Lake Tahoe: Great Place to Postpone a Career in California and Best Place to Live in Nevada

4Mar 2014

Trending Lake Tahoe news presents an interesting dichotomy this week, with Kings Beach, California, named among the best places to postpone a career and Incline Village named the best place to live in Nevada.

Kings Beach, California, a small Lake Tahoe municipality, ranked third runner up in SUNSET Magazine’s category for Best Place to Postpone a Career. The category was part of a list comprised of the 24 Best Places to Live and Work. The most notable characteristics of Kings Beach are close proximity to North Lake Tahoe’s world-class ski resorts, including Northstar California, Homewood Ski Resort, Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, and Squaw Valley Ski Resort. In the summer, Kings Beach offers a long stretch of sandy beach and warmer water for Lake Tahoe standards. The downtown area of Kings Beach is small but it features great restaurant options for take-out and dine-in. The average monthly rent in Kings Beach for a one bedroom apartment is $793, which is easy on the budget for the underemployed and an economical option for a winter ski bum rental.

Conversely, Incline Village, only a ten minute drive from Kings Beach, is named the best place to live in Nevada according to a recent article in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, with a median home price of $921,060 and household income of $90,281.

A California real estate blog (Movato) ranked 35 Nevada communities with more than 5,000 residents using information from the U.S. Census Bureau and business listings. Movoto averaged the rankings and gave first place to the low score. The communities were scored on 13 data points comprised of amenities, quality of life, total crime, tax rates, unemployment rate, commute time, and weather.

Most notable characteristics of Incline Village include picturesque scenery and great amenities including fishing, water sports, great food options, and entertainment such as the annual Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. Incline Village ranked low for crime, high for quality of weather, and high for short commute times making it the best example for quality of life in Nevada, according to the blog.

Only in Lake Tahoe can you find people on career hiatus and established residents living the dream in communities within ten minutes of each other.

Contact one of our local experts to find out more about living in Lake Tahoe. Contribute to the conversation using #SierraSothebys, #LakeTahoeLuxury, and post a comment on our Facebook page.

The Fourth Annual Daron Rahlves’ Banzai Tour is Back in Lake Tahoe

27Feb 2014

The annual Rahlves’ Banzai Tour kicked off this month, attracting spectators with an adrenaline fueled, action-packed race to the finish and attracting competitors with an $80,000 dollar tour purse.

Pro skier, Daron Rahlves, created the event and it’s been considered by fans as the world’s premier big mountain freeski meets ski/boarder-cross event ever since. Competitors go through qualifying rounds and then race four at a time down a technical natural terrain course, facing a gamut of snow conditions. Races take place over the course of four weekends at four different Lake Tahoe resorts.

The first stop on the tour took place February 15-16 at Squaw Valley Ski Resort. The second stop took place February 22-February 23 at Kirkwood Mountain Resort, located in Kirkwood, Calif, south of Lake Tahoe. The next two stops on the tour take place March 8-9 at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, with the last race on March 15-16 at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort.

Rahlves (shown left) takes a qualifying timed run at each event and competes head to head at the “Super Final” located at his home resort, Sugar Bowl, on March 16. He puts his title of “Banzai Master” on the line, competing against the male ski finalists from each stop in a five man battle for winner. New this year is the addition of a Men’s Snowboard Super Final where two-time USA Olympian and seven-time X-Games Gold Medalist, Nate Holland, will race against the top male snowboarders.

Stay tuned for final results next month. Watch all Banzai Tour action and previews on TahoeTV on the Rahlves’ Banzai Tour Channel.

For more information about the Daron Rahlves Banzai Tour, visit www.rahlvesbanzai.com. Contact one of our local experts to find out more about living in Lake Tahoe. Contribute to the conversation on our Facebook page.

Join the 10th Annual Squaw Valley Prom this Saturday

20Feb 2014

The Squaw Valley Prom is back for its tenth year this Saturday, February 22. Hosted by the High Fives Foundation, guests enjoy a nostalgic party theme and attire, and live music. Event proceeds benefit the High Fives Foundation and CHARITYSMITH.

High Fives Foundation is a nonprofit organization that raises funds to rehabilitate athletes who have endured life-altering spinal cord injuries while participating in winter action sports. CHARITYSMITH is a registered public charity that assists in the establishment of nonprofit memorial scholarship funds and charitable funds.

