History
TEVIS ESTATE - THEN AND NOW (1800's-Present)
From a failed trout farm to a now flourishing boutique winery, the land that houses Lexington Hills Estate & Winery has a story spanning over a century. It sits on a portion of the property that once made up the lower gardens of the historic Tevis Estate. His predecessor, Dr Knowles, had constructed a private drive known as “Old Alma College Road” to connect the main estate to the lower towns of Alma & Lexington. Much of the original dirt road, hand-stacked rock walls, and some unique and rare plantings are still intact, but the historic towns lie submerged under water and mostly forgotten (remnants of the old towns only to be seen when the water level is very low).
Dr. Harry Tevis retired from private practice in San Francisco and built the estate on the remains of a commercial trout farm in 1905. The Tevis Estate boasted 2,500 acres at its peak, with a large 40-room estate home, several outbuildings, an experimental farm, horse stables, a vineyard, a private water system large enough to serve a small city, and exotic botanical gardens with rare plants from around the world, including the world’s largest Madrone tree. The opulence was only rivaled by Filoli and Villa Montalvo, who shared Dr. Tevis’s passion for collection.
His pride and joy were his roses, and one of the white roses became known as the Tevis rose. Sadly, after his death, his gardens on this lower section were destroyed, but some of the roses were transferred to Santa Clara University and Los Gatos Library and have survived over the century. The destruction of the lower gardens made room for the construction of highway 17 in the 1930’s which divided the property in two. The rest of the gardens were reclaimed by the forests. Though the property was purchased by Alma College, a Jesuit theological seminary, the land and buildings later fell into disrepair and much of the history lost with it. The original Tevis mansion burned down in 1970.
LEXINGTON HILLS – HISTORY IN THE MAKING
Alexa Ingram-Cauchi purchased a portion of the lower gardens of the estate after learning about the availability of the property located behind the elementary school she had once attended. One look at the majestic native Heritage Oaks that lined the road and the massive flat property, void of plants or rocks, and she somehow knew there was potential. It would be a monumental task to restore it and not for the faint of heart. The property had been completely clearcut and rumors hold that dynamite had been used to make way for earlier construction. However, it’s not just the architectural aesthetic that drove her vision, she also wanted to reclaim the land and restore the ecosystem. Initially, the property was void of wildlife. Birds and bees had all but left the site for lack of sufficient vegetation. Installing solar panels and a grey water system, she began the painstaking process of re-introducing native plants to the barren landscape. Above the new fruit trees, raised garden beds were planted for year-round production, and a bee-friendly pollinator garden was installed. The vineyard, planted with cabernet sauvignon grapes, cascades down the hillside as an eco-friendly alternative to cement retaining walls. This thoughtful placement helps with soil retention. The two vineyards also serve as a natural firebreak, forming a year-round barrier and protection for the site.
In 2024, Alexa invited the surrounding community to take part in the inaugural olive harvest, resulting in 507 pounds of olives and her very first pressing, entitled “Inaugural Batch 507”. Her first grape harvest was also that month yielding enough grapes for her first bottling. The first Estate harvest will be bottled and available for tasting later in 2026.
With the land’s restoration underway and the landscape beginning to thrive, Alexa turned her attention to creating structures that would honor both the property’s historic roots and its promising future. After constructing ‘the Cottage’ as her family’s initial residence, Alexa began bringing her larger vision to life in the construction of ‘the Manor’ House. Her vision was to recreate a home similar to family residences she visited in Malta, where homes were centered around a main grand central staircase. The magnificent iron staircase in the Manor House accomplishes that vision. During her study abroad in France, Alexa fell in love with the European aesthetic and an appreciation for architecture that stood the test of time. She curated the construction of her home with that longevity in mind, using antiques and salvaged materials from historic estate homes, banks, churches,hotels and the like. Traveling between her home in Seattle and her home in Los Gatos, Alexa collected unique and stately pieces, each with its own story. Throughout construction, her love and respect for the surrounding community was evident. Most of the artisan work was done by locals, from the metalworking to the woodworking to the glass design. The hardwood floors throughout the estate were reclaimed from old barns in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Hand-hewn beams from a Lewis & Clark Depot in Oregon hang proudly in the main buildings. All the exterior brick was reclaimed from a building in San Pedro Square (Downtown San Jose), dating back to the 1880s. From Southern France (via Argentina) came the iron balconies throughout the property, while the antique light fixtures add character and illumination. Even the chicken coop was built with reclaimed materials from her childhood room.
However, Alexa didn’t originally intend for her home to be a business. As the mature olive trees went in and her vineyard began to produce, her vision kept growing. One of her first partnerships was with Alma Equine, a nonprofit that brings at-risk youth and young adults to work with horses, teaching life skills along the way. The upper property was developed to lodge the horses. “The Tree House Conservatory” sits there, overlooking the horse stables and riding ring on one side and a filtered view of the lake on the other. It includes a meeting room and a rooftop walkway with a spectacular view for stargazing or watching the horses. “The Chalet” and its outdoor kitchen were built next, with top-of-the-line equipment and antique-faced murphy beds.
Today, Lexington Hills Estate & Winery stands as a testament to thoughtful restoration, sustainable practices, and community engagement, proving that with vision and dedication, a forgotten piece of local history can be transformed into a vibrant community treasure. We invite guests to become a part of our story, whether through a casual wine tasting, a special event in our thoughtful spaces, or joining our community harvest celebrations. We welcome all to experience this unique piece of local heritage.
