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Wine Country Vacation Rentals Unique Lodging Accommodations in the Wine Country Vacation rentals offer accommodations far removed
from ordinary lodging options. Often times couples are looking
for a place where the comforts of home exist, but also seek
unique amenities that pamper and refresh. The
Wine Country Teahouse, in the Sonoma Valley, is the closest
thing to staying in Japan without the long plane flight to get
there. The owner, who lived in Japan for 10 years, brought back
two carpenters to construct this authentic "ryokan".
Tatami mats cover the floor of the spacious central room where
the visitor sleeps on a traditional futon. In addition to the
kitchen, the teahouse includes a traditional bath–a shower
for bathing and stone tub, with view of the pond and garden,
for soaking. Included are a host of amenities. There is a separate outdoor hot tub and large swimming pool. A self-service breakfast, complimentary wine, cheese, fruit and chocolate, a large basket of bathroom amenities, sound system, and satellite TV are a few of the others. You can even order an in-room Amma Shiatsu massage. For truly "getting away" and a genuine sense of tranquility, the Wine Country Teahouse is hard to beat.
Be sure to check back next month for more recommendations from the WineCountry.com editorial staff! To see additional vacation rental options in these Wine Country areas, visit the WineCountry.com portals linked below. Vacation Rentals: Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, Monterey
A Perfect Day In Petaluma An Insider's Visit to a Historic Wine Country Destination
This is especially seen in the historic downtown area. Spared from the brunt of the 1906 earthquake, downtown Petaluma hosts a unique collection of 19th century iron work fronted buildings surrounded by tree-lined blocks of Victorian, Queen Elizabeth, Craftsmen and Spanish Stucco styled homes. And while the downtown area boast many trendy shops and restaurants, a main community event is the famous Butter & Eggs Day parade, a pleasant reminder of Petaluma’s agricultural past.
Morning: "We like to start the day with a good Brunch. Among our favorites are the smoked salmon eggs benedict at the Tea Room Café, the steamed eggs at Aram’s Café, or Pork Chops and Eggs, served with a large portion of home-fries at Marvin’s on the Boulevard." Midday: "Any combination of the following will contribute to the perfect day. Downtown shopping at the numerous antiques, specialty, book stores and art galleries. Start at Vintage Bank Antiques (an old converted bank housing several dealers) and work your way from there. We’d suggest including a stop at one of the coffee houses as well.
"Keller Estate Winery and Vineyards offers wine tasting by appointment only, and produce an extraordinary Chardonnay that is a particularly fine accompaniment with food." Evening: "Our favorite dining
includes the Twisted
Vines Wine Bar and Bistro, where after ordering your food,
you select a bottle of wine from one of the many cases stacked
against the wall; Le Bistro Café, an intimate restaurant
whose owner/chef is renowned for his careful and tasty preparation;
"For after dinner entertainment check out the Mystic Theatre, an ideal venue for excellent music, though you may need to book in advance." For more information on Petaluma lodging, dining and shopping, visit Sonoma.com and www.visitpetaluma.com. The Butter and Egg Days Parade will be held at noon, April 26, in the Historic Downtown Petaluma. Featured Sponsor 
Dining Recommendation A family-owned business, a mother and son team; "Rosie" and Michael Dunsford, Jr. along with the charming hostess, Sarah Dunsford (Michael’s wife). Perhaps you remember Rosie who was the founder and principle owner of the popular "Rosie's Café" at Lake Tahoe. Now in Calistoga, they are known for their holiday meals and special dinners (which can accommodate groups of up to 70 people).
The seating on the outside garden patio along the Napa River is quite pleasant, especially on a lovely spring day. Calistoga Inn is a long time favorite of the locals and tourists alike. We were told there was no dress code here, allowing you to dine in elegance from shorts to tuxedos. An entrée of grilled Salmon served with
a tomatillo salsa, mashed potatoes and asparagus was scrumptious.