This year’s prom theme is “Diamonds in the Sky”. Festivities begin at 8pm and end at 2am, with a lineup of six different DJs including DJ Big in Japan, Silver Boombox Thief, Ryan Lucero & DJ Carlo, DJ Chris Clouse, Bar One and DJ Carlo, and Andy Fracso. The event is sponsored by GoPro and Koss.

Buy your tickets here

Stay tuned for more updates on Lake Tahoe events and things to do. For more information about High Fives Foundation, visit www.highfivesfoundation.org. For more information about CHARITYSMITH, visit www.charitysmith.org. Contact one of our local experts to find out more about living in Lake Tahoe. Contribute to the conversation using #SierraSothebys, #LakeTahoeLuxury, or post a comment to our Facebook page.

Introducing Tahoe Legacy Magazine

18Feb 2014

Sierra Sotheby’s International Realty is pleased to announce the inaugural issue of Tahoe Legacy.

Included in Tahoe Legacy is a collection of our extraordinary listings, as well as industry news and local flavor. This issue offers a Lake Tahoe resort comparison and features an intimate look at Squaw Valley’s PlumpJack Cafe.

You can find Tahoe Legacy today in the print versions of the Sierra Sun and North Lake Tahoe Bonanza and in the Tahoe Daily Tribune later this week.

View Tahoe Legacy

Stay tuned for our summer/fall 2014 issue of Tahoe Legacy in June.

Would you like to see your property listed in Tahoe Legacy? Contact one of our local experts to find out more about listing and purchasing extraordinary homes in Lake Tahoe. Contribute to the conversation using #TahoeLegacy, #SierraSothebys, #LakeTahoeLuxury, or post a comment to our Facebook page.

Lake Tahoe Resort Comparison

14Feb 2014

Whether you’re looking for a family fun packed day of first time bunny hill runs, snow tubing, ice skating, and shopping for this season’s top of the line apparel, or adrenaline fueled tree runs, epic powder days, and a challenging technical park experience, Lake Tahoe’s many ski resorts are guaranteed to satisfy all the desires of your mountain vacation. Detailed below is an easy reference for intimate hills off the beaten path as well as large resorts that offer a trifecta of skiing, shopping, and dining.

Photo Credit Jonathan Selkowitz, Courtesy of Alpine Meadows Ski Resort

Alpine Meadows Ski Resort - Alpine Meadows ski resort offers diverse terrain and spectacular Lake Tahoe views. Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley USA now offer a fully interchangeable combined season pass. Visitors have access to more than 6,000 acres, eight mountain peaks, 44 lifts, and over 270 trails. Squaw and Alpine maintain their individual character, which means locals and visitors continue to enjoy Alpine Meadows’ relaxed and easygoing atmosphere. Ski and board advanced runs or gentle cruising trails. The children’s center offers lessons and family-friendly activities like snow tubing and a mini-terrain park.

Website: www.skialpine.com

Phone: 800-403-0206

Address: 2600 Alpine Meadows Road, Tahoe City, CA 96145

Hours: 9am – 4pm

Average Annual Snowfall: 450 inches

Base Elevation/Summit Elevation: 6,385/8,637 feet

# Lifts: 13

Acreage: 2,400

Trails: 100+

Classification: 25% easier, 40% more difficult, 35% most difficult/expert

Ski School: Adult and children’s private and group lessons available, clinics available

Dining and Shopping: 9 dining options, 1 retail shop

Diamond Peak Ski Resort - Diamond Peak Ski Resort is North Lake Tahoe’s hidden gem. Located in Nevada’s Incline Village, the affordable, family friendly resort offers breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe, gentle slopes and wide runs for beginners, as well as challenging terrain in Solitude Canyon, tree skiing, and open glades. Diamond Peak offers more ways for adults and kids to have a great day on the slopes, without breaking the bank. Lift tickets range from $59 for adults, to free for those 6 and under and 80 and older. Diamond Peak is a great place to learn or improve your skills, with lessons for first timers to advanced skiers and riders. Diamond Peak features two lodges, private and group lessons, equipment rentals and a variety of fun events throughout the season.

