Most luxury homes with impressive wine cellars have them tucked away in a basement or behind glass walls in a formal dining room.
But at a $6.4 million estate in Sedona, Arizona, the wine cellar has a rather unusual backstory: it once supplied water to an entire neighborhood.
Known as La Aguilera, the sprawling property at 25 and 55 Cibola Drive features two residences totaling approximately 9,723 square feet, with six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and panoramic views of Sedona’s famous red rock formations.
The estate occupies 0.82 acres bordering the Coconino National Forest, less than a mile from Uptown Sedona, and is now listed with Eileen Talebi and Tara Miller, Coldwell Banker Realty.
And while the property has an impressive collection of amenities, including a swimming pool with a retractable roof, sprawling entertaining areas, and multiple outdoor kitchens, its most memorable feature has to be the historic wine cellar.
Originally installed in the late 1950s, the steel water tank served the developing Cibola Hills neighborhood, providing an essential utility to the surrounding homes.
The tank remained in service until the 1990s, when it was eventually decommissioned.
Years later, the property’s owners recognized its potential for something decidedly more enjoyable than storing water.
According to a 2014 feature in Sedona Monthly, homeowners Bruce and Janet purchased the abandoned tank from Arizona Water Company for just $5. After considering several possibilities, including turning it into a swimming pool or media room, they settled on a wine cellar.
Construction began in October 2009 and was completed in June 2010, transforming the utilitarian structure into an elaborate space for wine collecting and entertaining.
Today, the former water tank houses an approximately 1,600-bottle wine cellar, complete with temperature and humidity controls, custom wine storage, and a dedicated tasting room.
The interior is surprisingly elaborate, featuring Brazilian granite countertops, custom Lyptus wood finishes, extensive cabinetry, and a handcrafted hammered-copper sink.
There’s also a distinctive art-glass sculpture incorporating semi-precious stones and fossils, along with textured walls designed to evoke Sedona’s surrounding red rock formations.
The cellar is divided into two areas, with an inviting tasting room at the front and a separate storage area for the wine collection toward the back.
Outside, Concord and Merlot grapevines frame a pergola leading to the entrance, while a flagstone patio provides additional space for outdoor wine tastings.
A private stone staircase connects the area to the adjoining national forest, making the cellar feel like a secluded destination within the estate.
And there’s plenty more to explore beyond the wine cellar.
The property encompasses two separate residences, offering considerable flexibility for extended families, visiting guests, or owners who prefer to keep their living and entertaining spaces separate.
The larger home, at 25 Cibola Drive, spans approximately 6,146 square feet and features three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and interiors that make the most of the spectacular desert surroundings.
A two-story atrium introduces the home’s Southwestern architectural character, with Saltillo tile, warm wood finishes, California redwood ceiling beams, and expansive windows capturing the red rock views.
The kitchen comes equipped with custom knotty alder cabinetry, granite countertops, KitchenAid appliances, a large island, and an oversized walk-in pantry.
But the home’s grandest entertaining space is its approximately 1,575-square-foot great room, complete with a massive 20-foot-wide stone fireplace, a 14-foot granite bar, and a professional-quality Lynx indoor grill.
The room connects to a spacious outdoor patio and fire pit on one side and an indoor-outdoor swimming pool on the other.
And the pool itself has another rather unexpected feature: a fully retractable roof.
Combined with expansive sliding doors, the movable roof allows the pool enclosure to open to the outdoors, revealing the surrounding red rock landscape and Sedona’s famously beautiful skies.
The heated saltwater pool also features an integrated spa, tanning ledge, and decorative water features, making it usable throughout the year.
Elsewhere on the estate, an elevator, exercise room with built-in bar and sitting area, multiple fireplaces, and expansive viewing decks add to the amenities.
The property also features approximately 3,266 square feet of outdoor living space, seller-owned solar panels, and a four-car garage.
Its location is another major selling point, with the surrounding national forest providing direct access to nature, while Uptown Sedona’s restaurants, art galleries, and shops are just 0.6 miles away.
La Aguilera is currently listed for $6.4 million with Eileen Talebi and Tara Miller of Coldwell Banker Realty.
And while the estate’s red rock views and extensive amenities are certainly impressive, it’s the former water tank that gives this particular property its personality.
After all, how many wine collectors can say their cellar once kept an entire neighborhood supplied with water?
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