YAHOO20 Acres of Los Olivos wine-making real estate is now available in the heart of Santa Ynez Valley for a crisp $5.49 million

Former TBS chairman and CEO (2001-2003) Jamie Kellner and his wife, Julie, who worked as an entertainment banker, are giving wine lovers the opportunity to live in vineyard territory while additionally taking on the reigns as winery owners.

Nestled amid rolling hills and vine-adorned fields is CENT’ANNI, a full-operating winery known for bottling three of the region’s recognizable wines: Riserva, Sangiovese and Bianco. The luxurious purchase of CENT’ANNI includes Chambers & Chambers wine distribution and wine inventory worth $1.6 million-plus (current FOB pricing), a barrel barn, a three-bedroom, one bath caretaker’s residence and the main house, which has three bedrooms and two baths.

“One of the most fun things to do as a winery owner is to stay on top of what’s happening to the flavors of the wine as it ages. We frequently go down and we’ll open a bottle of the new release and then the next one is in the barn in bottles,”the retired exec, who is relocating to Idaho, where he and his wife are building a home, told The Hollywood Reporter.

“We’ll take it backwards from the freshest, youngest of the wines and see how the wine progresses from being basically grape juice into being fine wine,” the former chairman of ACME Broadcasting continued.

Purchase of the property and its two residential buildings also includes hilltop land that is ready for development, access to the vineyard’s principal winemaker (Douglas Margerum) behind the label, and a tasting room in downtown Santa Barbara (32 El Paso).

After soaking in the spanning views of the surrounding 12,000-plus vine vineyard, homeowners can enjoy a glass of wine from their favorite CENT’ANNI bottle in the comfort of the main two-story abode. Completely remodeled on its interior, the home is furnished with hardwood floors; a chef’s kitchen complete with marble countertops and high-end appliances; and French doors that lead out onto a brick downstairs patio overlooking the estate.

“One of the unique things about the valley and our property, because it’s a little higher up off the valley, is the cool breeze that comes through in the afternoons – even in the warmth of summer,” Jamie told THR. “Your temperature range on a daily basis is very wide. You can sit out on the patio under the trees and enjoy a glass of wine with a lovely westerly breeze coming in off of the ocean.”

In addition, residents can enjoy the large variation of oak and fruit trees, pond and lush gardens on the private, gated property, which also includes a well.

The now retired exec implores that the most important thing the succeeding owner of the farmhouse winery embody is the “love the wine,” explaining that theirs is “a very unique wine” and the opportunity for the brand and its business model is “enormous.”

Though Jamie admits that the barrel barn is his favorite location on the property, he has a special affinity for his entire slice of the valley: “It’s a magical and special place.”

Nancy Ross and Laura Barton of Ross & Barton team at Partners Trust, and Clarice Clarke and Stephen Leider, both with Lee & Associates, are the listing agents.