A Nantucket Home With a Vineyard Asks $18.5 Million

Entrepreneur turned vintner Tyler Olbres and his family knew this property in Nantucket, Mass. would make the perfect retreat as soon as they saw it. ‘We like a project. We’d come off a house in France that was a 10-year renovation project. We enjoy good design. Good architecture and esthetics,’ says Mr. Olbres. Terry Pommett …

In 2008, the family paid $3.15 million for the approximately 7-acre property, which had a house dating to the 1980s. The remodel lasted seven years, says Mr. Olbres. ‘The first year or two it was hardly habitable,’ he says, noting they started by replacing all the doors and windows. Terry Pommett …

Over time the Olbres put on a new roof, replaced the wood siding and decks, redid the bathrooms and most recently redid the kitchen, which has reclaimed pine floors. Mr. Olbres, who sold his marketing communications firm to private equity investors, says it was a multi-million dollar project. Terry Pommett …

The 4,500-square-foot main house has four bedrooms and three baths. Shown here is the master bedroom. Terry Pommett …

Mr. Olbres says they are selling as he now spends most of his time in Napa where he founded a winery, Nellcôte, in 2012. Shown here is the master bath. Terry Pommett …

The master bedroom has a deck overlooking the Koi pond. There is an automatic fish feeder, but Mr. Olbres says the children in the family love feeding the hundreds of Koi. Terry Pommett …

‘The one thing that was missing was out in front there was a huge circular drive, and we thought, ”Wouldn’t that be a nice place to plant vineyards?”’ Mr. Olbres recalls. In 2009, he planted two blocks of vineyards, made up mostly of Cabernet grapes, as well as Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Terry Pommett …

Though Nantucket is not known for its wine-making, the area has a mild climate, Mr. Olbres says. ‘So we said, ”Let’s just do this because it’s beautiful landscaping anyway,”’ he says. An enology laboratory (a wine lab), a crusher and a destemmer machine are included in the sale. Terry Pommett …

‘The house is a little bit of Napa in Nantucket,’ says Mr. Olbres, age 39. The temperature-controlled barrel room in the basement of the guesthouse can hold up to 16 55-gallon barrels. Mr. Olbres notes that this is not a commercial vineyard; it is a hobby. Terry Pommett …

The octagonal guesthouse looks out at the saltwater pool. The family have a permit for a helipad but have not installed it yet. Terry Pommett …

The one-bedroom guesthouse looks out at the neighboring cranberry bogs. ‘You have a sense of place there,’ says Mr. Olbres, adding, ‘Any time of year it’s really wonderful. It’s quiet.’ Terry Pommett …

Mr. Olbres’ favorite memories of the house include their first harvest two years ago. ‘We got the whole family involved—grandparents and my sister and her children. We got everybody into the production line.’ He says the wine itself was a success. Terry Pommett …

The house came with an English garden that the Olbres made into a more formal French garden with a croquet court and topiaries. The family often has dinner parties in the garden. Terry Pommett …

The home has an asking price of $18.5 million. Patience Killen of Jordan Real Estate and Lydia Sussek of the Corcoran Group share the listing. Terry Pommett …