Christie’s Sereno plants flag in St. Helena with new office

Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno is nearing 20 offices with its expansion into the St. Helena market as it looks to further boost its Wine Country business.

The St. Helena office is part of the Los Gatos-based Sereno brokerage’s Christie’s International Real Estate San Francisco | Marin | Wine Country division. In conjunction with the new office opening, Sereno has recruited Wine Country Consultants, a team helmed by Robyn Bentley, to join the agency. 

Chris Trapani, co-founder and co-CEO of Christie’s Sereno, told The Real Deal the presence in St. Helena will complement the brokerage’s San Francisco and Marin offices. 

“As a company, our number one focus has always been on hyperlocal, community-minded real estate professionals,” Trapani said. “Geography is really important, but the people are the most important factor, and this Bentley team here really fits that criteria so perfectly.”

Robyn Bentley works alongside her daughter Jordan Bentley and son Ross Bentley, with the team having built a business around Wine Country luxury and vineyard real estate.

“They represent a multi-generational culture, mindset and knowledge base around wineries, vineyards and luxury properties in the area,” pointed out Jessica Grimes, who handles strategic marketing and expansion at Christie’s Sereno.

The decision to link with the Sereno brokerage wasn’t taken lightly, Jordan Bentley said of the decision. She and her mother were at one time with Pacific Union Real Estate before going independent in 2016. Ross Bentley later joined the duo in late 2017. 

Wine Country Consultants and Christie’s share a focus on providing luxury hospitality, Jordan Bentley said of why it made sense for the two to pair. There’s also the diverse backgrounds she and her brother bring to the business.

“I have a background in fine art and my brother in winemaking, so it just felt like a beautiful extension of our loves in real estate, art and wine,” she said. 

St. Helena represents a diverse market with a blend of buyers looking to purchase a second home and those involved in the wine business. The new office comes as some agents see a pick-up in activity. 

“Over the last year, buyers were holding their breath a little bit to see how interest rates may change their decision-making process,” Jordan Bentley said of the residential business. “Right now, I feel like they’re starting to exhale. Buyers are willing to accept the current interest rates and do what they can to get things going.” 

In the case of wineries, demand has held for prime vineyard and winery facilities particularly in the Napa Valley, she added. 

Christie’s Sereno will be ready once a broader pick-up in activity takes hold, with the firm also talking with other agents to further pad St. Helena and other offices within the division, according to Trapani.

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St. Helena brings the Sereno brokerage to 19 offices and more than 650 agents. Christie’s said its Sereno group, which spans from San Francisco and the East Bay to Lake Tahoe and the Central Coast, generates nearly $5 billion in sales volume each year.

As for whether executives see additional offices in Sereno’s future, Trapani said it’s “highly likely” more will come online to service the Wine Country market.