Joe Montana's Atherton home for sale; family moving to Wine Country <z0034.0>Joe Montana's Atherton home for sale; family moving to Wine Country (March 08, 2000)

Looks like we won't be seeing much more of Atherton's most famous resident. Forty-Niner great Joe Montana and his wife, Jennifer, have their Atherton estate for sale and are planning to move permanently to the Wine Country.

Rumor has it their Tuscan-style villa is listed for $20 million, although the figure was not confirmed by their real estate agent, Ellen Mazzoni of Coldwell Banker's Burlingame office. Ms. Mazzoni sold the Montanas' previous home in Emerald Hills, and showed them their Atherton estate, which they bought from George Roberts of Kohlberg, Kravis Roberts & Company.

Before the Montanas moved into their Atherton home about 10 years ago, they completed a majoring remodeling, including a basement wine cellar, great room, office, workout room, and underground parking. The villa's interior courtyard is surrounded by water and approached by four small bridges.

An source who did not want to be identified told the Almanac many artifacts in the home have been imported from Europe, with master craftsmen spending months on the house's finishes. A muralist from France re-created Michelangelo's masterpiece "The Creation of Man" on the vaulted living room ceiling.

The Montanas bought a 600-acre spread in the Wine Country several years ago, where they have horses and a vineyard. They are expanding and remodeling their summer place to be their permanent home.

Locals will miss seeing Joe at Draeger's or having lunch at Carpaccio or Ariel with Jennifer. Most played it cool, giving the famous couple their privacy, but it was a sure hit with out-of-town relatives to drive by their Atherton estate and say, "That's where Joe Montana lives.