Welcome To Stonepine: A Private Estate Experience

Stonepine is nestled amid 330 pristine acres in the gently rolling hills of Carmel Valley on the picturesque Monterey Peninsula of Central California. The estate was named for the ancient Italian stone pines that have stood sentry on its grounds for almost eighty years. The privacy of this unique setting has welcomed clientele from throughout the world for intimate hideaways to society celebrations.

In 1983, Gordon and Noel Hentschel purchased the "Double H Ranch" from the probate of the children of Henry Potter and Helen Crocker-Russell of the San Francisco banking family. It was a wedding gift to each other and the ideal location to raise their own future family. They renamed the 330-acre property “Stonepine Estate” after the towering 80-foot Italian stone pines, which were planted from 18-inch saplings by the Russells more than 50 years prior. The resultant setting was more reminiscent of Tuscany than Northern California.

During its first 20 years, Stonepine Estate was the premier U.S. “Purple Shield” member of the Paris-based Relais & Châteaux catering to American, European and International visitors both on a group and individual basis. The European attention to detail was thereby complimented by an American commitment to creativity and friendliness. A perfect location for “business affairs” or “affairs of the heart.” The European-trained staff will cater to your every need from on-site amenities to Carmel Valley wine tours, area golf, or reservations at local restaurants. Five houses and cottages throughout the estate grounds are available for rental or for special events, corporate meetings and weddings.

The centerpiece of the Estate is Chateau Noel, the original Manor House of the Crockers that is surrounded by 12 formal Mediterranean-style gardens, which offer a lush picturesque respite from the California oak woods and rolling meadows of Carmel Valley. The Chateau gardens, which were awarded the coveted “Garden of the Year Award” in 1956 by the California Horticultural Society, were expanded and upgraded in the 90′s by the Hentschels and will soon include a 30-acre Vineyard and Winery just outside the main gates of the Chateau.

“Stonepine Equestrian” was the home of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association under the leadership of the then President Henry Russell. Today, it offers training regimens in horsemanship such as Hunter-jumper and Dressage as well as Western and English riding lessons. Its stable setting is reminiscent of the Eastern Seaboard or farms of Virginia and Kentucky.

For the past 25 years Stonepine Estate has been selected by “Corporate Meetings and Events” planners for its unique venues and high security capabilities. Perhaps even more impressive, however, is “Stonepine’s Wedding,” reputation for celebrity and society tête-à-têtes. Whether a California Country theme or a Grand Estate Celebration the setting is unrivaled in California or the world.

In the coming years “The Noel Foundation,” a Charitable Organization founded in 1989 by Noel Irwin Hentschel, will headquarter at Stonepine Estate. Fundraising events and international gatherings will utilize this magnificent setting to further the many worthwhile projects it supports.