Foreign Property News | Posted by Hnin Ei Khin
For a taste of Hollywood in California’s Paso Robles Wine Country, check out the 160-acre Villa San Juliette, which was last on the market for $14.75 million — and is heading to auction next month with no minimum bid.
The sellers of the San Luis Obispo County estate, in Central California, are the Emmy Award-winning producers of “American Idol,” Ken Warwick and Nigel Lythgoe.
Guests they’ve entertained at the winery include Priscilla Presley; “American Idol” contestants Kris Allen and Haley Reinhart; and Emmy-, Grammy- and Tony-winner Ben Platt.
The auction will be held on May 17 as the show gears up to crown America’s next idol the evening of May 18 for the show’s Season 23 finale.
(The vineyard comes with two three-bedroom villas plus a fourth two-bedroom winemakers’ cottage.Elite Auctions)
(The stunning estate sits on 160 acres in beautiful Central California.Elite Auctions)
(The vineyard views are endless and sublime.Elite Auctions)
(Nigel Lythgoe.Getty Images for American Ballet Theatre)
(The Tuscan-style vineyard is also an ideal wedding destination.Elite Auctions)
(There are 12 different varietals at the vineyard.Elite Auctions)
(The estate will be auctioned on May 17.Elite Auctions)
(Inviting areas for conversation over a glass or two of wine.Elite Auctions)
Warwick and Lythgoe first listed the property for $22 million in 2022.
Warwick and Lythgoe, two childhood friends from Liverpool, England, had dreamed of owning a vineyard for years before discovering Paso Robles while driving down the Pacific Coast Highway in between auditions for “American Idol.”
They fast fell in love with the area, which is halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and known for its vineyards and olive groves. It’s also a mile and a half from Paso Robles Municipal Airport.
They purchased the property for $5.2 million in 2005, then invested more than $12 million to tear down the original home and build two 3,700-square-foot Tuscan-style, three-bedroom villas.
Ref: American Idol’ producers seek to auction their 160-acre California winery — where A-list guests have included Priscilla Presley Photo Credit- Elite Auctions, Getty Images for American Ballad Theatre