California Wine Spot

PLACES TO STAY: The Historic Cary House Hotel

300 Main St.
Placerville, CA 95667
Ph: 530.622.4271
Email: hchh@cwnet.com

If you have children, love history, or would like a very different hotel experience, a stay at The Historic Cary House Hotel in Placerville just an hour from Sacramento is a must. This is the heart of Gold Rush country, and the four-story, 38-room hotel is a centerpiece of that heritage.

The Cary House was built by William M. Cary, a local hotelier who lost his first hotel to fire. It opened its doors in August of 1857 and offered unusual luxury for those days, like hot and cold water and excellent food. No wonder its guests included celebrities like editor and politician Horace Greeley, author Mark Twain, General Ulysses S. Grant and outlaw Black Bart.

Today, the accommodations are even better with air conditioning, television and other touches we expect in the 21st century. Of special interest is the complimentary breakfast area, where you can eat your cornflakes or yogurt as you study marvelous art depicting wild moments in the lives of hardscrabble ‘49’ers who sought their fortune in gold here. One painting includes the Cary House in the backdrop, harking back to the days when Wells. Fargo & Co. had their headquarters here, and bags of gold dust were dropped on the Cary House porch for stage coaches to deliver to the San Francisco mint. The cavernous hotel lobby is also a treat, with its stained glass, antique grand piano, comfy chairs and Tiffany lamps.

Just outside the hotel door, history waits to walk with you up Main St. Across the way, the Hangman’s Tavern marks the site of the hanging tree that swung many an outlaw. The Placerville History Museum is a short walk, as are 15 restaurants and some charming older shops (visit the General Store!).

For wine lovers, The Cary House is only a 20 minute drive from the Apple Hill Wine Trail, where from Labor Day until Christmas, you can sample the bounty of small farmers and wineries (like CWC alumnus Madrona Vineyards). If it’s gold you crave, it’s in them thar’ hills—just ask The Cary House staff where to find a real El Dorado County gold mine. Enjoy!

PLACES TO STAY: Santa Ynez Inn

3627 Sagunto Street • Santa Ynez, CA 93460 • 805-688-5588 or 800-643-5774
info@santaynezinn.com • www.santaynezinn.com

Pam and I have been to resorts large and small, fancy and not so. The Santa Ynez Inn is a stand out by any measure. If attention to details is the crux of mastery, then these are masters of hospitality. From their carefully selected pillows (they please any preference) to their parade of sumptuous (and complimentary) culinary treats, they have rolled out the red carpet in Santa Barbara wine country.

Located in the heart of tiny Santa Ynez, in Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley, this Victorian style resort is just a few minutes from wineries like Gainey, Sunstone, Fess Parker, Firestone and many more. It offers 14 rooms all done up in English country elegance. Huge mirrors, four-poster beds and every amenity are just the start. The spacious dining room with its polished tables, elegant china settings and crackling fire is a touchpoint for pleasure at the Inn.

Mornings bring a memorable breakfast (included) that serves up hot items cooked to order, the pick of fresh cut fruits, and decadently rich pastries such as the dark chocolate cream puff that destroyed our diet. Before dinner, you’ll be lured in for the no-host appetizers and wine tasting, and the wines are superb. They show off local stars like Bradner Sauvignon Blanc and Bridlewood Syrah, and you can always re-pour your favorites.  Do come back from dinner in time for the dessert table. It is loaded with everything from lemon cheese pie to chocolate/peanut butter cake. You can take these yummies to your room and watch one of the great DVDs the Inn provides, or, surf on the wide screen television. Or, just fall back into those luscious pillows on your four-poster and wonder how you can make it back sooner to the Santa Ynez Inn!

PLACES TO DINE: HURLEY'S

6518 Washington Street
Yountville, Napa Valley, CA 94599
707-944-2345

History: Napa Valley chef Bob Hurley opened his restaurant in the heart of the Napa Valley in 2002. Hurley’s shows off his 25 years of wine country chef experience with a unique “regional” dining experience.  “I keep my menu regional. Yountville is the center of my universe.”                           

Food Style: Cal-Med (California-Mediterranean) emphasizing regional and seasonal produce, meats and wines.             

Kudos for Hurley’s: “Bob Hurley has hit a home run…”—City Search.com; “…great attention has been paid to detail.” —Adventures in Dining Napa Valley 2003; The “best place in Yountville to watch the world walk by …”—Zagat Nightlife Guide 2005.                                                                                     

Wine Lore: “I have a page in my wine list that denotes our neighbors,” says Chef Bob. “If you’re in Bordeaux, you’re not drinking Burgundies. I try to be as regional with my wines as I can, but with good sense. The appellations around Yountville are some of the most expensive in the Napa Valley and California, so I also make my wine list approachable with wines from the Central Coast and elsewhere.”

