Think of the San Francisco 49ers and undoubtedly the name Joe Montana comes to mind. Even some 14 years after his retirement, his impact on the game of football is still felt. Widely considered the greatest quarterback of all time, Joe Montana was the soul of the San Francisco team for almost two decades, leading the 49ers to four Super Bowl games—and winning each one.
His personal history is deeply rooted in the region, so when his family’s property in northern California hit the market, it was bound to make headlines. To be fair, the price tag—in the dozens-of-millions-of-dollars range—may have made headlines regardless of the owner. Should the sale receive its original asking price of $49 million (it is currently listed as “price upon request”), it will be the most expensive real estate transaction in Sonoma history.
The price could be a testament to Joe Montana’s priceless impact on the San Francisco Bay Area. “The Catch” will forever be lauded as one of the most memorable moments in football history, as will Joe’s 92-yard drive in the closing seconds of Super Bowl XXIII to win the game. Since retiring from the NFL in 1994, he has typically shied away from the spotlight, dedicating his life to raising his four children with his beautiful wife Jennifer. While some of his time was spent on various business ventures and hobbies, he says that he only dabbled in various projects, preferring to watch his sons on the football field, excelling in the sport that he so loves rather than travel the country as a sports commentator. To this day, he rarely lends his name to endorsement deals.
However, winemaking played its role for the football great as both a hobby and business venture in the late 90s and early aughts, when he partnered with Beringer Vineyards for the production of Montagia wine, with a good portion of the profits being earmarked for charity. In the early part of the new century, the Montanas moved to an estate in Sonoma, combining their love of wine with their passion for real estate and their dedication to family. The pair then spent the better part of a decade creating the ultimate home for their family.