Website: www. diamondpeak.com

Phone: (775) 832-1177

Address: 1210 Ski Way Incline Village, NV 89451

Hours: 9am-4pm

Average annual snowfall: 325 inches

Base Elevation/Summit Elevation: 6,700/8,540 feet

# Lifts: 7

Acreage: 655

Trails: 30

Classification: beginner 18%/intermediate 46%/advanced 36%

Ski school: Adult and children’s private and group lessons available

Dining and shopping: 6 dining options/1 retail shop

Courtesy of Heavenly Ski Resort

Heavenly Ski Resort - Enjoy challenging technical slopes, tree runs, terrain parks, 80-foot jumps, and the Gunbarrel’s world famous moguls, or cruise 34 miles of wide-open groomed hills. Heavenly has the highest elevation and the longest vertical drop in the Lake Tahoe area. The Heavenly Gondola offers scenic rides with panoramic views of Lake Tahoe. Guests also enjoy live music, food, drinks, and giveaways at the Apres Ski Party. Heavenly also offers a wide variety of shopping opportunities, exciting nightlife, great entertainment and activities in the Heavenly Village, plus the nearby casinos and restaurants of South Lake Tahoe.

Website: www.skiheavenly.com

Phone: (775) 586-7000

Address: 4080 Lake Tahoe Blvd South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekends 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays

Average annual snowfall: 360 inches

Base Elevation/Summit Elevation: 6,540/10,067 feet

# Lifts: 30

Acreage: 4,800

Trails: 97+

Classification: Beginner 20%, Intermediate 45%, Expert/Advanced 35%

Ski School: Adult and children’s private and group lessons available

Dining and shopping: 26 dining options/13 retail shops

Photo Credit: Robyn Scarton, courtesy of Homewood Mountain Resort

Homewood Ski Resort – Ranked 12th in SKI Magazine’s 2001 reader’s poll, Homewood is a hidden gem of Lake Tahoe’s resort repertoire. Smaller crowds can be expected at this West Shore resort. The mountain is protected from high-ridge winds by Ellis Peak, making for excellent powder all throughout the season. Homewood also boasts beautiful views of Lake Tahoe from every slope. Ski Homewood’s groomed boulevards, glade runs through old-growth forest, and trademark hidden powder stashes. Homewood has two terrain parks for all levels of expertise. Lakeview Park features a variety of tables, rails, flat boxes, rollers, and bank turns. Kolby’s Escape is an innovative park with skate-style features including tables, steps, boxes, slant rails, and bar rails.

Website: www.skihomewood.com

Phone: 530-525-2900

Address: 5145 West Lake Blvd. Homewood CA 961415145 West Lake Boulevard

Hours: 9am–4pm

Average annual snowfall: 450 inches

Base Elevation/Summit Elevation: 6,230/7,880 feet

# Lifts: 8

Acreage: 1,260

Trails: 64

Classification: 15% beginner, 50% intermediate, 35% advanced

Ski School: Adult and children’s private and group lessons available

Dining and shopping: 6 dining options/1 retail shop

Kirkwood Ski Resort – Kirkwood is action packed with diverse terrain including gentle slopes, open bowls, cornices, and cliffs. Ski Magazine ranked the resort number 10 in the country in its October 2009 edition, and it was chosen as Resort of Choice for Winter 2008 by readers of The Wave Magazine. Four dynamic terrain parks range from an easy beginner park with rollers, spines and whoop-de-doos, to an expert level park with big jumps and kinked rails. Also available is cross country skiing, snowshoeing, dog sled tours, back country expeditions, and snow cat tours. Thunder Mountain Kid’s Snowmobile Park and Slide Mountain Tube Hill is great for families.

Website: www.winter.kirkwood.com

Phone: (209) 258-6000

Address: 1501 Kirkwood Meadows Dr Kirkwood, CA 95646

Hours: 9-4pm

Average annual snowfall: 600 inches

Base Elevation/Summit Elevation: 7,800/9,800 feet

# Lifts: 15

Acreage: 2,300

Trails: 81+

Classification: 15% beginner, 50% intermediate, 20% advanced, 15% expert

Ski School: Adult and children’s private and group lessons available

Dining and shopping: 11 dining options/1 retail shop

Courtesy of Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe

Mt. Rose Ski Resort - Just twenty-five minutes from downtown Reno, Mt. Rose provides the option an affordable, convenient, and quick getaway or a longer vacation. Stunning panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and Nevada can be seen from the summit. Mt. Rose offers terrain parks for all abilities, and The Chutes offer an extreme challenge for advanced skiers and snowboarders. Numerous events and entertainment is planned throughout the year, including the Santa Ski Crawl, The Chutes Best Line Challenge, and the Dummy Downhill.

