A Few Bed & Breakfasts in the California Wine Country

The California Wine Country has always been one of my favorite places and there are hundreds of wonderful B & B's dotting the countryside. Here are few to think about visiting and staying at. (And, I'm cheating a bit and including some inns too, not just B & B's. Personally, I think they're almost the same thing.)

The first one I'll mention is actually in the Mendocino area just above the Wine Country. It's the Brewery Gulch Inn, one of Mendocino's romantic inns located on a 10-acre hillside overlooking Smuggler's Cove and only a mile from the historic village of Mendocino. It was built with ancient virgin redwood timbers eco-salvaged from Big River, offers guest rooms with magnificent ocean views, fireplaces, private decks, jacuzzi tubs and luxurious bathrobes along with the usual hotel amenities. Their morning gourmet breakfast focuses on organics and you can also enjoy a nightly wine tasting accompanied by 'urban rustic' hors d'oeuvres. A library with books, CD and movies is available along with wireless high-speed internet access. There is a telescope located on the first floor deck and binoculars for guests to use.

Brewery Gulch Inn chef, Charlie Fore, offers an array of special culinary events throughout the year and there are many popular annual coastal events nearby as well. Please plan ahead and make reservations in advance of those events as they book up very quickly. Weddings here are simple but elegant affairs. Their reception room features a soaring steel, fireplace and a magnificent two-story skylight. The reception desk and adjacent wine bar are also handcrafted from the salvaged redwood. The first floor Great Room has 24-foot ceilings and redwood-framed French doors leading to a spacious ocean-view deck. There are also lovely gardens on the property also. (Visit brewerygulchinn.com for more details.)

One of the most elegant inns in the Wine Country, is the Madrona Manor, A Country Inn and Restaurant in Healdsburg. This is an opulent Victorian Estate was originally built in 1881 and it has been a country inn for travelers since 1981. All of their rooms feature air conditioning, full private baths and many have balconies or decks, but no TV's. You can enjoy a variety of wines on their verandah, dine in their superb restaurant, swim by the pool and, in the fall and winter, relax next to the roaring fireplace.

Elegant candlelight dinners are served nightly in any one of five elegantly appointed dining rooms at Madrona Manor. The restaurant offers an a la carte menu of New California Cuisine plus three separate daily gourmet tasting menus of five, seven, or nine courses for those seeking a more complete culinary experience. They also host a series of Winemaker Dinners every year, holding one each month. Country Inns has written, "Some visitors consider the kitchen the raison d'être for a stay at Madrona Manor." This is also a very romantic place for a wedding ceremony and/or reception and their staff specializes in Victorian Garden Weddings. (Please visit madronamanor.com for more information.)

Our next location, MacArthur Place, is an elegant inn located only a few blocks from the historic plaza in the very popular Wine Country town of Sonoma I fell in love with this beautiful place as soon as I drove into the parking lot. Indoors, it has an elegant lobby and common areas, where you might choose to sit in a comfortable leather saddle. Their rooms are tastefully decorated with down comforters, custom linens and very upscale bath amenities. Their suites feature king-sized beds, fireplaces, hydrotherapy tubs or rain showers, wet bars, flat-screen TVs, and DVD players with surround sound. The Garden Spa at MacArthur Place offers over 40 different massages, facial and body treatments utilizing the flowers, plants and herbs grown in their garden. There is also a swimming pool on the premises.

Dining at their steakhouse, Saddles, is a very special experience at MacArthur Place. Located in the beautifully restored historic barn on the estate, the elegant eatery offers steaks, chops and fresh seafood along with a superb wine list featuring local wines. My dining companion pronounced their Black Angus Burger with Blue Cheese, excellent, and I thoroughly enjoyed the Dry Aged New York Steak. Their country estate offers a variety of unique and beautiful venues for your wedding, and the chef's menus offer a large selection of culinary options for your wedding brunch, lunch or dinner reception. (Visit them at macarthurplace.com for more information.)

These are just a few of the wonderful B & B's and inns located in this beautiful region of California. Look for more articles telling you about more interesting places to stay in the California Wine Country.