Raquel Leviss and James Kennedy Celebrate Their Ill-Fated Engagement at Sunstone Winery on ‘Vanderpump Rules’

Sunstone was the brainchild of Fred and Linda Rice, who purchased the land where the winery now stands (then operating as a horse and cattle ranch) in 1989 and subsequently fell into the vintner business somewhat accidentally. Though the couple initially intended to utilize the sprawling site as a private home, they started growing grapes on the grounds shortly after acquiring it on the advice of a friend. Their first crop, which was harvested in late 1993, yielded 1,200 cases of wine, which they proceeded to sell, an old horse barn serving as their tasting room. When a storm damaged that structure, architect Robert Mehl was called in to design a new tasting space with an “old-world Provencal” feel.

In a 1999 essay titled “A Vintage Journey,” Linda writes, “Layers of sunny-colored stone throughout the property provided us not only with the inspiration for the name, but also the building. It was important to us that the building should harmonize with the environment.” Linda made sure the new tasting room included an old-world kitchen, while Fred was responsible for the adjoining “5,000 square feet of stone barrel-aging caves built into the hillside,” where many special events and tastings are now held.

Construction on the adjacent 8,500-square-foot Sunstone Villa, which Linda and Fred originally intended to be their private home but now serves as an event space/guest accommodations, began in 1999. A true labor of love that took five years to complete, the Rices sourced materials for the estate while on trips to Provence. Per the Sunstone website, “Forty-five 40,000-pound containers arrived on the Santa Ynez hilltop just off Refugio Road from 2001-2003. Reclaimed materials, such as French limestone, hand-formed roof tiles, a fireplace from the Bordeaux region of France, enormous hand-hewn pine beams from Queen Victoria’s lavender factory, a prison cell door from Normandy constructed during Napoleon’s reign, and a thousand-year-old limestone kitchen sink were all incorporated into their dream building. Walking through the Villa is an opportunity to see and touch pieces of history.”

The completed project is a work of art. Seemingly plucked right out of a Tuscan hillside, the massive home consists of French sandstone walls, a billiards room, eight wood-burning fireplaces, an authentic farm kitchen and striking views of the surrounding vineyards. The venue also boasts five bedrooms, all ensuite, featuring antique furnishings from Europe, beamed ceilings, French doors, standalone bathtubs and wide terraces. Bottles of Sunstone wine are also, of course, standard room amenities. 

In 2019, principal ownership of the vineyard was acquired by Djamila and Teddy Cabugos, who now serve as CEO and President, respectively.  The Rice family remains involved, however, with Fred Rice acting as Director and his daughter, Brittany, as Winemaker.  The vineyard is known for producing varietals of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Mourvedre and Viognier, all organically grown and farmed.

Of the idyllic site, Linda said, “Our goal was to create a place where wine and food could be enjoyed in a picturesque atmosphere. There is a sincere camaraderie and a sense of sharing is so much a part of this lifestyle. All of our interests, from environmental preservation and organic growing, to the celebration of food, family, and friends came together here at Sunstone.”

So it is no surprise that the property has gone on to become an extremely popular wedding venue. Those who choose to tie the knot there are in good company as everyone from “The Hills” star Lauren Conrad to “Pitch Perfect’s” Anna Camp to Zack Morris himself, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, have gotten married on the bucolic grounds. The nuptials of “Bachelor” alum Wells Adams and “Modern Family” star Sarah Hyland also recently took place at the winery.

Soirees on the premises, which can host up to 350 guests, are, unfortunately, only open to Club Sunstone Reserve Members (or the “Vanderpump Rules” cast, apparently) and rental rates start at a whopping $50,000 for a two-day booking. (No word on if Sandoval footed any part of that hefty bill for James and Raquel.)

“Vanderpump Rules” made spectacular use of the property in “Between a Brock and a Hard Place” as Raquel and James’ days-long engagement party gets underway, with the gang checking into the Villa for their stay, taking in a tasting in the wine caves, participating in a Paint and Sip on the rear patio and eating dinner in the farm kitchen. 

The reality show is hardly the only production to feature Sunstone Winery onscreen, though. The vineyard has a slew of additional credits to its name!

Throwing things way back to the early days of “The Bachelorette,” Meredith Phillips took suitor Matthew Hickl there for a one-on-one during the second season of the popular ABC reality series. The date proved successful, too, as Matthew received a rose by night’s end and eventually wound up making it to Meredith’s final two.

The winery pops up several times as Château Picard, the supposed La Barre, France family home of Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), on the Paramount+ series “Star Trek: Picard.”

Kat Odell and her friends head to Sunstone for a wine tasting adventure – and flirt with Linda and Fred’s son, Bion, while there – in the season one episode of the reality show “Eat Drink Love” titled “Bottle Shock.”

Luis D. Ortiz, Jo Franco and Megan Batoon feature the property in the season two episode of their Netflix series “The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals” titled “Destination Weddings.”

And the music video for Kehlani’s song “Altar” was also recently shot on location at Sunstone Villa.

The real drama is set to come next week, though, in the upcoming season finale of “Vanderpump Rules,” which will see the culmination of James and Raquel’s much-hyped engagement party – as well as Scheana and Brock’s possible hijacking of the festivities for their own purposes! Hold onto your fedoras and Pumptinis, folks, as it’s sure to be a bumpy ride!