For those with a lighter appetite for lunch, it’s recommended
to have the flavorful "Luncheon Salad" – a Chinese
Chicken salad with grilled chicken breast with local field greens
and a delicious sesame-soy dressing on the side. Looking for a place to stay? The Calistoga Inn, Restaurant & Brewery, has 18 turn-of- the-century comfortable rooms available and are reasonably priced. For more information on the Calistoga Inn, Restaurant & Brewery visit their website at www.calistogainn.com. Be sure to check next month's edition of WineCountry Lifestyle Online for our May 2003 Dining Recommendation.
Wine Country Recipe Zinfandel Port with Warm Chocolate Cakes (6 Servings) 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2. Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Put the chocolate in a small bowl, pour the butter on top and stir until smooth. 3. In a bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the eggs with the sugar at medium speed until thick and pale. Beat in the flour; then add the chocolate mixture. Spoon the batter into the prepared ramekins. Bake in the center of the oven for about 12 minutes, or until the tops of the cakes begin to crack. 4. Let the cakes cool in the ramekins for 1 minute. Run a thin knife around the sides of the cakes to loosen them, then cover each ramekin with an inverted dessert plate. Turn them over, let stand for a few seconds and then remove the ramekins. Serve the cakes immediately with a dollop of whipped cream. Wine Tasting Recommendation
Merryvale Vineyards found their historic and picturesque home in 1983 on Main Street St. Helena. It was the first winery built in the Napa Valley following prohibition. Great care has been taken to preserve the charm and warmth of yesteryear while completely refurbishing the historic winery with state-of-the-art winemaking equipment. While touring the Napa Valley, you must visit the Merryvale Vineyards tasting room! This beautiful winery is dramatic, historic, inviting, and full of excellent award-winning wines! Choose from three levels of tasting from $4.00 per person for their "Classic" collection, to $12.00 per person for the "Prestige" wines. Prestige wines include a new brand new release, the 2000 Silhouette Napa Valley Chardonnay, and the 1999 Profile, Napa Valley, which received 93 points from Wine Spectator. Merryvale wines are handcrafted wines that are rich, flavorful, complex and elegant. Tasting room hours are 10:00 am – 6:30 pm daily.
Be sure to try Merryvale wines in their beautiful tasting room, and explore the gift shop full of unique foods and special wine themed gifts. Visit Merryvale online at www.merryvale.com Be sure to check out next month's edition of WineCountry Lifestyle as we continue to explore wineries thoughout the Wine Country regions!
Wine Country Lodging Recommendation
Time to check out downtown Napa! Like few other places in America, the Wine Country of Northern California seems to have turned back the clock to a simpler time. With farmers' markets scattered throughout the region, barber poles on every Main Street, and most downtown businesses closed by 6pm, we were surprised when our editorial staff kept hearing that Downtown Napa was the up and coming place to be. We decided to take a look for ourselves. The goal was to pick a hotel as close to the action as possible……and not have to move the car for at least a day. The Napa River Inn met our criteria perfectly!
Walking into the room we are immediately struck
by the elegant furnishings and warm wood paneling. The Napa
River Inn is designed and built with the utmost attention to
every detail. The rooms have a historic feel in keeping with
the buildings' surroundings, but also offer all the modern amenities
discerning travelers have come to expect. The Napa River Inn is a full-service, luxury hotel
located in downtown Napa. Featuring its own onsite spa, plus
a Gourmet market, this establishment is ideal for the Wine Country
traveler seeking luxury in a premier location. From the historic
rooms to the contemporary-designed accommodations, every room
is detailed to pamper you with amenities and comfort that will
make your stay a visit to remember.
Events for April Notable Wine Country Events: April
12 -- Pick of the Vine –
Sonoma County April 13 -- Wine
and Art Festival at Chateau Julien – Monterey County April 19 -- Santa
Cruz Mountains Winegrowers' Association Passport Program April 28 -- Yountville
Epicurean Affair at Vintage 1870 in the Napa Valley April 26 -- Santa
Barbara Futures Tasting For a complete calendar of events
by region, visit: Mendocino,
Monterey,
WineCountry.com Info WineCountry.com Sweepstakes: Wine Country Getaway Adventure! Spend a weekend in the Wine Country …. Win a ‘Sip N' Cycle Tour’ for two from Getaway Adventures! Spend the day on a guided bike tour through Calistoga’s beautiful quiet country roads, stopping to taste fine wine at five extraordinary wineries along the way! Dine at the award-winning, Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant with your gift certificate valued at $100. Winner will also receive a Napa Valley Expedition Guide, complete with audio tour and guidebook with CD-Rom. Visit Getaway Adventures at: www.getawayadventures.com ***No purchase necessary.
