Haute 100 San Francisco Update: Gary Shansby

Our Haute 100 list details the accomplishments of the most influential people in each of our markets—Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. These people continue to make moves, so rather than waiting for the next Haute 100 issue to come out, we thought we’d provide you with regular updates on those Haute 100 members who are making headlines. Innovative automobile designer Gary Shansby opens his celebrated Tuscan-style villa to an elite few for the second annual Fall Garden Tour.

Gary Shansby

Category: Entrepreneurs

Company: Partida Tequila

Industry: Venture Capitalist

What Made Him Haute: He’s a private-equity-firm investor turned tequila entrepreneur who happens to have the priciest home on the market in Sonoma — a 362-acre spread that features a stunning 11,600-square-foot, Tuscan-style villa on a hilltop. He bought the completely undeveloped property in 1990 for a little more than $5 million, and transformed it into a lavish estate that boasts a pool, spa, a 10-acre vineyard with Syrah grapes, a two-bedroom guesthouse and horse stables. It all can be yours for a mere $35 million.

What Makes Him Haute Now: Ever wonder what a 362-acre, $35 million home looks like? Well, Gary Shansby and his wife O.J. will open Shanel, their luxury villa in Sonoma, for viewing as part of the Fall Garden Tour. One hundred special guests will be able to explore select portions of the estate on Sept. 15. Proceeds will benefit Quarryhill Botanical Garden, a preserve in Glen Ellen dedicated to rare and endangered Asian plants. Visitors will be dazzled by the bass-and-trout stocked lake, equestrian center, greenhouse, fruit orchard, vegetable and herb garden, and wine producing syrah vines that surround the property. Shansby’s Secret Garden comes complete with outdoor sculptures that adorn certain areas of the orchard.