Robin Williams’s Villa of Smiles Just Made Its New Owner Very Happy

Robin Williams by Bonnie Schiffman, Napa Valley 1982

When Robin Williams died in 2014, he left behind family, hundreds of friends, millions of fans, a long legacy of stand-up comedy, several classic movies and a home in the Napa Valley that has just sold after almost four years on the market. The Napa Valley estate that beloved funnyman Robin Williams built in 2003 and tried to sell before his untimely death has finally sold for $18.1 million to French winemakers Alfred Tesseron and his niece Melanie Tesseron.

Williams initially asked $35 million for the 639 acre Vineyard, whose 20,000-square-foot main home he dubbed Villa Sorriso, or Villa of Smiles. The home has been on and off the market since 2012, with multiple price cuts.

Inspired by the Palladian architectural style of the 1700s, the villa boasts five bedrooms, eight baths, a library, pool room, elevator, and luxurious screening room worthy of an Oscar and Golden Globe winner.

The villa and its 24 acres of vineyards in the Mount Veeder appellation are located about 80 miles north of San Francisco and abut Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.

Sure, it looks like Tuscany, Italy, but Robin’s California estate is nestled in the Mayacamas Mountains between Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

Villa Sorriso is located in the Mayacama Mountains, straddling the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, set majestically among 23 acres of vineyards and olive groves on 653 acres. Views over the valley are classic Napa and the land is blessed with a natural spring-fed fishing pond, groomed and landscaped grounds with tennis court, large infinity-edge pool, nine-stall horse barn and riding trails. There are over 100 olive trees which can produce 30-50 gallons of oil per year, approximately 18.4 acres of vineyards producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc wines.

The home’s elite craftsmanship begins with an imported Portuguese limestone exterior and continues inside with gold leaf and verdigris ceilings in the library and master suite, oak panels with mother-of-pearl inlays, and mosaic glass tile rotundas.

The three-level Mediterranean-style villa measures about 20,000 square feet with five bedrooms and eleven baths. It has a picturesque bell tower, a 12-seat theater, billiards room and climate-controlled cellars. The separate guest house includes four additional bedrooms.

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Who needs art when you have giant windows framing the picturesque landscape…

Another room with a view. A beautiful cosy dinning room.

Being cooped up in the kitchen must feel like a treat when you have an adjoining terrace.

With summer lasting six months in wine country, you’ll be grateful for the sixty-five foot infinity-edge swimming pool. Surrounded by antique European stone decking, a lawn and multi-tiered sculpture garden, this is an area that promises legendary outdoor events

Antique European stone terraces overlook the grounds, including a 65-foot infinity edge swimming pool with a wading pool and spa, looks like something out of the movies. There’s also a 3,200-square-foot guest house.

Villa Sorriso offers climate-controlled wine cellars….

Forget the IMAX experience, we’d be content with an at-home rental if it took place here!

The spring-fed pond, do we need to say more?…

The buyers are French winemakers from Chateau Pontet-Canet. The Tesserons own and operate Château Pontet-Canet, a vineyard and winery in the Bordeaux region of France. With today’s trend of natural wine growing, the family turned their French vineyard into an organic operation using biodynamics from the 1920’s agricultural lectures of Rudolf Steiner. This more traditional method of wine making includes working the vines with horses instead of tractors and controlling pests without chemicals. With such huge success in France, it is likely they will go the same route with Villa Sorriso.

We have no doubt the home’s next owner will cherish this spectacular property as Robin did.

The listing agents were Joyce Rey and Cyd Greer of Coldwell Banker Previews International.