To participate you must be 21 years of age or older. Only one
entry per person permitted. Prize is same as cash, FreeRun Technologies,
Inc/WineCountry.com is not responsible if lost or stolen. Winner
will be selected by random drawing and will be contacted via
email. Winner must claim prize within 10 days of email notification.
Winner name and state of residence will be announced in a future
issue of WineCountry.com Lifestyle Online newsletter. Employees
of FreeRun Technologies are ineligible. Void where prohibited. WineCountry.com Info... Weather: Past Newsletters: Subscribe: Unsubscribe: Our privacy policy can be found here: winecountry.com/w3c/privacy.html To Advertise: |
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One
is forced to relax when the choices available include a soak
in a hot tub while gazing at the stars, sitting in the sun with
a good book surrounded by hillside vineyard views, or cuddling
next to an open fireplace after a long day of sightseeing and
wine tasting. Vacation rentals offer private accommodations,
allowing couples to completely relax and enjoy each other, and
their vacation. This month the WineCountry.com editorial staff
features luxurious vacation rentals from three separate Wine
Country regions. 
Close
the shoji screens for seclusion, or slide them open for panoramic
views of the garden. The attention to beauty and detail throughout
are astounding!
In
Napa Valley Wine Country, visit the luxury villa 
In
the Monterey Wine Country region, 
Pajaro
Dunes also offers private meeting rooms; the perfect setting
to get away and get down to business. Also available are 19
tennis courts, nearby championship golf, and all the attractions
of the beautiful Monterey Bay. 
Petaluma
has been described as the Gateway to the Central / Northern
Sonoma County Wine Country, a designation that will become even
more accurate in the future as more of the recently planted
vineyards come into production. Petaluma today might better
be described as a blending of a Marin-like sensibility with
a farming tradition that dates back for many generations. 
Petaluma
assuredly warrants a visit, either as a day trip destination
or as a stop to or from the Wine Country further north. WineCountry.com
has asked one of our editorial staff who has lived in Petaluma
for the past several years to describe a Perfect Petaluma Day.
"For
a nature outing, visit 
Calistoga
Inn Restaurant & Brewery
A
WineCountry.com staff member recently met a friend on the outside
patio for a Spring lunch. Here is what she had to say about
their dining experience. 
Calistoga
Inn is known for their great seafood and steaks cooked over
an oakwood grill , giving the food a fabulous taste. Their breads
and flavorful deserts are homemade daily.
Merryvale
Vineyards in St. Helena
Ongoing
weekend seminars are also available for your enjoyment. The
Wine Component Tasting seminar, recommended by Sunset Magazine
and the San Francisco Chronicle, includes a tour of
the winery and moves into the renowned "Cask Room"
focusing on wine and its essential components. Learn how the
components blend together to create balance - in an entertaining
and educational experience. To learn more about this and other
ongoing seminars, visit their website: 
Merryvale's
historic Cask Room is one of Napa Valley's most enchanting settings
Napa
River Inn
On
an early Spring Saturday afternoon we pulled our car up to the
door of the property, and were warmly greeted by the desk clerk
in the nicely appointed and welcoming lobby. We were told our
room was just steps away in the Embarcadero building which overlooks
the Napa River and that we could choose to have breakfast delivered
to our door the next morning so we could enjoy it in bed. We
were also given tasting tickets for the Hatt Market wine tasting
bar which was located right next door. We wanted to settle into
our accommodations before taking a stroll around downtown, and
upon opening the door to our room we were very delighted. 
All
rooms feature color TV and two line-data and voice ports, refrigerators
and terry robes. The bathrooms have ample space and the selection
of grapeseed-oil based Napa Valley Spa Products are a nice touch.
Although it would have been nice to experience a room with a
balcony, our room still offered a peaceful view of the meandering
Napa River and was walking distance to several excellent dining
choices (which we will tell you more about in an upcoming issue).
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