Private Client Services for Luxury Buyers

Berghof Realty • Private Client Services

Private Client Services for Luxury Buyers

Discreet, strategic guidance for acquiring vineyard estates, ranches, equestrian properties, wineries, and legacy homes across Napa Valley and Sonoma County.

Schedule a Confidential Buyer Consultation Explore Luxury & Vineyards Advisory

Designed for buyers who value privacy, leverage, and a steady process—especially when the “right” property may not be publicly marketed.

What We Do

Berghof Realty provides Private Client Services for discerning buyers acquiring luxury property in Northern California Wine Country—Napa and Sonoma counties. We advise on the full acquisition journey: discovery, strategy, due diligence, negotiation, and closing.

Unlike traditional high-volume brokerage models, our Private Client Services approach is intentionally selective. That means deeper property research, tighter confidentiality, and a more structured path to the right outcome.

Related resources: Client Reviews · Home Selling Success System · Legacy Estate Transition Services

Luxury home in Wine Country represented by Berghof Realty Private Client Services

Ideal for

  • Buyers who require discretion and controlled exposure
  • Complex purchases (legacy properties, rural assets, multi-structure estates)
  • Out-of-area buyers who need a trusted local operator
  • Buyers who want negotiation leverage—not noise

You can expect

  • A clear strategy before you tour extensively
  • Due diligence that goes beyond the brochure
  • Confidential coordination with your professional team
  • Structured communication and calm execution

How We Do It

Luxury purchases succeed when the process is disciplined. We start by understanding what you’re truly optimizing for—lifestyle, privacy, access, views, architecture, operational requirements (vineyard, equestrian, ranch), and long-term legacy intent.

We use our proprietary Emotional Motivator™ process to translate preferences into decision criteria—so you’re not just viewing properties, you’re narrowing toward the right one with confidence.

When appropriate, we coordinate with your financial, legal, and management teams to ensure the acquisition supports long-term estate planning and operational goals.

Schedule a Confidential Buyer Consultation
Private Client Services experience for luxury buyers in Napa and Sonoma

Step 1

Discovery & Buyer Strategy

  • Define your non-negotiables, preferences, and timeline
  • Clarify privacy and access requirements
  • Establish search boundaries and decision criteria

Step 2

Search, Screening & Due Diligence

  • Targeted search including discreet opportunities when available
  • Property screening to avoid wasted tours
  • Risk-aware due diligence support (structure, land, access, insurance, etc.)

Step 3

Negotiation & Controlled Execution

  • Offer strategy aligned with leverage and your priorities
  • Confidential coordination with professionals and timelines
  • Clear communication through closing

Areas of Expertise

  • Luxury Estates
  • Vineyard Estates
  • Wineries
  • Luxury Equestrian Estates
  • Ranches
  • Corporate Retreats
  • Napa & Sonoma Luxury Properties

Looking at legacy properties as part of a broader family plan? Explore Legacy Estate Transition.

Equestrian and ranch property expertise for Napa and Sonoma luxury buyers

Ernest Berghof

Mr. Ernest Berghof is the Broker/CEO of Berghof Realty and personally leads Private Client Services engagements for qualified buyers.

With deep relationships across the Wine Country luxury market, Mr. Berghof brings structured strategy, steady negotiation, and careful due diligence to high-stakes acquisitions.

Before founding Berghof Realty, Mr. Berghof built his career in technology leadership and marketing (including roles at Autodesk, Yahoo!, and Apple), then transitioned into real estate and developed a proven, system-driven approach to luxury transactions.

