The Harvest Inn Is The Perfect Romantic Escape For Valentine’s Day Or Any Day
by Heather Cassell
There are few places in this world that inspire romance. Sleeping among the vines in Napa, California’s premier wine region, is one of those places. There is nowhere better than waking up in the Vineyard Collection rooms at the Harvest Inn in St. Helena.
Tucked behind a curtain of trees off Highway 29 at the entrance to St. Helena, the AAA Four Diamond luxury hotel is a sanctuary among the trees and vines.
The buildings hark back to Gothic architecture found in Germany. Spread out across the groves and manicured lawns they are connected by pathways lined by wildflowers, roses, and ferns. The inn is a fairytale in wine country.
The pathways lead to 78 rooms and suites, including the 22 suites that are a part of the Vineyard View Collection that overlook Whitehall Lane’s Leonardini Family Vineyards and the Mayacamas Mountains.
Super G and I were fortunate to enough stay as guests in one of the Vineyard View rooms during a romantic weekend in the Napa Valley.
The room was well appointed and spacious with a king bed that we sunk into, sitting area with leather loveseat and reading chair next to the brick fireplace, and a spacious bathroom. Beyond the ornate windows, the doors that encased them swung open to the terrace overlooking the vines that stretched out in long rows toward the mountain.
It was the perfect lover’s nest: an exclusive hideaway just out of reach from the rest of the world but not so remote that the pleasures of modern life in wine country, such as wine tasting, dining, and shopping, couldn’t be enjoyed.
After all, some of Napa’s most renowned wineries — Peju Province Winery, Rutherford Hill Winery, and Whitehall Lane Winery – are just down the highway in one direction and shopping and dining are in the other direction.
Fine dining is the hallmark of the inn since chef and restaurateur Charlie Palmer bought the hotel in 2014. The first thing he did was open Harvest Table, a 110-seat high-end restaurant serving dishes created from the bounty of fresh meat, poultry, and produce that is at wine country’s fingertips along with craft beers and cocktails and of course wine at the 12-seat U-shaped bar in 2015.
Since then, he’s completely renovated the hotel.
Detail is what Charlie is after in providing a memorable experience at the inn. Memorable it is.
The rooms are decorated with warm cream colors on the walls and a light blue carpet on the floors. The shelf above the fireplace is filled with classic books and modern touches, like USB charging ports found in the base of the lamps and nightstands.
The Vineyard Collection rooms and suites all have king size beds, but the suite has a sofa bed as well as more space. The spa rooms come with a private spa hot tub on the vineyard-facing terrace. The king room provides expansive vineyard views from a private porch or terrace.
Guests are greeted in their rooms with a house blend of “Harvest Mix” and full bottles of Whitehall Lane’s Tre Leoni Cabernet. At turndown, handmade “Moonbites” are placed on each guests’ pillow. The snacks – Rockin’ Ranch Popcorn and Harvest Bars – in the room are also made by the chefs in the inn’s kitchen.
In the mornings, I walked along the pathways to the breakfast room. The walk was meditative as I wound through the buildings, past the pool, over the creek, and across the lawn to where a complimentary full wine country breakfast was served daily. It was the perfect start to my day while Super G slept in.
The inn offers golfers access and discounts on greens fees during peak and off-season tee times to Napa’s Chardonnay Golf Course. The onsite spa features an array of treatments in two different settings: an outdoor cabana room in a grove of Redwood trees or indoor treatment rooms.
The inn provides complimentary parking and two electric carport charging stations as well as free Wi-Fi and is welcoming to pets.
THE FLUFF
Harvest Inn by Charlie Palmer, 1 Main Street, St. Helena, California 94574. 707-963-9463. . harvestinn.com.
RATING: 5 best – 0 worst: 4
TYPE OF LODGING: Luxury, Boutique Resort, Pet-Friendly, Families, Adults-Only Section, European Plan
CHECK OUT: $ = $45 – $200, $$ = $201 – $400, $$$ = $401 – 850, $$$$ = Over $851
(Lowest price for a single night in a standard room during high-season)
SWEET DREAMS: Serenity. The tensions of the world immediately melted away upon checking in.
WORTH THE SLEEP?: zzzz = This was divine!
VIBE: Romantic, relaxing, casual sophisticated wine country.
SCENE: Wine country casual day and night. Ties aren’t needed here. Jeans or khakis with a polo or a blouse fit right in here or dresses and skirts.
LOCATION: Perfectly situated among some of the world’s best wineries and about a mile from the restaurants and shops in downtown St. Helena in the northern part of Napa Valley. The inn is close to the Culinary Institute of America and the hot springs in Calistoga.
SERVICE: Warm and friendly service from staff throughout the property.
ROOM: Cozy and spacious with a plush bed, large bathroom, fireplace in a modern interior with a wonderful view of the vineyard from the bed and terrace.
BATHROOM: Spacious tile bathroom with a bath and shower.
AMENITIES: In the room, local wine, handmade snacks from the chef, cable TV, complimentary Wi-Fi, compliment full breakfast, spa, access to a local golf course, complimentary parking and electric carports, and more.
To book your stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, contact Heather Cassell at Girls That Roam Travel in association with Travel Advisors of Los Gatos at 415-517-7239 at .
To contract an original article, purchase reprints or become a media partner, contact .
