Best Places to Wake Up in a Vineyard
Not everyone can own their own vineyard, but a stay at a winery or a working vineyard gives travelers a chance to wake up in one. Guests of these boutique hotels and B&Bs in California have the opportunity to watch the sunrise over the vine-draped hills, tour the vineyards without the crowds, and savor unique and private wine-tasting experiences.
The Inn at Opolo
The Inn at Opolo is an intimate, three-suite hideaway nestled amid the 100-acre Opolo Vineyards in western Paso Robles wine country. Built in 2008, the inn’s spacious suites feature gas fireplaces, king beds draped with Italian linens, glass-enclosed tiled showers, and jetted soaking tubs for two. French doors from each of the suites open to a sunny, wrap-around veranda with lounge chairs and scenic views. Guests have 24-hour access to a fully stocked kitchen and a private outdoor dining area. A charming pair of wooden swings hang from the branches of an old oak tree. There’s also a bocce ball court, walking paths through the vineyards, and a hilltop lawn above the vineyards with views that stretch for miles. Each afternoon of their stay, guests are treated to an appetizer platter paired with a bottle of Opolo wine. A made-to-order breakfast is served each morning. Guests can also enjoy complimentary wine tasting at the Opolo tasting room, which is mere steps away.
Grand Reserve Inn
Secluded on 40 acres of the Wilderotter Vineyard near Plymouth, the Grand Reserve Inn is a 9,000-square-foot Tuscan-inspired villa with sweeping views of the vineyards and the Sierra Foothills beyond. Built in 2016, the inn is owned by Teneral Cellars, which is a certified women-owned business committed to empowering women and promoting gender and racial equity. Each of the inn’s five luxurious suites offers vineyard views through arched windows and private patios to catch the sun rising or setting over the bucolic estate. The spacious suites also feature gas fireplaces, dreamy king beds, spa-like baths, and luxe amenities. Guests of the inn are treated to private VIP wine-tasting experiences, wine and cheese pairings, and gourmet breakfasts served each day. In the evenings, guests can relax beside the outdoor fire pits overlooking the vineyards. The award-winning Wilderotter Vineyard grows 21 varietals, including Zinfandel, Syrah, Tempranillo, Barbera, Viognier, Petite Sirah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, and their signature Sauvignon Blanc.
Amador Harvest Inn
In the Sierra Foothills near Plymouth, Amador Harvest Inn is tucked away on 40 acres of rolling vineyards, graceful oak trees, and tranquil lakes. The Cape Cod-style inn is owned and operated by one of Shenandoah Valley’s oldest farming families, the Deavers. Each of the four guest rooms is named for the grape varietals surrounding the inn and includes a made-from-scratch breakfast served each morning. Guests can sample wines in the Deaver Vineyards tasting room next door or relax with a glass of wine on the inn’s back porch. The porch offers idyllic views of the vineyards and the manicured lawn leading down to a lake filled with fish, ducks, and frogs. After nightfall, there are few sounds except for a chorus of frogs and the occasional popping of a wine cork. A short drive from the inn, the family-owned Amador Flower Farm offers gardens for strolling and an endless assortment of daylilies.
The Raford Inn
On a steep hill rising above Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, The Raford Inn offers one of the most stunning vineyard views in Sonoma wine country. Surrounded by old-fashioned flower gardens, the Victorian country estate overlooks acres of working vineyards ringed by redwood forested mountains. Adirondacks on the lawn and a wide wrap-around veranda with cozy seating provide idyllic perches from which to enjoy the view. A couple of the guest rooms offer private patios with vineyard views as well. The historic mansion was built in 1880 by hops pioneer Raford Peterson. He and his descendants lived in the home and worked the land for 100 years before it was sold and converted into an inn. The original 1,320-acre property was once planted with hops, but vineyards now stretch as far as the eye can see. The innkeepers serve a happy hour with local wines and hors d’oeuvres on the veranda each evening and a hearty breakfast each morning. The owners craft their own house wines from the grapes grown on-site and have won numerous awards at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair.
Skyview Los Alamos
Perched on a hillside overlooking Santa Barbara wine country, Skyview Los Alamos is an iconic 1950’s roadside motel turned luxurious boutique resort. The five-acre outpost in the Santa Ynez Valley merges mid-century style with modern rustic chic. The grounds include a two-and-a-half acre working vineyard, Skyview Vineyards, which produces pinot noir. Several of the guest rooms open to private patios with cozy lounge seating overlooking the vineyards. The rooms are also outfitted with hardwood floors, down duvets, leather club chairs, and marble-clad bathrooms. In addition to the guest rooms, the resort’s heated pool area and the outside dining deck overlook the vineyards as well. The grapes grown on-site are vinified into Skyview’s house wines by Mikey Guiliani of Scar of the Sea Wines. Guests are treated to a glass of house rosé upon arrival. The resort’s Linus bikes are available to guests to cruise into town or take a spin through wine country.
Gables Wine Country Inn
The Gables Wine Country Inn is nestled on three and a half acres in the heart of Sonoma Wine Country. In 2017, innkeepers Larry and Pam Willis planted a small vineyard of Riesling behind the inn’s grand, 145-year-old Gothic Victorian mansion. A covered pavilion with outdoor seating, a fire pit, and string lights provides a relaxing spot to soak up the vineyard views. The Riesling grapes from the vineyard are blended with Viognier by Loxton Cellars in Glen Ellen to create Loxton’s easy-drinking white wine blend, Sencillo. In addition to the vineyards, the inn’s bucolic grounds include towering redwoods, shady lawns, a large vegetable garden, and an old barn that had been part of the property’s original cattle ranch. The inn’s elegant guest rooms feature 12-foot ceilings, luxurious beds, and private bathrooms with clawfoot tubs. The innkeepers greet guests upon arrival with a glass of local wine and provide a wine passport for complimentary wine tastings.