Proof & credibility: Read client reviews · Luxury & Vineyards Advisory

Ernest Berghof, Broker/CEO of Berghof Realty

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of luxury properties do you help buyers acquire?
We advise buyers acquiring vineyard estates, ranches, equestrian estates, wineries, corporate retreats, and legacy properties in Napa Valley and Sonoma County.
How do Private Client Services differ from a typical real estate experience?
Private Client Services are intentionally selective and strategy-led—focused on confidentiality, deeper due diligence, and a controlled process designed for high-stakes purchases.
Can you help with discreet opportunities and off-market properties?
When appropriate, we pursue controlled, discreet outreach strategies and leverage trusted relationships to identify opportunities that may not be widely marketed.
What is the Emotional Motivator™ process?
It’s our proprietary framework that converts lifestyle goals and preferences into clear decision criteria—helping you evaluate properties with clarity, confidence, and consistency.
Who will I work with directly?
Ernest Berghof leads Private Client Services engagements, supported by a trusted team of professionals and your existing legal/financial advisors as needed.

Start with a Confidential Buyer Conversation

Share your goals and timeline. We’ll outline a clear strategy and next steps—without pressure and without noise.

Schedule a Confidential Buyer Consultation

Luxury Properties in Sonoma & Napa Counties

750 Conn Valley Rd, St. Helena
$100,000,000
14 Beds ⋅ 10 Baths ⋅ 326048295 MLS
Once in a lifetime, an opportunity emerges that transcends the ordinary definition of real estate. Glendale Ranch, a property spanning over 2,000 acres just 3 miles from Main Street, St. Helena, is one of Napa Valley's last great private estates, a self-contained world of rolling oak woodlands, ancient Douglas fir forests, cascading waterways, and heritage vineyards that have produced legendary Napa wine for over a century. Glendale offers absolute seclusion and world-class accessibility. A sanctuary that has sheltered visionary stewards from the Younts to the Rutherfords. Astounding ecological diversity rivals any protected parkland in the region, making Glendale one of the most biodiverse private landholdings remaining in the Napa Valley. At the center of it all is the historic White House, built in the 1880s, perched atop a grassy knoll with soaring ceilings, wrap-around porches, and timeless grandeur. Three additional homes across 17 parcels make this an extraordinary opportunity for a private family compound. Water is among Glendale's most extraordinary assets. A 7-acre private lake, ponds, wells, and the year-round Conn Creek with secured water rights collectively form one of the most robust water systems in Napa. Infrastructure, from 1.5 miles of paved roads to 5.5 miles of improved dirt roads and an extensive network of utilities and water, offers countless possibilities bound only by imagination. You are invited to become the next steward of Napa Valley's largest and most irreplaceable estate.

750 Conn Valley Rd, St. Helena
6015 Steele Canyon Rd, Napa
$75,000,000
326069233 MLS
Napa Valley's historic 788-acre Moskowite Estate & Winery, offered for sale for the first time. Nestled in the eastern sector of the Napa Valley AVA, just 14 miles east of the renowned Silverado Country Club and neighboring prestigious wineries such as Kenzo, Jarvis, and Altamura, this extraordinary estate is a hidden gem featuring rare, grandfathered, and highly coveted entitlements. Few properties ever offered for sale in Napa Valley can rival the combination of development rights, natural resources, and geographic features found here. The Estate & Winery has the potential to become Napa Valley's premier destination, thanks to its exceptional historic entitlements. These rights include the ability to fly directly into the property's private airport, swim and boat on the 500-acre-foot lake, host weddings and special events, construct a restaurant and/or hotel, and conduct unlimited wine tastings within its 40-acre winery footprint. Surrounded by 17 acres of pristine Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards, planted 7-10 years ago, the estate features a permitted 100,000-gallon production facility, tasting room, and stunning cave complex. In total, this amazing contiguous 788-acre property has 179 acres planted, most under a long-term contract. Tucked beneath its own hillside, from which the cave system originates, the historic winery complex features a two-story, double-gabled building clad in river rock and encompassing 3,000 square feet. The property also includes a newly constructed outdoor wedding venue complete with a stage and bar area, a covered crush pad, office space, two restrooms, and substantial level, undeveloped land suitable for a commercially entitled hotel and restaurant. Two abundant water sources including the 500-acre-foot lake further enhance the property's development potential. In addition, 20 acres of contiguous, level land, partially planted with vineyards, are available for expansion and entitled to be developed into one-acre homesites. Strategically positioned at the highly trafficked intersection of the region's two primary thoroughfares, the winery is uniquely situated to capitalize on its status as the only Napa Valley estate and winery offering a private airport, lake, tasting room, production facilities, and the potential for a hotel and restaurant all within a contiguous 13-parcel property. The famous phrase, build it and they will come, aptly describes this exceptional opportunity.

