Stay
GAIGE HOUSE + RYOKAN
13540 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen hotel.qantas.com.au/gaigehouse Best described as “Cali-Zen”, Gaige House + Ryokan is a 23-room property amid woodland that blends the sophistication of a Californian boutique hotel with the serene styling of a traditional Japanese inn. The top picks are the Ryokan Zen Suites, featuring a Zen rock garden – which separates the bedroom and ensuite – and a large granite soaking tub. Nods to Japanese culture include yukata robes and geta and zori slippers, laid out ready to use. Breakfast and the nightly wine-and-cheese hour are included.
BELTANE RANCH 11775 Sonoma Highway, Glen Ellen beltaneranch.com
This historic ranch house built in 1892 has five beautifully appointed antique-chic rooms and a cottage. Breakfast is served in the communal dining area of the property’s main house but you can opt to eat on your balcony or in the verdant garden when the weather is fine. Leave time to wander the 42-hectare estate. With its vines, horses, tractors, olive orchards, chooks and kitchen garden, it’s a bucolic slice of heaven. If you don’t want to drive
WINE COUNTRY CAR & DRIVER winecountrycaranddriver.com
“No tour is ever the same,” says Wine Country Car & Driver owner Lori Waldinger, whose intimate, bespoke itineraries are based on her guests’ preferences. Lori is a warm, knowledgeable and wellconnected guide so you’ll visit wineries that not only suit your tastes but also represent the best of the region.