Surprise, Surprise: For the fashionably late, Hurley’s offers a late night menu from 9pm to midnight. Also, wild game is always available. Hurley’s special “Wild Game Week” each November serves up wild boar to pheasant.                                                                                                                      

What’s to Eat: Spicy Vegetarian Moroccan Tagine (eggplant, roasted peppers, tomatoes, couscous); Grilled Medallions of Venison, Chevre                          Cheesecake.                                                                                                                                    

Point of Pride: “All my food is approachable with wine. There are no radical flavors that fight wine, nothing that is overly spicy or salty. Sometimes, a chef might accentuate an element that makes a wine flabby or acidic. I keep my dishes purposely well balanced so people can enjoy them with wine.”

Wineries Nearby: Dominus Estate, Domaine Chandon, Robert Sinskey and more!

PLACES TO DINE: Albion River Inn Restaurant

3790 N. Hwy. 1, Albion, CA, 95410
Phone: 800-479-7944; 707-937-1919

What’s to Eat: Executive Chef Stephen Smith cooks up Seafood Chowder, Creamy Mushroom Pasta, Oven-Roasted Quail, Grilled Filet Mignon and much more.

Wine Lore: Mark Bowery (former sommelier at Masa’s, 1984-1989) has put together a spectacular wine and spirits list. It has earned Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence” for 12 consecutive years and was named “Best United States Wine List” by Restaurant Hospitality Magazine, 1998. Mark updates it weekly. Choose among 550 wines and 500 spirit items from many different countries. Included are some of our favorite CWC alumni, like vonStrasser, Monte Volpe, Handley, Gainey and Firestone.

Kudos: Food writers have fallen over each other with their praises: “Albion River Inn...one of the finest(restaurants) to grace the golden state shore.” —Bon Appetit; “Albion River Inn is one of the best vantage points for a Pacific sunset … best food on the North Coast.” — Sacramento Magazine - Travelers’Choice, Winning Destination; “...you’ll wine and dine unforgettably from Chef Stephen Smith’s superbly prepared menu and the award winning wine list.” — The Wine Spectator.

House Specialty: Lime & Ginger Grilled Prawns: sweet jumbo Mexican white shrimp marinated and basted on the grill with lime, ginger, garlic and soy, sauced with tangy cilantro/lime butter, and served with steamed coconut Jasmine rice and caramelized beets. Surprise, Surprise: The view really is as good as they say. Huge picture windows overlook an ocean panorama where sunsets rule. And after dinner, you can continue to enjoy it from your seaside room just a few steps from the restaurant.

Point of Pride: All ingredients are procured whenever possible from local purveyors. Seafood is freshly caught.

Favorite Dessert: Frozen Mocha-Praline Terrine: light Italian style semi-freddo flavored with Dutch cocoa, French vanilla beans, and espresso, layered with crunchy almond praline and served with a chocolate sauce.

Wineries Nearby: Handley Cellars, Roederer Estate, Greenwood Ridge, Navarro and others, in Mendocino County’s beautiful Anderson Valley.

Places to Stay: The Cottages of Napa Valley

1012 Darms Lane
Napa, CA 94558
707-252-7810

Clustered around a wide expanse of lawn, with stately Coast Redwoods, Portuguese Cork Oak, Russian Maple, Cedar and fruit trees standing sentinel, The Cottages of Napa Valley offer an intimate setting for a very personal experience of wine country living. “The uniqueness of this property is the privacy of having your own Napa Valley ‘home’,” says founder Mike Smith.

Set back off Hwy. 29 just a few minutes from the town of Napa, the eight cottages are placed close enough to each other to be neighborly, yet far enough apart for privacy. The two-acre grounds are a relaxing oasis from Napa Valley’s hustle. No wonder the Wine Spectator named this hide-away “among the most romantic and relaxed settings in Napa Valley.”

With 30 years as a craftsman architect, Mike has refurbished each dwelling in classic wine country style. Lawn chairs in front of each abode, with fire pits, encourage lounging with a glass of wine, roasting marshmallows, or just sitting back and enjoying the night sky. On Fridays and Saturdays, guests are invited to a casual early evening wine tasting in the barbecue area where local wineries like Jessup, Bell, Ceja and Fred Schweiger pour and sell their often limited production, hard-to-find bottlings.

Meanwhile, back inside your bright, many-windowed country cottage, you can soak in a deep bath, sprawl on the large four-poster, or kick back and enjoy music (Bose system) and wine (your complimentary bottle, with snacks, sits on your kitchen counter). Wake up to chirping birds the next morning and, on your doorstep, the best breakfast basket ever from Bouchon Bakery, chockful of tasty pastries, orange juice and more. More proof that there’s “no place like home” at The Cottages of Napa Valley. Salud!

