The Vineyards, Livermore, CA

The Vineyards is one of Livermore's marquee luxury tracts, set in the gently rolling hills of the city's southeast corner on the edge of wine country. Built between 2003 and 2007 by Pacific Union and Meritage, the homes are large, generally 3,300 to 4,600 square feet, with rustic country styling, wraparound front porches and balconies, and detached three-car garages, on lots that run from a quarter to over half an acre. The setting is the entire pitch. You are up against the vineyards and open hills rather than retail, with sweeping views and a quiet, spread-out feel that the denser central tracts cannot match. It is the kind of neighborhood where the scenery and the square footage are the amenities. The tradeoffs come with the territory. This is a drive-everywhere location well removed from downtown, and the price of entry sits firmly in Livermore's premium tier. For buyers who want a large, newer home with land, views, and wine-country quiet, though, The Vineyards is about as turnkey as that combination gets in Livermore.