Executive Summary
The Love Ranch is a one-of-kind ranch with its many spring-fed lakes and ponds, miles of trails, and lovely 20+ acre organic vineyard. The 2,035-acre +/- ranch offers world-class quail hunting, plus fishing, and other recreational opportunities. Located on the west side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains near the historic gold rush town of Coarsegold, the ranch is just 30 minutes from Yosemite National Park.

Ranch management is simple as the property’s vineyard and cattle-grazing grasslands are leased to dependable tenants. The current owners have split their time between their home in Montana and the ranch, where they have enjoyed California’s mild winters and the near year-round ability to hike, fish, hunt and entertain their family and friends.

The countryside with its lush grasses, secluded valleys, pockets of live oaks, and massive granite rock formations is extremely appealing and ideal for exploring on horseback, ATV, and on foot.

Well-appointed improvements include a main home, guest quarters, wine bar, two-room bunkhouse, historic dairy barn, and shop. There are outdoor decks, fire pits, and other areas for enjoying great views from this remarkable property.

Locale
The town of Coarsegold is six miles from the ranch. This Gold Rush town is situated in the Sierra Foothills between the fertile farming fields of the San Joaquin Valley and the rugged Sierra Nevada Mountains.

With a population of about 1,600 people, it has a small market, some shops, historical displays, a place to pan for gold, and is just minutes from the Sierra National Forest with its endless recreation opportunities.

General Description
The Love Ranch is accessed from Highway 41 where it touches the ranch on its southwest corner. A rustic metal gate lined with Rosemary-covered stone walls opens to private gravel road that meanders through the hills leading to the building compound. The ranch can also be accessed on its north end via a private gate at the barn and cattle gathering facilities where the highway again touches the ranch.

There is an extensive road system throughout the ranch that allows numerous options to hike, ride, or drive through the ranch without backtracking. Topography is varied from very gentle rolling hills to steeper grades and virtually the entire ranch features both usable and appealing terrain.

Elevation ranges from around 1,300 feet to above 2,400 feet at the upper reaches of the ranch. Historic Indian grinding mortars are scattered about the ranch revealing signs of its Native American heritage.

Improvements
Improvements consist of a main home, guest quarters, wine/cigar bar, a two-room bunkhouse, a shop/garage and an old dairy barn. With the exception of the dairy barn, they are nicely furnished and well maintained. They are described as follows:

Main Home
This approximately 2,600 square-foot house contains three bedrooms, three full bathrooms, one half bathroom, sauna, and an office. There is also what would be considered a “great room.” This large, open living/dining room area with a free-standing wood stove and pine paneling on the ceiling, enjoys views out over one of the large lakes on the ranch.

The expansive and adjoining kitchen features a sitting bar, walk-in pantry, two dishwashers, large sink and refrigerator. All appliances are modern.

The expansive patio that overlooks the lake has an outdoor bar, Traeger barbecue, beverage cooler, hot tub, and fire pit.

Guest House
Located a short distance from the main house, this spacious one bedroom, one bath guest suite includes a coffee and wine/beverage bar.

Wine/Cigar Bar
Adjoining the Guest House is a wine bar with wine storage and TV. A sliding door opens to a covered outdoor patio with gas fire pit and lounge chairs.

Guest Studios
Two wonderfully appointed guest studios that were custom converted from two large shipping containers include individual bathrooms with showers. The studios are adjoining and share a private deck.

Shop/Garage
A two-car garage is connected to a shop and carport.

Storage Building
A large storage building used to house equipment, UTV, and hunting gear adjoins the Guest Studios.

Barn
A classic looking large barn, gathering pens and corrals are located on the north end of the ranch. They are maintained and used by the cattle tenant.

Climate
Coarsegold has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Its average annual precipitation is 27.29 inches.

General Operation
The current owner enjoys private recreation on the ranch and leases out the cattle grazing to a tenant who runs around 200 cows year round. The vineyard is managed and leased out to a local vintner, who delivers 30 cases of top quality wine to the owner as partial payment for the lease. The vineyard manager also pays for electricity for the main water well that supplies water to both the vineyard and some of the main ranch compound as part of the lease agreement. In all cases the tenants are responsible for maintenance of the facilities that they use.

