The Club at Castlewood 707 Country Club Circle • Pleasanton • California 94566

Once the site of the fabulous “La Hacienda Del Pozo de Verona” and the former estate of Phoebe Apperson Hearst, California’s beloved hostess and first lady of philanthropy, The Club at Castlewood still retains the aura of elegance and grace that were the hallmarks of its famous resident. The drive up Pleasanton Ridge, which overlooks the Amador Valley and is flanked by green fairways and gated estates, continues to generate a feeling of opulence and success. Giant palms line the Clubhouse approach, while the country club pool, built by Mrs. Hearst, sparkles like a huge aquamarine amid emerald lawns.

The princely porte-cochère that marks the entrance to the Clubhouse is reminiscent of the palatial 53-room California Mission-style mansion that once crowned the rise. This red carpet-style entrée through a beautiful colonnade is a fitting introduction to the spaces within.

Guests can gather in the handsomely furnished Grand Lobby with its soaring ceiling and majestic fireplace. Gleaming terracotta-colored floors reflect light in a way that adds warmth and splendor. The lobby leads to the Del Pozo Lounge, a 2,000-square-foot private prefunction space of castle-like splendor. A magnificent granite-and-marble bar in the back of the room draws guests in to relax with a cocktail in hand before stepping into the 6,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom. The room’s 12-foot-high windows let in breathtaking views, and 10 massive Spanish-style chandeliers combine with other ambient lighting to halo festivities in just the right light.

Let a waltz across the polished hardwood floors lead to the Del Pozo Terrace, where 1,600 additional square feet of function space and more stunning valley and woodland vistas expand the party possibilities. Perfect for pre-dinner or après-dinner drinks and tête-à-têtes, it’s also an excellent ceremony space. For couples who wish to tie the knot on Castlewood’s Oak Tree Lawn, the property’s ancient oak tree, whose branches spread overhead like a lacy fan, is a spectacular natural backdrop for the wedding couple.

If the wedding party needs to freshen up, they can do so in quarters fit for royalty: rich carpeting, card tables, wingback chairs, and golf course views create an inviting vibe.