6015 Steele Canyon Rd, Napa
1535 Sage Canyon Rd, St. Helena
$40,000,000
4 Beds ⋅ 5 Baths ⋅ 326027159 MLS
Gandona Wine Estate is located on prestigious Pritchard Hill and represents a rare opportunity to steward one of Napa Valley's most significant mountain vineyard estates. Sited up the very private middle driveway of Pritchard Hill Gandona enjoys glorious, elevated views over Lake Hennessey. The over 100+ acre estate boasts +/- 18 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, offering scale, credibility, quality and scarcity that define the very best of Napa Valley. Existing entitlements and turn-key improvements consist of a 20,000-gallon production permit, anchored by a +/- 3,500-square-foot winery and tasting room, together with a newly expanded +/- 8,000-square-foot cave, crush pad, and infrastructure thoughtfully designed to support future expansion. The Estate provides an established ultra-luxury platform for continued production and long-term growth from one of Napa Valley's most coveted terroirs. The +/- 5,000-square-foot main residence captivate the lake views beautifully. Construction materials include large stones sourced from on site vineyard and cave development, large scale steel sturctural elements, concrete, limestone and imported Portuguese tile. Four luxurious en-suite bedrooms provide comfort and privacy. The guest house and cottage are located in the vines provide separation and privacy yet offer the same lake views. Throughout the Estate, majestic oak trees, dramatic natural boulders, and sweeping views create a setting that is both striking and unmistakably Pritchard Hill/Napa Valley. An opportunity of this prestige, scale, and infrastructure rarely becomes available. Gandona, at this moment provides a rare opportunity to join Napa Valley's enduring legacy of world-class wine producers.

1535 Sage Canyon Rd, St. Helena
960 Conn Valley Rd, St. Helena
$35,000,000
3 Beds ⋅ 7 Baths ⋅ 326072458 MLS
La Herradura Ranch spans 151 acres in St. Helena's Conn Valley, bringing together historic architecture, modern living, vineyard, water, and exceptional infrastructure just four miles from downtown. At the center is a restored 1887 stone winery, now an extraordinary 5,424 sq. ft. gathering space with a grand fireplace, expansive glass doors, catering kitchen, and adjoining lawns. The 2,465 sq. ft. main residence, newly completed in 2024 and designed by Sasha Janev, offers 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, and seamless indoor-outdoor living. Additional structures include: 1,390 sq. ft. dwelling; 980 sq. ft. cottage; 438 sq. ft. lake house; 3,542 sq. ft. horse barn, and additional agricultural buildings. Also benefiting the ranch is a 105 acre-foot private lake used for swimming, fishing, and boating; 25.91 acres of vineyard planted in 2020 to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Sauvignon Blanc; and approximately 47.4 of additional plantable acres. Two access points, wells, lake-fed irrigation and frost protection, underground utilities, generators, updated septic systems, roads, and trails support and enhance the property. Additionally, the property currently has standard homeowner's insurance making this a rare Napa Valley holding where land, water, history, and possibility come together.