Water Resources
One of the most unique aspects of the ranch is its water. There are six spring-fed reservoirs/stockponds of varying sizes throughout the ranch. There is a domestic well that serves the main house, a large agricultural well that serves the vineyard as well as some of the main house compound, and at least two additional wells that are used for stock water and irrigation.

Grazing Resource
The ranch has excellent grazing resources due to the climate and good water. With the water reservoirs/stockponds scattered around the ranch, the cows are able to feed year-round in most areas of the ranch. The cows are fenced out of the main house compound.

Wildlife Resources
There are numerous wild animals present on the ranch including Mule Deer, Hogs, Mountain Lions, Turkeys, Coyotes and Bobcats. Perhaps the most exciting game species on the ranch is a thriving population of California quail in huntable numbers. Ducks and geese also frequent the reservoirs.

Fishery Resources
The larger reservoirs on the ranch are well populated by bass and crappie.

Vineyard
The Love Vineyard is approximately 21 acres with nine Rohne grape varieties. The vineyard was established in 1994 in what is now the Madera American Viticultural Area. With excellent drainage and retention of the day’s heat, soils in this area radiate warmth into the vine’s canopy on cold nights. Prevailing winds cool the vineyards and help create wines with intense aromas and flavors. During late spring and throughout the summer months, constant winds of 10 mph start around 2 pm and continue well into the evening. The wind also aids in moderating temperatures of the granite soils on hot days. The vineyard is leased out and managed by Oscar Ramos of Ramos Torres Winery. The vineyard owner receives 30 cases of wine each season as lease payment. The vineyard manager also pays for the electricity that services the irrigation well that serves the vineyard and part of the owner’s ranch compound.

Love Vineyard varieties include:
* Syrah Clone 877 on 110R
* Grenache Noir on 140R
* Roussanne Clone 522 110R
* Mourvedre 04 on 1103P
* Marsanne Clone 574110R
* Viognier Clone 1 S04
* Grenache Blanc TCVS A on 101-14 – planted Spring, 2012
* Counoise Clone FPS 01 on 3309C – planted Spring, 2012

Recreational Considerations
The ranch has vast opportunities for ranch-related recreation. Hunting, horseback riding, fishing, ATVing, and hiking can be enjoyed year-round. The ranch is located within 30 minutes of Yosemite National Park and Yosemite’s Badger Pass Ski Area is a little over an hour away. The Sierra National Forest is just minutes away and there are a few large lakes nearby for boating and other water sports.

Aesthetic Considerations
There are numerous granite rock formations dispersed throughout the ranch which are set against oak studded grassy slopes and rolling terrain. Uninterrupted views from ridge tops along with quiet and secluded valleys, underscore the true privacy that is offered by the ranch.

History
During the 1849 California Gold Rush, men who were rushing to the great gold strike in California would stop overnight in a beautiful valley nestled on the banks of the Fresno River. The discovery of heavy, coarse, gold nuggets nearby led to naming the area Coarse Gold Gulch. In 1851, at the height of the gold rush, some estimates put Coarsegold’s population at 10,000 people.

By 1866 the nuggets were dwindling, but by then Coarsegold was a major stop for travelers to the mountain area. When the wagon road to Yosemite Valley was completed in 1876, Yosemite’s fame had spread worldwide and Coarsegold became an overnight stage stop for travelers.

Water Rights
No known water rights. All irrigation is from groundwater wells.

Mineral Rights
The status of mineral rights are unknown. A buyer should investigate as part of their due diligence. Owner will transfer all of their rights at closing.

Personal Property
Most all equipment and furnishings are included in the sales price. Owner is to retain all artwork, rugs, bronzes, wine collection, office safe, and other personal items.

Broker’s Comment
Large Sierra Foothill ranches are increasingly hard to find due to population and development pressure. While a 2,000-acre ranch at the doorstep of Yosemite is significant, the true value of the Love Ranch is in its extensive water resources and its very private configuration. There are very few places where it feels as if neighbors could encroach on one’s privacy.

This is a wonderful recreational retreat that is very well located with easy access from an excellent commercial air service in Fresno and from the greater San Francisco Bay Area as well as Southern California. Offered as a turnkey opportunity, the ranch is ready for the new owners to move right in and begin enjoying everything Love Ranch has to offer.