Website: www.skirose.com

Phone: (775) 849-0704

Address: 22222 Mt. Rose Hwy Reno, NV 89511

Hours: Zephyr Chair (first tracks) 8:30am – 4pm, Chuter Chair 8:45am – 3:45pm, other lifts 9am – 4pm.

Average annual snowfall: 350 inches

Base Elevation/Summit Elevation: 8,260/9,700 feet

# Lifts: 8

Acreage: 1,200+

Trails: 60+

Classification: 20% beginner, 30% intermediate, 40% advanced, 10% expert

Ski School: Adult and children’s private and group lessons available

Dining and shopping: 8 dining options/1 retail shop

Northstar California Ski Resort – Northstar’s popular trails are accessed by 20 lifts, including two gondolas, making for an uphill capacity of 34,799 skiers per hour. The resort features seven award-winning terrain parks designed by Snow Park Technologies (SPT) and the Northstar Terrain Park Crew. Cross-country ski, Telemark ski, or snowshoe on 40 kilometers of groomed trails and enjoy warming huts, fire pits and picnic sites with amazing views. Families can take advantage of the snow tubing hill with its own lift. The Village at Northstar is host to more than 30 shops and restaurants including everything from equipment rentals and children’s boutiques, pottery painting, candle making and bead design stores to designer footwear and fine art galleries. The Village also offers a movie theater, luxury lodging options, and special events.

Website: www.northstarcalifornia.com

Phone: 530.562.1010

Address: 5001 Northstar Drive, Truckee, CA 96161

Hours: Daily 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The Backside & Lookout Mtn. Express: Daily 9:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. Gondola Express: Daily 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Average annual snowfall: 350 inches

Base Elevation/Summit Elevation: 6,330/8,610 feet

# Lifts: 20

Acreage: 3,170

Trails: 97

Classification: 13% Beginner, 60% Intermediate, 27% Advanced

Ski School: Adult and children’s private and group lessons available

Dining and shopping: 13 dining options/16 retail shops

Sierra at Tahoe Ski Resort – Catering to families and avid outdoor adventurists alike, Sierra at Tahoe ski resort offers award-winning terrain. The resort has been recognized by TransWorld SNOWboarding as a Top 10 Overall Resort year after year, most recently in their 2012 Resort Poll. Its five award-winning terrain parks include the South Shore’s only Superpipe. The resort has excellent wind shelter that allows the lifts to run on windy days. Huckleberry Gates features extremely challenging and steep terrain, appropriate for experts only, filled with cliff drops, rock chutes, open blows, cornices, glades, and powder pillows. Huckleberry Canyon can be explored with guides, or via a guided snowcat tour. Sierra at Tahoe is a family-oriented destination with a special area designed specifically for small skiers and snowboarders. Sierra at Tahoe’s Adventure Zones feature a variety of terrain including mini jumps, rollers, and banked turns with interactive activities to educate children and help them improve their skills. There are also tubing hills with two lifts, a snowplay area, and three miles of snowshoe trails.

Website: www.sierraattahoe.com

Phone: (530) 659-7453

Address: 1111 Sierra-At-Tahoe Rd Twin Bridges, CA 95735

Hours: Weekends & Peak Periods: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Weekdays: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m

