road approximately one mile and turn right. |
| Anderson Valley, Mendocino County. Californians call | | | | This is the actual Highway 128 and Philo is twenty-five |
| this the North Shore.This ranch stands alone for being | | | | more miles. Watch for the town of Booneville and you'll |
| the oldest working guest ranch in the hills there. It's not | | | | know you are headed in the right direction.It is a |
| an architectural masterpiece, but its countenance takes | | | | narrow and winding road, doted on by sentinels of |
| a person back to the 'good old days'. You see, I'm | | | | eucalyptus, redwood, conifer and oak forming a |
| from Wyoming and I've seen plenty of ranches and | | | | canopy. You're engulfed as you maneuver the twists |
| even worked on some, so I was really taken back. | | | | and turns. It's a leisurely, constitutional drive that will |
| The fully restored yellow, hundred-year-old ranch is | | | | stroke you with shade and slap you awake if you get |
| welcoming and cozy. You might think about taking a | | | | too lulled, with glimpses of sun.Philo is a small grower's |
| peek. The down-home, friendly atmosphere and home | | | | community and in the middle of town at 8500 Highway |
| cooked gourmet meals brings returning guests year | | | | 128 you can turn left to the private entrance of the |
| after year.According to George Gaines when he | | | | ranch. The landmark is the Union 76 gas station. You'll |
| purchased the property the roof sagged and weeds | | | | need the gate code to go this way, so call ahead for it. |
| grew through the porch, walls and windows. He | | | | You'll reach a "Y", where the road turns to dirt. Stay to |
| commented that he wasn't too concerned over costs | | | | the left here.If you get to the locked iron gate without a |
| at the time, because, after all, the water was free | | | | code, you might be glad you did. Driving over a skinny, |
| when it rained. I found George quite amusing | | | | one-lane bridge with rapids below racked my nerves. If |
| considering he is a Princeton alumnus and retired | | | | this happens, turn around, and take the north entrance. |
| lawyer.Walls in the main house are adorned with the | | | | If you continue on here, once you are through the gate |
| life and times of the Gaines family antics and a | | | | you'll crest a hill where the road turns right and drops |
| collection of George's well-worn hats. Historical pictures | | | | to view the main yellow ranch house, stables, and |
| dot the walls, including a photo of his days as the | | | | cabins.The north entrance has the "Highland Ranch" |
| Captain of Princeton's rowing team taken in the | | | | sign by it. It is about twelve miles north of the gas |
| 1950s.There were a lot of favored parts of my trip; the | | | | station, and again you will have to hang a left. It is a |
| solitude and scenery alone, made my heart throb, | | | | winding,uphill climb through the woods on another dirt |
| much less the offering of a "welcome home" | | | | road. You might feel lost, as I did, but if you turned at |
| atmosphere. It was my first taste of that particular part | | | | the sign, you're on the right trail.Locals make regular |
| of the California coastal mountains and I drank it all in | | | | trips to relax with a meal served home-style and |
| on horseback. I retract that, I drank more in on wine, | | | | casual in the expansive dining area, three times a day. |
| too.I received a "grape" education. The climate is | | | | The kitchen is equipped with a commercial stove and |
| indeed cool in October. I learned the well-drained soil | | | | oven, an island cutting table, sinks and handy pots |
| conditions and coolness offer growers an | | | | hanging overhead giving an "old World" feel. The dining |
| envrironment similar to Champagne, France. (By all | | | | room has three long tables with a mix of period chairs |
| means, take long-johns.). Here grapes mature slowly | | | | encircling each one. An interesting collection of plates |
| balancing acid and sugar.It seemed everyone stayed | | | | dots every wall and cornice. The view through the |
| somewhat to themselves to relax or just take care of | | | | windows in the dining room showcase the flower |
| business. According to reports a fifth generation | | | | garden, hummingbird feeders, and fruit weighing down |
| Roederer searched since the late 70s for enviromental | | | | grapevines and fig trees in October. |
| conditions similar to his French property and he found it | | | | |