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The Midpeninsula has no shortage of seriously unique homes. From family wineries and historic estates to modern mountain retreats, these one-of-a-kind properties – whether because of their price, unusual design or history – are notable even for Silicon Valley. Every month, we highlight some of these not-so-ordinary properties that are on the market right now, or recently sold. This week, we take a look inside a Tuscan-inspired family compound on the market for $65 million in Portola Valley.
Provincial-inspired property comes with villa, two guesthouses, fitness center
With its stone walls, tile roofs and arched windows framed by green shutters, the estate at 600 Moore Road in Woodside looks as though it has stood in the oak-studded hills for more than a century. That was precisely the vision of owners Jeff and Bernadette Clavier, who purchased the 3.2-acre property in 2020 and spent several years transforming it into a French country retreat inspired by the villages of Provence, where they spent time in their youth. The estate is now on the market for $14.9 million.
The couple personally oversaw nearly every detail of the estate’s transformation. Jeff Clavier is a venture capitalist and founding partner at Uncork Capital (formerly SoftTech VC), while Bernadette Clavier previously served as director of Stanford University’s Center for Social Innovation.
Olive and cypress trees dot the grounds, while the main residence features exposed wood beams, hand-painted murals, paneled ceilings, stone archways and a copper bathtub surrounded by river-rock walls. The details are intended to evoke the atmosphere of the French countryside.
“For four years, we traveled back to key European cities in search of inspiration,” Bernadette Clavier said. “We brought in artisans with extraordinary talent … (and) infused the home with old-world refinement.”
The Claviers commissioned craftsmen to create custom details throughout the compound, including decorative ironwork, tilework and murals. At the same time, they incorporated modern amenities such as enhanced security, upgraded internet connectivity and backup power systems.
A villa in need of repair
When the couple purchased the property for $8.15 million in 2020, it featured a Tuscan-style villa built in 1998 using materials imported from Italy. The home had sat vacant for years, and the grounds had become overgrown and in need of repair.
Rather than build from scratch, the Claviers chose to transform the existing villa into a French country retreat.
“The property possessed a magnificent soul but was in need of restoration,” Bernadette said. “We decided to pour our hearts into bringing this estate back to life.”
Prior to the construction of the original villa, the site was a vacant parcel dotted with mature oak trees. When the property was developed in the late 1990s, the buildings were positioned to preserve many of the centuries-old heritage oaks that remain on the grounds today.
Located in the Woodside Heights neighborhood, the estate includes a 7,155-square-foot stone villa, a two-bedroom family cottage, a guest house, a detached fitness center and extensive gardens.
Designed for both entertaining and everyday living, the property features a resort-style pool and spa, a waterfall grotto, bocce court, pitch-and-putt green and a red-clay tennis court modeled after the surface used at Roland Garros, home of the French Open. A temperature-controlled wine cellar beneath the villa holds more than 3,000 bottles and was expanded from an underground space discovered on the property.
The estate also includes a professional-grade kitchen designed for large gatherings, with grills and pizza ovens both indoors and outdoors.
“We love to host people,” Jeff Clavier said. “On weekends, our joy has been welcoming friends for heartfelt conversations around good food and exceptional wines.”
The main residence includes four bedroom suites and an executive office, while the fitness pavilion features a sauna and strength-training equipment and connects directly to the primary suite and pool area.
Listing agent Erika Demma of Compass said the estate would be extraordinarily difficult to recreate today because of current land, entitlement and construction constraints.
According to the Claviers, their goal was to create a home that captures the relaxed elegance of European country living while meeting the demands of modern life.
The couple, who relocated to Washington in 2025 to launch a winery, described the Woodside property as a “magical” family haven.