Average annual snowfall: 480 inches

Base Elevation/Summit Elevation: 6,640/8,852 feet

# Lifts: 14

Acreage: 2000

Trails: 46

Classification: 25% Beginner, 50% Intermediate, 25% Advanced

Ski school: Adult and children’s private and group lessons available

Dining and shopping: 8 dining options/1 retail shop

Photo Credit: Jeff Engerbretson, courtesy of Squaw Valley Ski Resort

Squaw Valley Ski Resort - As the site of the 1960 Winter Olympic Games, its world-famous terrain is filled with exciting runs for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. The resort’s terrain parks and half-pipe are designed and built by Snow Park Technologies, the team that built the world’s first cubed 22-foot pipe featured as part of a signature Red Bull event. The aerial cable car transports guests 2,000 vertical feet to High Camp located at the summit with spectacular views. Ski out from High Camp or skate on the world’s highest open-air ice rink situated at 8,200 feet. Also at the summit are dining venues, sport shops, snowtubing runs, beginner skiing areas, and the Olympic Museum. In addition to the 110-person aerial cable car, the Squaw Valley gondola seats 28-passengers, and over 30 lifts give Squaw Valley an uphill capacity of 49,000 guests per hour. At the base of the mountain is the Village at Squaw Valley, which offers more than 30 restaurants and bars, specialty wine shops, fine art galleries, rental and repair shops, and other exclusive shopping opportunities.

Website: www.squaw.com

Phone: (800) 403-0206

Address: 1960 Squaw Valley Rd Olympic Valley, CA 96146

Hours: Weekends/Holidays – 8:30am – 4pm, Weekdays – 9am – 4pm, Night Skiing – 4pm – 9pm

Average annual snowfall: 450 inches

Base Elevation/Summit Elevation: 6,200/9,050 feet

# Lifts: 30

Acreage: 3,600

Trails: 170+

Classification: 25% Beginner, 45% Intermediate, 30% Advanced

Ski school: Adult and children’s private and group lessons available

Dining and shopping: 20+ dining options/20+ retail shops

This article is an excerpt from Sierra Sotheby’s International Realty’s Winter/Spring issue of Tahoe Legacy magazine. Stay tuned for more updates about Tahoe Legacy. Are you considering a ski property purchase in Lake Tahoe? Contact one of our local experts to find out more about opportunities with our extraordinary listings and living in Reno-Tahoe. Contribute to the conversation using #SierraSothebys, #LakeTahoeLuxury, and “Like” our Facebook page to receive instant updates.

Honest, Approachable, Passionate: PlumpJack Cafe’s Wyatt Dufresne Purveys Distinct Lake Tahoe Flavor

14Feb 2014

PlumpJack Cafe – Tucked away at the base of Squaw Valley USA, an artful dining experience awaits…

PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn, home of the PlumpJack Cafe

He was born in Boston and given the name Ben Ireland Dufresne, but it wasn’t until he moved to Lake Tahoe that he became ‘Wyatt’.

Dufresne spent his life working with food, from his first experience at a New York fish market, to an organic farm in Maine, to cooking in Vermont, Colorado, and finally to California in 2002. That’s when he found himself in the kitchen of the PlumpJack Cafe in Squaw Valley.

“Everyone has nicknames in the kitchen,” Dufresne said. He had a curled moustache reminiscent of old Wyatt Earp pictures, “So everyone started calling me Wyatt, and that was it.”

In his nearly two decades of kitchen experience, Dufresne built a knowledge base that includes everything from preparing fresh seafood and butchering whole animals to an extensive understanding of high end products and ingredients from around the world.

With degrees in both biology and environmental studies, Dufresne built on theoretical knowledge with practical application during his experience in the kitchen. His biology background gave him a solid understanding of animal anatomy, a knowledge he applies through his execution in the PlumpJack kitchen. His environmental study established his cognizance of where food is harvested and how it’s grown. Dufresne says his education played a large role in the development of his farm-to-table based culinary philosophy.

“We buy produce and meat from small farms, not big feed lots. It’s better for the consumer as well as the environment,” Dufresne said.

Moving to California was another significant advancement in Dufresne’s culinary career.

“There was no farm-to-table movement in the East Coast yet. When I moved to California it was a whole new world of produce. I’ve worked very hard to develop relationships with small farmers in Northern California so we can provide the best ingredients to our guests,” Dufresne said.

Dufresne says PlumpJack can be defined as fine dining-but it’s more than that; it’s New American Cuisine with an emphasis on local, seasonal, organic ingredients.

PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn (SVI) general manager Steve Lamb had the opportunity to witness the farm-to-table evolution implemented by Dufresne first hand,

“Wyatt has a great sensibility of organic food and works well with the bounty of California seasons. It’s been great to see him grow and elevate our program. He’s always willing to be challenged and think outside the box. Wyatt’s cultivated many great relationships with farmers and purveyors. He even visits the farmer’s markets in the summer and brings back great local produce to integrate into our menu,” Lamb said.

