Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark today announced that Brutocao Family Vineyards is actively promoting the sale of an approximately seven-acre site, known as the Hopland Schoolhouse Plaza, in an effort to create a destination venue to complement the existing tasting room, bocce ball courts, restaurant, chapel and event center.
“Our father had a specific vision for this property,” said Steve Brutocao, president of Brutocao Family Vineyards and Bliss Family Vineyards. “His dream was to create a center of activity for Hopland and beyond. We have worked to see this materialize for many years and by selling the property to an investor with a shared vision, we are confident it can finally happen. We are excited about the possibilities to transform Schoolhouse Plaza into Mendocino County’s gateway for food, wine, lodging and events.”
The Brutocaos have engaged Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark in Santa Rosa to market the property and produce a plan to develop lodging facilities to complement the existing site offerings as the winery and vineyard business expands. Kevin Foster and Preston Smith, senior associate and senior vice president, respectively, of Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark’s Wine Services Group, represent Hopland Schoolhouse Plaza for sale.
Schoolhouse Plaza will continue to host the tasting room for Brutocao and Bliss Family Vineyards artisan wines and olive oils and the Brutocao family has no plans of changing that.
“This move will allow us to partner with an expert in hospitality-focused real estate development so that we may continue to focus on making and selling the highest quality wines from our own ranches in Hopland and Philo,” added Mr. Brutocao. “With a fully developed Plaza, we hope to attract and welcome visitors from all over the world, as well as continue to provide an amenity-filled social venue to our wine club members and the local community who continue to support Schoolhouse Plaza.”
Schoolhouse Plaza is the site of the historic Hopland High School and includes the original schoolhouse and gymnasium buildings. The school operated from 1923-1965 and is located at the center of downtown Hopland at the crossroads of Highways 101 and 175. The Brutocao family purchased the site in 1998 and completed major renovations at that time. The site now houses gardens, six regulation lighted bocce courts, an expansive wine tasting room, a restaurant, two wood-fired pizza ovens, a wedding chapel as well as retail and office space and an events center with conference rooms.
Providing customized services to an important global industry, Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark’s Wine Services Group is a specialty brokerage division focused on the sale and financing of wineries, vineyards and land. This specialized team also leases and sells wine production, warehousing and distribution facilities throughout the country. For additional information on the Wine Services Group, visit www.ccareynkf.com/specialty/wineservices.html.
About Brutocao and Bliss Family Vineyards:
Brutocao Family Vineyards’ roots go back three generations to Venice, Italy. When the Brutocao family came to the New World and married into the Bliss family of farmers, it was only natural that they would combine their passions and become grape growers and winemakers. Today, the family still blends its Italian heritage with its rural agricultural lifestyle to make some of California’s finest wines. After growing grapes since the 1940’s, the Brutocao family released its first wine with the 1980 vintage. Today the family produces over 30 wines from 15 varietals of fruit grown on their 500+ acres of estate vineyards in Southern Mendocino County and Anderson Valley. Brutocao and Bliss Family Vineyards wines include Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc as well as unique Italian varietals including Primitivo, Barbera, Sangiovese, Dolcetto and the proprietary Quadriga, a blend of all four of their Italian varietals. Brutocao and Bliss operate tasting rooms at the Hopland Schoolhouse Plaza, Philo and Sonoma. The Hopland plaza offers private vineyard weddings, hospitality, events and conference facilities and is home to six Olympic-sized bocce courts. Guests can enjoy a glass of wine and play bocce daily free of charge or join the Brutocao Spring or Summer Bocce League. For additional information, visit www.brutocaocellars.com and www.blissvineyard.com.
About Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark
A dominant regional real estate force since 1935, Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark has an expansive reach as part of one of the largest commercial real estate service firms in the U.S. Regionally, Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark has more than 310 agents in 13 strategically located offices throughout Northern California, creating a powerful platform from which to deliver superior services locally, while upholding its core values of integrity and knowledge. For further information, visit www.ccareynkf.com.
About Newmark Grubb Knight Frank
Newmark Grubb Knight Frank is one of the largest commercial real estate service firms in the U.S. and together with its affiliates and London-based partner Knight Frank employs over 11,000 professionals operating from more than 300 offices globally, with over 680 million square feet under management. A major force in the real estate marketplace, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank is meeting the local and global needs of tenants, owners, investors and developers worldwide. For further information, visit www.newmarkkf.com.
Newmark Grubb Knight Frank is a part of BGC Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: BGCP), a leading global brokerage company primarily servicing the wholesale financial and real estate markets. For further information, visit www.bgcpartners.com.