960 Conn Valley Rd, St. Helena
13800 Hwy 128, Calistoga
$35,000,000
5 Beds ⋅ 6 Baths ⋅ 326038485 MLS
Featured by The Wall Street Journal and Architectural Digest, Ghost Donkey Ranch was envisioned as a place where the landscape would lead and architecture would follow quietly behind. Spanning 227 acres in the coveted enclave of Knights Valley, set between Calistoga and Healdsburg at the convergence of Napa and Sonoma's most celebrated wine regions, the ranch unfolds from the valley floor to rolling hills beneath a canopy of native oaks. Redwood Creek traces one boundary, while surrounding ranches and storied vineyards reinforce a sense of pastoral seclusion. Set discreetly behind neighboring properties, the ranch is remarkably private. The residence appears almost as a mirage, a refined steel and glass structure clad in stone, rising from wild grasslands. Both grounded and ethereal, it evokes the feeling of a glass walled tent, dissolving the boundary between interior and landscape. Two dramatic hydraulic, airplane hangar style windows open the home entirely to its surroundings, transforming walls into horizons. The estate includes a 4,200 sq ft main house with three bedrooms, two full baths, and one half bath, along with two detached guest casitas, a 10 car motor court, and a four car garage at the main house. More than a residence, Ghost Donkey Ranch is a living system grounded in regenerative principles, a place to live lightly, responsibly, and in harmony with the natural world. The land is home to an assortment of animals, including donkeys, and is maintained without pesticides or chemical agents, water usage is minimal, and native ecosystems are preserved. Ghost Donkey Ranch is a private world of architectural restraint, natural beauty, and a profound sense of place, designed not to be noticed but to be felt.

13800 Hwy 128, Calistoga
1590 Mckinley Rd, Napa
$24,777,000
7 Beds ⋅ 9 Baths ⋅ 325086669 MLS
Set on five private acres at the end of a long gated drive, this newly constructed Napa Valley compound redefines modern wine country living. Collaboratively envisioned by architect Alan Page and Bette Abbott Interior Design and completed in October 2025 by renowned builder Vine Homes. The grounds encompass an impressive main residence with two attached garages, two guest houses, and two separate garages - one designed for the avid car collector or the ideal entertainment barn. Designed for grand-scale entertaining and relaxed wine country living, the expansive interiors open to a series of outdoor spaces that celebrate the region's signature indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Recreational amenities include a pickleball court, bocce court, fitness area, pool and spa, a covered pool lounge with an outdoor kitchen and bar, and a private trail that extends around the perimeter of the property. 1.5 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon vines and raised culinary gardens. An iconic residence of rare craftsmanship and vision, where every line, finish, and proportion reflects an unwavering commitment to design, quality, and technology. High-speed fiber optic internet, radiant floors, zoned AC, outdoor heaters, and warm floors in the covered patios and loggias.

1590 Mckinley Rd, Napa
Eucalyptus Drive, American Canyon
$23,000,000
326009581 MLS
Approximately 22.9 acres zoned medium density currently. Development opportunities. Do not trespass on land.

Eucalyptus Drive, American Canyon
6697 Westside Rd, Healdsburg
$22,000,000
12 Beds ⋅ 14 Baths ⋅ 326086344 MLS
Set within Healdsburg's famed Russian River Valley, the Flax Estate and Vineyard spans 52 acres of privacy, stunning contemporary architecture, and world-class wine country living. Spanning two private parcels, this secluded retreat seamlessly balances contemporary luxury with its historic farmhouse and its direct Russian River access. The property is anchored by a dramatic, contemporary main residencea four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath masterpiece thoughtfully designed around majestic heritage oaks. Floor-to-ceiling glass, frames sweeping, uninterrupted views across the valley floor to the region's iconic peaks: Mount St. Helena, Fitch Mountain, and the Geysers. Steeped in history, the estate's historic six-bedroom, six-bath farmhouse once owned by the acclaimed actor Fred MacMurray exudes timeless Wine Country with interiors by celebrated designer, Ken Fulk. Its grounds feature a resort-style wellness complex complete with a 75-foot swimming pool, oversized spa, stand-alone gym, and sauna. Surrounding this pool area is a tennis court, bocce court, outdoor shower, and manicured fruit orchards alongside vibrant flower and vegetable gardens. A more recently built, unique entertainment barn offers a sophisticated setting for hosting memorable parties. Positioned near the private entrance to the property sits a beautifully rebuilt two-bedroom, one-bath cottage providing flexible accommodations for family, guests, or resident staff. At the heart of the estate lies a 26 acre, organically farmed vineyard producing world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Exclusively managed and crafted by DuMOL Winery, the vineyard's "Flax Estate" designate consistently produces highly sought-after vintages revered by collectors worldwide. Few properties so effortlessly unite architectural distinction, storied history, world-class viticulture, and the natural beauty o f the Russian River making Flax Estate Vineyard a truly singular offering in the heart of Wine Country. The property is offered turn-key and furnished.