PLACES TO DINE

DEBORAH’S ROOM
11680 Chimney Rock Road
Paso Robles, CA
(805) 238-6932

Location: 
At JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery on the westside of Paso Robles, a beautiful country drive through oak studded meadows, just a few miles as the crow flies from Hearst Castle.  Deborah’s Room is set amid the vineyards.  The restaurant opened in 1991 to accommodate guests of the winery’s B&B, the JUST INN.

What’s to Eat?
Creamy Lobster Broth “Cappuccino”, Quail Stuffed Foie Gras and Morel Mushrooms, Seared Monkfish, Artichoke Mousse and Asparagus Coulis are among the delicious offerings at Deborah’s Room.   This California/French cuisine is prepared by Chef Ryan Swarthout, a 1997 California Culinary Academy graduate who has worked at some of San Francisco’s finest restaurants.  The house specialty consists of six regional wine-friendly menus emphasizing seasonal fresh ingredients, changed every six weeks.

Ambiance:  Sumptuous and intimate, with chandeliers and a rich décor of gold and burgundy and a most attentive staff.

Bragging Point: 
Deborah’s Room is the only winery restaurant in the area specializing in California/French cuisine that is wine friendly in wine country.

Wine Lore:
Enjoy a boutique selection of European wines and champagne, a special wine-pairing menu and the largest library of JUSTIN wines available at any restaurant in the world.  Soon Deborah’s Room will expand its wine list to include 80+ vintages from around the world. 

In the Neighborhood:
Le Cuvier, Tablas Creek, Halter Ranch, and Adelaida

Surprise, Surprise!
Deborah’s Room has earned a reputation as the place to go for life’s most romantic moments, from “popping the question” to honeymoons and anniversary celebrations.

Point of Pride: 
“We go the extra mile.  We believe that one’s dining experience is like a play where every course is a separate act.  The food and wine are the main characters and the glasses and flatware are the props.  The curtain opens with the first course and the play begins.  New glasses and flatware ‘props’ appear with each course as the next act starts.  Every dramatic act builds off of the last one.  The dining room echoes with applause and delight at each table.  It is a very entertaining and intimate experience!”

PLACES TO STAY

The Carneros Inn, Napa Valley
4048 Sonoma Hwy
Napa CA 94559
(707)299-4900, (707)299-4950

Like a great vineyard, The Carneros Inn was planted to express a sense of place in a unique and wonderful way. Established in the Carneros winegrowing district at the foot of the Napa Valley, this luxury resort uncorks a world of wine and pleasure that never forgets its roots.  That those roots occupy one of California’s most acclaimed areas for Pinot Noir is just one more plus for the Inn!

Until the 1970s, the Carneros district was mostly pastureland for cattle.  But with the arrival of wineries like Saintsbury and Cuvaison, vineyards began to dot the land.  The design and ambiance of The Carneros Inn is a salute to the region’s original hometown, country feel.

Eighty-six mini farmhouses are arranged in neighborly clusters on the 27-acre property with pretty gardens of salvia, tree mallow and other native flora.  Each cottage has a porch and a mailbox, a tin roof and all the luxury anyone could want inside.  The rustic chic includes heated slate floors in the bathroom, a deep soaking tub, indoor and outdoor showers, crisp Italian linens, plasma television, and plenty of windows to let in the light of Carneros. 

Sunbathe in your own private courtyard or just relax and breathe in the fresh sea air coming straight off the San Pablo Bay in this coolest of all the Napa Valley’s wine appellations.  Out your window, the view is big and open with vineyards in the distance, backed by the Mayacamas Mountains. 

You can dine on the property at the guests-only Hilltop Dining Room or take breakfast at the casual Boon Fly Café (named for a 19th century Carneros grapegrower).  And when you’ve finished touring Carneros wineries like Domaine Carneros and Cuvaison, or Napa favorites (like Plumpjack; the Inn is owned by The Plumpjack Group), enjoy a dip in the infinity-edged pool above the vineyards.  Or head for the Inn’s spa where this resort offers treatments true to its terroir like The Harvests, The Farms, The Minerals, The Cellars and The Flowers.  Add to this, a small town square with Carneros’ first post office, a general store and eatery, 5,000 sq. ft. conference center, fitness center and yoga studio … all making for a beautiful blend at The Carneros Inn!

www.TheCarnerosInn.com

PLACES TO STAY

Wine & Roses
2505 W. Turner Rd.
Lodi, CA, 95242
(209)334-6988

When you go through the gates of Wine & Roses, a top-flight inn in the heart of Lodi, the first thing you notice is the sense of peace that its lush gardens and towering trees give so freely.  Its deeply shaded walks and dappled sunlight are a contrast to the bright sun of Lodi vineyards just minutes away.