The PlumpJack menu is revamped four times per year by Dufresene and executive chefs Shawn Arney and Jack Connell based on seasonal produce, availability of ingredients, and the wine selection currently in the PlumpJack cellar.

This winter, look for menu ingredients like butternut squash, pomegranate, persimmon, and winter greens. Popular menu items from last year were the kabocha squash soup with Dungeness crab and poached cranberries, and the pumpkin crème brulee.

Dufresne says the kitchen staff seeks ways to challenge themselves with new approaches and execution techniques. One unique new approach executed in the PlumpJack kitchen is the use of liquid nitrogen.

“We’ve been having a lot of fun with freezing fruit, like blackberries. The blackberries freeze and shatter like citrus confetti,” Dufresne said.

In addition to the modern and uniquely tailored menu, PlumpJack has an essential wine program integrated with food philosophy.

“We strive to make wine more accessible through our program by offering it at less of an expense to our customers, and we seek to introduce wine that the general public wouldn’t get otherwise,” Dufresne said.

Approaches PlumpJack uses in order to engage guests about food and wine are seasonal events like the Wine Series and Farm to Table Dinners.

PlumpJack hosts the Wine Series January through March and July through September. Winemakers host the dinner along with PlumpJack management and discuss the details of each course and wine pairing as they are presented.

“It’s an opportunity for us to have a little bit of fun with guests by introducing them to seasonal dishes. It’s also a fantastic collaboration between chef and winemaker, and it provides guests the opportunity to enjoy a meal that was prepared specifically for that evening. It’s a warm and casual experience executed on a high level,” Lamb said.

Farm to Table dinners are paired with wineries and hosted seasonally. The structure of the meal is similar to the Wine Series dinners, with the farmers and winemakers as co-hosts of the dinner.

“All events range from family style dinners on the patio to dishes incorporated into the dining room menu. We wanted to take some pretention out of the mystique of wine and give people a comfortable opportunity to really explore new wine in a fun, approachable, enthusiastic way. Our goal is to forever over deliver for our guests,” Lamb said.

PlumpJack structures the events to be as educational or as personal of an experience as the guest desires, depending on the guest’s preference.

“PlumpJack is all about providing personal experiences for our guests that are memorable. We don’t try to be formal and pretentious or an overly casual ski town cliché. We let the guests drive their own experience. We can provide a fine dining experience or a casual experience based on the customer,” Dufresne said.

“We receive guests for après ski, lunch after a hike, or to have a meal in the dining room. We have to remember where we are-in Squaw Valley at the base of a resort-it’s our goal to provide casual or elevated experiences so anyone can come and belong.”

PlumpJack Cafe

Who is PlumpJack?

It began with the rotund, irreverent, fun-loving Jack Falstaff of Shakespeare’s Henry IV. Queen Elizabeth was so delighted with the roguish character that she asked the Bard to write another play in which Jack would fall in love (later to become The Merry Wives of Windsor).

Closer to home, San Francisco composer and philanthropist Gordon Getty wrote an opera called “Plump Jack” – a namesake he carried through with Gavin Newsom when founding PlumpJack Wines in San Francisco’s Marina District in 1992.

The Shakespearean theme runs strongly through PlumpJack’s namesake, décor, and even the house wine is called “Speare”.

The PlumpJack Group consists of four resorts, with three in Napa Valley and one in Squaw Valley. There are two restaurant/bars in San Francisco, three in Napa Valley, one in Squaw Valley, and one in Mill Valley. Two PlumpJack wine shops can be found in San Francisco. Also part of the PlumpJack Group are spas and boutiques in Squaw Valley and Napa.

PlumpJack currently has two wineries in operation, PlumpJack Winery and Cade Winery in Napa, with the new Odette Estate winery slated to release its first vintage in 2015.

“That’s the exciting thing about PlumpJack, we’re always changing. It started as one winery, now we have three. We’re always looking for new properties and ventures, whatever works best for the customer base,” Dufresne said.

PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn was built as the home for the 1960 Winter Olympic delegation. The inn is comprised of multiple buildings that accommodate dining, lodging, special events, and equipment rentals. The property’s location is ideal, bordering Squaw Village but just far enough that it offers the intimacy harder to find within the resort. Dufresne says he believes those aspects are what sets PlumpJack apart from other resort accommodations.

