Every once in a while, we get to bring you a home that feels especially personal, and this is one of those for me. Howard Backen was an absolute legend in California Wine Country and, in my opinion, one of the most important architects ever to shape this region. He created a distinctly Wine Country architectural style that you now see echoed throughout Napa and Sonoma: exposed timbers, natural stone, warm and slightly rustic interiors, huge openings to the outdoors and buildings that feel completely at home in the landscape. His influence on how Wine Country looks and feels today is hard to overstate. I had the pleasure of meeting Howard a few times, including when he and his wife, Ann, stayed at Farmhouse on their wedding night in 2015. I remember sitting down and sharing wine with them, and Howard was exactly the kind of person you'd hope someone with his talent would be: incredibly interesting, warm and completely unpretentious. As someone who loves architecture, getting to know him, even a little, was something I'll always remember. So I'm especially excited to bring this home to The Joes. Perched high on the legendary Pritchard Hill with spectacular views across Napa Valley, it's a beautiful expression of everything I love about Howard's work. It feels almost like a modern Italian country estate: warm, soulful and wonderfully lived in, with exposed wood, massive fireplaces and rooms that open completely to the landscape. The main house, guest house, cottages and pool unfold across the property like a small village, creating a place where a whole community of family and friends can come together while still having room to disappear. This isn't a flashy house designed to impress you. It's a house designed to be lived in, and that's exactly what makes it so special.