Domaine Chardonnay — How a husband-and-wife design duo turned 2,000 vines into a wine-country hideaway
My husband and I always had a dream of living and working on a vineyard, making our own wine, designing and building our own home, complete with a small Bed & Breakfast, so that we could share this dream with others.
After searching for land in every wine region in California, from Napa to San Diego, we finally stumbled upon our property and instantly knew it was home.
An old 5-acre Chardonnay vineyard in the heart of Temecula’s wine country that was planted back in the 1980s, it is a unique piece of property on a gently rolling hill with 2,000 vines that were in need of various states of repair and care.
It was exactly what we were looking for. We fell in love with Temecula, a small agricultural valley dotted with vineyards, orchards, estate homes, and a small burgeoning wine region.
Building Domaine Chardonnay
Literal blood, sweat, and tears, and on a tight budget, we finally moved into our life’s creation three years later, which we lovingly called Domaine Chardonnay (the estate of Chardonnay).
Mike is the mastermind architect and landscape architect, designing and overseeing the building and landscape. I, the interior designer and businesswoman, and marketing wiz with the magic touch for impeccable detail and whimsical design.
We discovered through the process that we were that magical designer dream team one would see on TV.
The beauty and appeal of Domaine’s indoor-outdoor living, bold yet delicate and luxurious design, and tapping into the harmonious existence with the surrounding vineyard soon attracted visitors from San Diego to Europe and beyond …and our calendar filled up.
A Private, Guest-Only Winery Experience
Not open to the general public, the unique experience of Domaine Chardonnay lies in the opportunity for its overnight guests to experience what it is like to live on a private winery estate like we do and enjoy the serene and peaceful surroundings of the vineyards and mountains alongside us, the owners.
Each of Domaine’s three (soon to be six!) guest suites are laid out like an independent small apartment with all the comforts of a luxurious home, including large soaking tubs and large private outdoor areas to enjoy the views and sunshine.
In-Suite Wine & Personalized Service
Although the estate has no public tasting room, guests can order from Domaine Chardonnay Estate’s 14 different varietals of DeCoupage, award-winning handcrafted estate wines by the bottle or wine flight, and have it served to their guest suites along with other fine amenities like lavish charcuterie boards and bouquets of roses to enhance their stay.
A small and intimate property, Domaine is big on service and personalized attention, where every guest’s need is met or anticipated.
Recognition & Reputation
Five years later, hosting thousands of happy overnight guests, Domaine Chardonnay has become known as one of the premier destinations for a quintessential wine country experience in California and is chosen by Fodor’s Travel as the #1 Choice to stay in Temecula in the San Diego North County region.
But getting here was definitely not a smooth ride. Building a new home or a new business is never easy, and we definitely had our share of drama and stress.
The Bumpy Road to Opening
Our dreams were almost not realized right out of the starting gate. After almost a year of office work to apply for a construction loan, we desperately need to close before the year’s end as our other businesses were taking a dramatic change that would leave our future uncertain.
After jumping through so many hoops, unexpected obstacles (too many to list them all here) including having to procure new documents last minute, remove a forgotten lien on the property and then drive an hour to get documents signed and notarized in person, we finally got the phone call that the loan closed on the LAST day of the year at 3 pm, Friday, December 29th literally right before the banks closed for 2018!
I can’t even tell you how we felt in that moment when we got that confirmation call that the loan successfully closed and was funded!
Setbacks, Heat Waves & Inspections
And then during our building, we had so many challenges and hardships. We had our GC have a major personal tragedy and was MIA for periods here and there, it rained 3 weeks straight when we were trying to get our roof done, blistering 110′ heat when we had construction tasks that Mike & I had to complete out in the sun…
The cherry on the top was that we didn’t pass final inspection because of a simple mistake on our contractor’s part on the same day Mike had to go out of the country for work, and I was left in the uncompleted house with no electricity because we already (prematurely) moved out of the cramped 2-bedroom apartment we were renting.
I was stuck in the house until after dark with several new contractors trying to get our bedroom completed and furnished before Mike got home (which was very uncomfortable, but thankfully nothing bad happened)…but then, it gets worse…
At 8 pm, Mike calls in a panic that his flight that night got canceled last minute and the airline rescheduled it for a week later! After several calls, I was finally able to help him find a new flight home for the next day, with 3 plane changes.
Through the process, we have learned so much, especially how to be strong, stay positive, be flexible, and never give up.
These are just a few stories of the oh so many… Many more stories regarding all the interesting people who have stayed with us from all over the world (royal family from Tonga!?), and all the crazy and sometimes stressful incidents we have had, the big wins and the occasional losses…I could write a book…
What’s Next: “Petite Domaine” (Phase 2)
And now Mike and I are heading into our next chapter of this crazy book we call life for us. We are in the middle of expanding Domaine Chardonnay, phase 2, also affectionately known as ‘Petite Domaine’ …although the child has already outgrown the parent in size!
Three more luxurious guest suites, each 700+ square feet, another kitchen and laundry for staff, a wine bar exclusively for our invited hotel guests and wine club members, and an outdoor walled courtyard with bistro tables, fire pits, and fountains.
This giant art project, a labor of love, is scheduled to open in the summer of 2026!
So far, we are on track, but I promised Mike not to put too much pressure on him, as this time he is also taking on the plumbing, the electrical, the finish carpentry, the landscaping, and whatever else I may need help with on the interiors, like wallpaper and assembling furniture!
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Laura has been in the fashion and interior design industries for over 30 years. A graduate of the Parsons School of Design, she lived and worked in Europe for many years, from Paris to Milan, Rome, Madrid, and London. She owned and designed for her own high-end fashion company, called Novecento, for 20 years in L.A., Laguna Beach, and Newport Coast, with high-end boutiques and wholesaling to boutiques and department stores. Throughout her long and varied career, Laura has also been and still is a fine artist, graphic artist, photographer, creative writer, businesswoman, and she also still works for private clients as an interior designer. She is, of course, the interior designer for Domaine Chardonnay, as well as the creative and administrative mind and driving force behind Domaine Chardonnay’s marketing and daily operations, and all things ‘Domaine Chardonnay Luxury Stay’.
