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.
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.
In addition, they added a tasting room, kitchens, a pool, a pool house and replanted the vineyard, along with building wine-making facilities from scratch. There’s currently a 94-acre vineyard that produces 12 varietals. There’s an additional 34 acres of a fallow vineyard, currently unused, which could be replanted or used to build a boutique hotel, subject to county plans and permits.
And then there are the views. The vineyard is also a popular destination for weddings, concerts and other events for up to 200 guests. In addition, there’s a two-bedroom winemakers’ cottage that is 1,040 square feet and is currently a popular Airbnb destination.
The producers are selling because it is time to slow down and spend time with family.
“Villa San Juliette has been an incredible chapter for us, a place of beauty and creativity. But at this stage of our lives, family has become our priority,” Warwick told Gimme Shelter. “With our time increasingly split between Los Angeles and London, the practicalities of frequent travel to Paso Robles make it difficult to give the estate the attention it deserves. It’s time for another family to create their own memories here.”
The auction — organized by Randy Haddaway, founder and CEO of Elite Auctions — includes the vineyards’ inventory of award-winning bottled and bulk wine currently valued at $1.2 million.
“Walking through the vineyards at Villa San Juliette, with those breathtaking views stretching out before you, it’s a world away from the hustle of LA. We’ve had so many wonderful times there, sharing laughter and a glass of our own wine with friends. It’s a place where you can truly unwind and reconnect. Those are the memories we’ll cherish most, and we hope the next owner will create their own equally special moments,” Warwick said.