Brutocao family seeks to realize founder’s dream of developing event and hospitality destination

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HOPLAND, Calif. – Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark Knight Frank announced that Brutocao Family Vineyards is actively promoting the sale of an approximately seven-acre site, known as the Hopland Schoolhouse Plaza, in an effort to create a destination venue to complement the existing tasting room, bocce ball courts, restaurant, chapel and event center.  

“Our father had a specific vision for this property,” said Steve Brutocao, president of Brutocao Family Vineyards and Bliss Family Vineyards. “His dream was to create a center of activity for Hopland and beyond. We have worked to see this materialize for many years and by selling the property to an investor with a shared vision, we are confident it can finally happen. We are excited about the possibilities to transform Schoolhouse Plaza into Mendocino County’s gateway for food, wine, lodging and events.”  

The Brutocaos have engaged Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark Knight Frank in Santa Rosa to market the property and produce a plan to develop lodging facilities to complement the existing site offerings as the winery and vineyard business expands.

Kevin Foster and Preston Smith, senior associate and senior vice president, respectively, of Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark Knight Frank’s Wine Services Group, represent Hopland Schoolhouse Plaza for sale.

Schoolhouse Plaza will continue to host the tasting room for Brutocao and Bliss Family Vineyards artisan wines and olive oils and the Brutocao family has no plans of changing that.

“This move will allow us to partner with an expert in hospitality-focused real estate development so that we may continue to focus on making and selling the highest quality wines from our own ranches in Hopland and Philo,” added Mr. Brutocao. “With a fully developed plaza, we hope to attract and welcome visitors from all over the world, as well as continue to provide an amenity-filled social venue to our wine club members and the local community who continue to support Schoolhouse Plaza.”

Schoolhouse Plaza is the site of the historic Hopland High School and includes the original schoolhouse and gymnasium buildings.

The school operated from 1923 to 1965 and is located at the center of downtown Hopland at the crossroads of Highways 101 and 175.  

The Brutocao family purchased the site in 1998 and completed major renovations at that time. The site now houses gardens, six regulation lighted bocce courts, an expansive wine tasting room, a restaurant, two wood-fired pizza ovens, a wedding chapel as well as retail and office space and an events center with conference rooms.

Providing customized services to an important global industry, Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark Knight Frank’s Wine Services Group is a specialty brokerage division focused on the sale and financing of wineries, vineyards and land. This specialized team also leases and sells wine production, warehousing and distribution facilities throughout the country.

For additional information on the Wine Services Group, visit www.ccareynkf.com/specialty/wineservices.html .