Wine Country Inn & Cottages Napa Valley

Family-owned and operated since 1975, The Wine Country Inn is tucked away under towering oak trees on garden grounds that are surrounded by vineyards of neighboring wineries. There's a small reception area where gift items and wines are sold, but the hotel lacks a proper lobby for lounging. The two-room breakfast area is more suited for relaxing at all hours; it features a sunny front room with round tables and a larger back room with a long table and a couple of plush wine-colored sofas bracketing a wood-burning stove. There's also an adjacent terrace with patio furniture for dining and relaxing on sunny days. The overall vibe is romantic, and the hotel caters to couples visiting Napa's wine country. 

The Wine Country Inn is located on a quiet road between the Silverado Trail and the St. Helena Highway (Hwy. 29). The hotel itself sits back from the main road and looks out over neighboring vineyards. It's about a four-minute drive from the center of town. St. Helena is full of beautiful 19th-century architecture, and it's known for great shopping. The quiet town is also home to the West Coast headquarters of the Culinary Institute of America, one of the most popular foodie destinations in California. Calistoga is a 12-minute drive to the north, and Napa is just over 30-minutes away to the south. 

The inn's 29 units consist of rooms located in the main Winery House and individual cottages. Thanks to renovations in 2016 and 2017, rooms in the main house have a contemporary (though somewhat simple) look based on a shades-of-gray color palette. Cottages feature cozier, more traditional decor, with hardwood floors, wooden furniture, and wrought-iron or four-poster beds. Their bathrooms are bigger -- with large jetted tubs and separate showers -- but also more old-fashioned than the bathrooms in the main house, which are fresher but lack separate tubs. All rooms come with Keurig coffeemakers, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi, and the private cottages also have mini-fridges. The hotel also supplies ear plugs in the event that machinery operating in the vineyards outside are active at night. 

The inn grows some of its own produce in its beautiful garden, and there's no shortage of vineyards to gaze at while strolling the grounds. There's also an outdoor pool bordered by lounge chairs and a whirlpool. For more serious relaxation, guests can book a variety of in-room massages, facials, and other body treatments, but the property lacks a dedicated spa. A free morning buffet breakfast includes fresh fruit, egg dishes, bagels, and waffles, along with homemade breads and granola. Wine and appetizers are served for free in the late afternoon. The free area shuttle is a great perk for dining out in St. Helena's restaurants without worrying about holding back on the wine pairings, but it only operates seasonally, so guests should check when booking to ensure availability. Guided tours of some surrounding wineries can be arranged at reception, with applicable tour and tasting fees.