“PlumpJack is a boutique hotel situated at the base of some of the best skiing in the world. Additionally, PlumpJack is a winery, bar, conference center, and sport shop, and we’re an independent business. We offer multiple facets that make us unique to other businesses,” Dufresne said.

Lamb says the staff shares a collective appreciation for the brand and the location of PlumpJack SVI,

“PlumpJack’s setting is small and accessible, it’s very unique. It provides us the opportunity to work and live in Tahoe, and we’re all bonded by that camaraderie. Getting to look at the slopes while walking here makes it a pretty good place to get to come to work, and having great connections to San Francisco is really fun for us,” Lamb said.

The food, wine, and hospitality philosophy expressed by Dufesne and Lamb provides a deeper understanding of PlumpJack’s highly regarded tagline: Honest, Approachable, Passionate.

Chef Ben ‘Wyatt’ Dufresne

This article is an excerpt from Sierra Sotheby’s International Realty’s Winter/Spring issue of Tahoe Legacy magazine. Stay tuned for more updates about Tahoe Legacy. Are you considering a relocation or second home purchase in Lake Tahoe? Contact one of our local experts to find out more about opportunities with our extraordinary listings and living in Reno-Tahoe. Contribute to the conversation using #SierraSothebys, #LakeTahoeLuxury, and “Like” our Facebook page to receive instant updates. For more information about the PlumpJack Café, visit www.plumpjacksquawvalleyinn.com.

Squaw Valley Native Julia Mancuso Wins Bronze in Women’s Super-Combined

12Feb 2014

Squaw Valley’s Julia Mancuso celebrates with family and friends after winning Bronze in the women’s Super-Combined at Sochi – making her the most decorated female skier in United States history. She smoked everyone (by .43 second) in the downhill portion and then skied a good slalom run to win the Bronze medal. Mancuso has four Olympic medals – one in each color. With her eyes set on more wins, anticipation builds for Wednesday’s downhill and Saturday’s Super G.

As Seen In USA TODAY | Warm weather perfect for Julia Mancuso

By Erik Brady - KRASNAYA POLYANA — Scott Webber returned from the concession stand loaded down with hot dogs and French fries between races of Monday’s women’s super combined. “Feels like the Rockies opener out here,” he said as he passed the food all around.

Webber is Julia Mancuso’s stepfather (pictured left with wife Andrea, and daughter Julia) and she has a traveling party of eight family members at the Games. Their winter coats were open and their gloves off — and they are happy with the unseasonably warm conditions. “This is Tahoe weather,” said April, Julia’s older sister. “Can’t beat it.” MORE: Photos of Julia Mancuso’s career.

Mancuso finished the downhill portion of the race in first place. Other skiers complained the snow was too sticky. Not Julia. “The snow felt a little bit softer so it was easier to really drive into my skis,” she said. “This is Julia’s kind of weather,” said her mother, Andrea Mancuso Webber. Had she ever seen her daughter ski in warmer conditions? “I’m trying to think,” she said. “The U.S. Nationals is in March. Maybe there.”

They were behind the grandstand in a gathering spot for fans between races that was more muddy than snowy amid dozens of flag poles with banners of the world raised high but hanging limp, no wind to animate them. Mancuso’s grandmother, Sheila Tuffanelli, 80, said the weather makes no difference to her. “Hot, cold, I wouldn’t miss this,” she said. “Too bad more Americans didn’t come here. We have had nothing but a great reception from the Russians.” MORE: Mancuso gaining confidence before Sochi.

Mancuso’s close friend, British ski racer Chemmy Alcott, said Mancuso “looked like she was skiing a normal course. You couldn’t see it had warmed up.” Alcott squinted in the sun. “Feels more like a spring Olympics,” she said. Stay tuned to tahoerealestatediary.com for more updates. GO TEAM USA! Photos courtesy Scott Webber, president, Fuller Sotheby’s International Realty.

Sotheby’s International Realty Execs Named among Realogy’s Most Powerful People

3Feb 2014

The inaugural Swanepoel Power 200 list named 28 of Realogy Holdings Corp. executives as industry leaders in residential real estate brokerage for 2013.

