By now everyone who knows anything about wine, or has any interest, knows that Napa Valley is synonymous with some of the world’s best. There are plenty of award-wining wineries that offer tastings, tours, and more, and you’ll also find several luxurious inns within their midst. Here are a handful of options to inspire your palate’s desires.
Ideally located just a block away from historic Downtown Napa, Churchill Manor Bed and Breakfast boasts lavish guest rooms that are aptly named after Napa Valley’s wine growing regions, which were painted on each door by a local artist. Each room reflects the sophistication and grace of this 1889 mansion, while incorporating the best of modern amenities. Every morning guests can indulge in a delectable breakfast in the sunroom or its attached veranda, which features beautiful views of the gardens. The menu includes the freshest ingredients, bought locally and organic when possible. In the evening, guests enjoy a two-hour wine and appetizer reception, which features Napa Valley and other specialty wines along with appetizers including domestic and imported cheeses – but the thrills don’t end there. “We have so many exciting new developments in Napa to look forward to this summer,” reveals innkeeper Joanna Guidotti. “After a day of wine tasting, our guests will be able to stroll up the street to the Napa Valley Opera House where Blue Note from New York will be opening a jazz dinner club.” During the day, they will also be able to attend cooking demonstrations and everything food at the newly acquired Culinary Institute of America, which has just taken over the former COPIA food and wine complex. “And, my personal favorite,” adds Joanna, “our guests will be able to walk or bicycle off-road on the newly created 12.5-mile stretch of the Napa Valley Vine Trail as it winds from South Napa to Yountville. Eventually, the Trail will extend from the Vallejo Ferry Terminal for 47 miles to Calistoga.” Guests of Churchill Manor will have all of this within walking distance of the inn with complimentary tandem bikes also available for use.
Originally a 19th-century estate, the renovated Inn on Randolph is a special destination that seamlessly combines the best amenities of a modern Napa bed and breakfast with the property’s celebrated roots. Guests have the choice of staying in one of five luxurious guestrooms in the historic 1860’s main inn, or opt for one of five spacious private cottages complete with sumptuous in-room amenities such as air spa tubs, heated tile floors and beautiful fireplaces. The inn also features multiple beautifully landscaped gardens and hideaways, which include not only colorful floral and fauna but also ingredients that the chef uses daily for his special gourmet gluten-free breakfasts; stone paths ideal for a relaxing stroll; a revitalizing Spa Room for private treatments; and the enticing Cabernet Room for private events, a beautiful space where spa treatments take place too. No matter which accommodations you choose, personal touches and amenities abound. Most importantly, guests are just steps away from everything they came to Napa to experience including top-notch restaurants, wine tasting, outdoor adventures, the river promenade, music, and more. For those seeking local insight, the staff at Inn on Randolph is happy to share their expertise and experience about the area and wineries that you won’t want to miss. “HALL wines not only produces some of the best wines in the region, but they also provide a truly gorgeous tasting experience in their modern tasting building,” reveals manager Carlisle Engelhardt. “Other current favorites of ours include Alpha Omega and Round Pond, both of which are stunning experiences surrounded by gorgeous scenery. In downtown Napa, Vintners Collective is a must-visit to taste sumptuous small batch wines you won’t find anywhere else.”
Candlelight Inn Napa Valley rests on a tributary of the Napa River, on the border of Sonoma and Napa at the gateway to the Los Carneros wine region. This romantic rendezvous is complete within a park-like setting including swimming pool, outdoor patios, and redwood grove . The cozy accommodations have their own eclectic style offering guests plenty of comfort. A homemade three-course gourmet breakfast starts the day in the relaxed environment of the light-filled breakfast room. In the evening, guests can return to the inn to indulge in complimentary wine and snacks, or enjoy a couples massage in the privacy of their room, before departing to explore the local culinary scene. “The connection between wine and the table in Napa has never been as focused as it is now, with prime vineyard land sharing the spotlight with small, sustainably-farmed gardens whose produce is jettisoned directly from ground to local tables and accompanied by their pedigreed vinous counterparts,” says innkeeper Sam Neft. “Candlelight Inn Napa has always understood the relationship between the Napa Valley and its wine. We’re locally owned and over the years have developed long-standing relationships with wineries of Napa and Sonoma. Year after year we connect guests with their ideal Napa Wine experience, whether it’s glamorous or down-to-earth, extravagant or cost-efficient. Nothing gives us greater satisfaction than knowing we’ve assisted guests in accomplishing their ideal Napa adventure, whatever that may be, it’s our pleasure to help. There’s never been more to do in Napa than now, as the number of excellent restaurants, wineries and breweries continue to multiply, all in the timeless setting of the Napa Valley.”