Begun originally as a 10-room B&B in a turn-of-the-century Victorian, the inn’s seven acres now encompass 36 rooms, a modern ballroom, outdoor pavilion and various meeting rooms.  The setting seems so intimate, it’s amazing this hotel can accommodate business meetings of up to 350 guests.

The Mediterranean architecture and décor are charming.  Exposed beam ceilings, individual patios, fireplaces, and a pleasing simplicity compliment the suites built just a few years ago.  Patios and verandahs overlook some spectacular gardens that, seen through your room’s open French doors, are like a living picture.

You can also stay in the Old Victorian where each room is unique.  The elegant Wine & Roses Restaurant occupies the first floor, welcoming you to a cozy dining room or a romantic patio.  Just a few steps away is the Lodi Wine & Visitors Center, site of a “faux winery” and the Lodi Woodbridge Winegrape Commission.

Named one of “2005’s Top 10 Romantic Inns” by American Historic Inns Society, Wine & Roses lives up to the kudos.  Relaxing, beautiful, comfortable, memorable … a wonderful place to stay for wine lovers in Lodi!

www.winerose.com

Seeing and Doing in Monterey - An Endless Number of Choices

Monterey County, located 120 miles south of San Francisco, has a huge range of activities and attractions. Here are our top picks:

Monterey Bay Aquarium: Actually part of the ocean! A world-class aquarium boasting 36 million visitors since it opened in 1984.

Carmel: A storybook village with a breathtaking setting and shopping to die for.

Point Lobos: Not far from Carmel, offers enchanting coves where you can watch the otters play. And it was the model for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Spyglass Hill in Treasure Island.

Big Sur: You’ll need a day to travel the winding, cliff hugging Hwy. 1 down to Big Sur. One of the most
beautiful coastlines in the world.

17-mile drive: A scenic drive past some famous golf links and so much more.

Carmel Valley: A gorgeous part of the Monterey Wine Trail, where you’ll find Joullian, Chateau Julien and other wineries.

Santa Lucia Highlands and the Wine Trail to Soledad: Lots of CWC alumni along this wine trail (San Saba, Paraiso). You’ll get the best view of the Highlands from the Salinas Valley floor.

National Steinbeck Center, on Main St. in Salinas: Honors Grapes of Wrath author John Steinbeck.
Interactive, multi-sensory exhibits for all ages.

The 11th Annual Great Wine Escape Weekend: In November, 2007, chockfull of goodies!

Places to Dine:
• Montrio Bistro, upscale but relaxed eatery where everybody seems to be having a great time.
• Crown & Anchor, a steakhouse with outdoor seating offered.
• Tarpy’s, a gorgeous Old California style place right next to Ventana Winery’s tasting room.

Places to Stay:
• Monterey Plaza Inn, right on the bay. Binoculars in rooms to watch the seals and otters. Wow!
• Hotel Pacific: cherry fireplaces in every room, lovely views of the sea.
• Ventana, a resort amid 200+ acres in beautiful Big Sur.

PLACES TO STAY

San Ysidro Ranch
900 San Ysidro Lane, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Phone: 805-565-1700 • Fax: 805-565-1995

A Montecito morning at the San Ysidro Ranch is beyond special. It is heaven. Bird song and ancient oaks and vistas of Santa Barbara’s lovely mountains dotted with chaparral greet you as the fire crackles in
your cozy cottage, one of 40 on this historic, century-old property.Those in the know understand that while other Santa Barbara resorts may be nearer the ocean, none can compare to San Ysidro Ranch’s 500 acres in the heart of one of California’s most beautiful and exclusive enclaves between the mountains and the sea. And when the beaches are locked in fog, poolside at the Ranch guests are often warmed by the sun.

With Montecito Village just down the road, Santa Barbara’s world famous wine country within an hour’s drive and first-rate golf minutes away, the Ranch is sitting pretty. A recent $150 million renovation adds to the charm of its already enchanting character.

Each cottage has its own delightful décor, each bend in the 17 miles of pathways its own secrets and surprises. History is alive here not only in the Stonehouse Restaurant, originally a 19th century citrus packing house, but also in the guest list. John and Jackie Kennedy honeymooned here, and Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivian Leigh were married on the grounds. And who knows what proposals, of romance or megabusiness, have been made by guests of fortune and fame then and now?

Among their number are family pets (their paw prints go in the guestbook) who can vouch for the Ranch's warm welcome and “Five Dog Bone Award” from Animal Fair magazine. Enclosed cottage porches are pooch friendly, and what a wonderland for “walkies!” And for wine. And for so much more. Welcome to heaven at San Ysidro!

Email: sanysidro@rosewoodhotels.com
website: www.sanysidroranch.com