6697 Westside Rd, Healdsburg
247 Fisher Ln, Sonoma
$19,995,000
10 Beds ⋅ 11 Baths ⋅ 326024791 MLS
What Takes Years Is Already Done. First time offered on the market, 195-247 Fisher Lane presents a rare opportunity to acquire a design-forward legacy-scale compound spanning approximately nine acres in the heart of Sonoma Valley. Beyond the existing residences, guest accommodations, pool, and established grounds, the property's most significant advantage lies beneath the surface: critical infrastructure and systems are already in place to support substantial future expansion, with septic capacity for up to 17 bedrooms installed and ready for use. This critical infrastructure creates significant expansion potential while potentially saving years of planning, capital, and development complexity. 195 Fisher Lane, set on approximately six acres, centers around a thoughtfully updated 1920s residence with three bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths, complemented by a separate two-bedroom, one-bath guest cottagean inviting retreat grounded in Sonoma's architectural heritage. Several expansive, level and highly usable acreage remain. At 247 Fisher Lane, a newly constructed 2025 residence provides a contemporary counterpoint across level grounds. The property includes a 4,377-square-foot main residence, a 965-square-foot lofted space above the garage, and a 639-square-foot guest house, with interiors balancing modern livability and elevated design. The groundwork has been donepotentially saving years of planning, significant capital, and development complexity while allowing the next owner to immediately enjoy the estate and pursue a larger vision over time. Two properties. Approximately nine acres of flat, usable acres, tucked among mature oaks and creeks, 195-247 Fisher Lane offers the rare combination of accessibility, privacy, and scale Just off Broadway, five minutes from Sonoma Plaza and approximately 45 minutes from the Golden Gate Bridge. A place of possibility, ready to evolve into a singular, extraordinary vision still to come.

247 Fisher Ln, Sonoma
40 Long Ranch Rd, St. Helena
$19,500,000
6 Beds ⋅ 8 Baths ⋅ 326074851 MLS
A Napa Valley estate of extraordinary scale and beauty. Set on 100 acres with 2 legal parcels just minutes from the Silverado Trail in St. Helena, this remarkable private compound unfolds above Lake Hennessey with sweeping water and vineyard views, exceptional privacy, and an extraordinary collection of residences and amenities. At the heart of the estate is a newly remodeled 8,500 sq. ft. residence, where refined architecture meets relaxed Wine Country living. Four bedrooms, four full and two half baths are complemented by two private offices, a sun-filled solarium dining room, wine cellar, chef's kitchen, and expansive pantry. Venetian plaster walls, floor-to-ceiling Chinkapin oak pocket doors, custom ironwork, walnut hardwood and French limestone floors bring warmth and sophistication throughout. An infinity-edge pool seemingly disappears into the lake beyond, while two detached guest houses approximately 1,000 enjoy their own 60-foot lap pool. Beyond the residences, mature gardens and fountains frame a series of intimate and grand entertaining spaces. A full-size tennis court, bocce court, approximately one acre of coveted Pritchard Hill Cabernet vines, and spectacular Lake Hennessey views complete this one-of-a-kind Napa Valley retreat. Private, timeless and virtually impossible to replicate.

40 Long Ranch Rd, St. Helena
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