Of the 28, two are Sotheby’s International Realty executives including Phillip White, President and CEO of Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, and Scott Webber, President of Fuller Sotheby’s International Realty, (shown right).

Scott Webber

The Swanepoel Power 200 is compiled by analyst Stefan Swanepoel and industry consultant Rob Hahn, and is described as the most comprehensive list of influential CEOs, thought leaders, and senior executives ever assembled in the residential real estate brokerage business.

Realogy Holdings Corp., (NYSE: RLGY) is a global leader in residential real estate franchising with company-owned residential real estate brokerage operations doing business under its franchise systems, as well as relocation and title services. Collectively, Realogy’s franchise system members operate approximately 13,600 offices with 244,000 independent sales associates doing business in 104 countries around the world. Executives and independent brokers affiliated with Realogy’s franchise brands ranked more on the Swanepoel Power 200 than any other real estate company in the nation and led the way with six executives in the top 25.

The rankings are based on criteria including personal influence, industry tenure, the office held, the decision-making power of said office, the financial resources of the company or organization, the company or organization’s significance and contribution to the industry, the company’s geographic reach, and the executive’s activities, growth, and potential.

Would you like to list your property with an industry leader? Contact one of our local experts to find out more about listing and purchasing extraordinary homes in Lake Tahoe. Contribute to the conversation using #SierraSothebys, #LakeTahoeLuxury, or post a comment to our Facebook page.

The Wall Street Journal Announces Fleur du Lac’s “Godfather House” as US House of the Year

24Jan 2014

Fleur du Lac, made famous by “The Godfather: Part II”.

Wall Street Journal readers voted Lake Tahoe west shore’s Fleur du Lac Estates condominium #2 as the 2013 US House of the Year after three weeks of voting and thousands of votes.

The U.S. House of the Year was chosen through two reader polls on WSJ.com. Homes were placed on the poll after winning a House of the Week reader poll throughout 2013. Each week, readers vote for their favorite house of the week from the House of the Day feature on WSJ.com. Fleur de Lac #2 received the most votes, 88,957, out of the 897,478 votes cast in the 2013 U.S. House of the Year contest, according to the announcement in the Wall Street Journal. The poll included 51 homes.

Fleur du Lac Estates is a 4,100-square-foot, 22-unit condominium development, and unit #2 was made famous as the setting for “The Godfather: Part II” where Fredo Corleone met his watery demise. Zari Mansouri is the current owner of the famous condominium #2. Mansouri is the President and chief executive of Laboratory Skin Care, a business-to-business biotech company in the San Francisco Bay Area. She spent her free time traveling to the nearby Squaw Valley Ski Resort, until she finally decided to make Lake Tahoe her primary home. Mansouri bought the condo in 2006 and spent three years and $3.5 million dollars on renovating the property.

Lake Tahoe has attracted affluent Bay Area buyers for years with its world-class skiing, expanse of pristine lake, and legendary nostalgia. In the busy summer tourist season, tour boats stop near the private compound for a peek at the development’s “Godfather” history.

Her reasons for moving to Fleur du Lac go beyond water views. As a single woman, she says it helped to have maintenance and upkeep handled by the condo development. There is 24-hour security and a concierge-like service that handles requests, such as reserving the original Kaiser family boathouse and yacht club for parties. Ms. Mansouri says she is one of the few year-round residents of the community, allowing her to enjoy the perks of condo living with the privacy of a single-family home.

Mansouri has the home listed with Bill Murphy and Jeff Hamilton of Sierra Sotheby’s International Realty for $6.499 million. Ms. Mansouri says she is selling because she is spending more time near her office in the Bay Area. Murphy says they have received inquiries from about 50 prospective buyers, but selling a luxury waterfront home takes a precise fit. Murphy says he sees sailing enthusiasts as likely buyers.

Would you like to schedule a private showing of Fleur du Lac #2? Contact Bill Murphy and Jeff Hamilton. Contact one of our local experts to find out more about purchasing and listing extraordinary homes in Lake Tahoe. Contribute to the conversation using #SierraSothebys, #LakeTahoeLuxury, or post a comment to our Facebook page.

2013 Lake Tahoe Area Significant Sales

23Jan 2014

SigSales-YE2013