Wine Country Rentals

Wine Country vacation rentals and vacation villas are a great way to experience your Wine Country vacation. California Wine Country includes the charming vacation destinations of Healdsburg, Napa, Sonoma and Yountville. Begin your search for Wine Country vacation rentals, villas, cabin, bungalow and cottage rentals, and other lodging by following the links above.

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About Wine Country Vacation Rentals

California's wine country is a study of two valleys. The Napa Valley, which houses some 240 wineries, is the epitome of elegance with its varying architectural styles that range from Victorian Gothic to Old West frontier. Its neighbor to the west, the Sonoma Valley, is more rustic and down-to-earth with its mixture of adobe homes and historic buildings that reflect the area's Spanish roots. However, both valleys blend together and offer a vacation that mixes art, literature, pampered relaxation, and Tuscan-like serenity.

The individual wineries encompass all styles of architectural expression. While some use the mountains to house their wine, others sit perched atop hills offering world-class views to accompany their world renowned vintage. The grapes offered are as varied as the region is beautiful. Chardonnays and Merlots sit along side Pinot Gris and Pinot Noirs in tasting bins and local sparkling wines bubble at the tableside. Whatever your wine preference, find a local map of the area and dive right in, but be sure leave trite phrases like "full bodied with just the right amount of oak and tannin" at home. The wine country is all about taste, preference, and choice. Pretense is a thing of the past.

Another way to enjoy wine tasting in Napa is by scheduling a ride on the Napa Valley Wine Train. Relax in magnificent splendor as this circa 1917 locomotive starts in downtown Napa, winds its way through the valley, and travels past some of the famous wineries on a 36-mile trip to scenic St. Helena. The fully restored Pullman dining car, decorated in rich mahogany, etched glass, polished brass, and fine fabrics, is as magnificent as the meals, which are served with Irish crystal, damask linens, exquisite china, and silver flatware.

The wine country also has a deep relationship with American literary figures. For the wordsmith minded, visit the Silverado Museum, located in the St. Helena Public Library, to view a collection of memorabilia and early writings from Robert Luis Stevenson.

In 1911, Jack London settled in the Sonoma Valley and built a home he named Beauty Ranch, a sprawling 130-acre ranch that was populated with firs, live oaks, redwoods, and madrones. Today, that ranch has grown into the 1400-acre Jack London State Historic Park. Visit the museum to view some of London's writings and then enjoy a hike or horseback ride through the hinterlands of the ranch.

Nature-lovers will enjoy a visit to Old Faithful Geyser, one of only three geysers in the world that erupts on schedule. Located just outside of Calistoga in Napa Valley, Old Faithful sends a wall of spray and steam shooting 75-100 feet in the air once every 13 minutes. Also, just north of Calistoga, the Petrified Forest provides a glimpse of the destruction that can happen in a volcanic eruption with its fossilized remains of volcano-flattened redwoods.

Posh boutiques, upscale restaurants, and gourmet food shops are available in the booming town of Yountville on Vintage 1870, a 26-acre complex located on Washington Street. The Streets of St. Helena are also loaded with tony retailers and fashionable, eclectic art galleries that make it easy to find the perfect gift for all of your friends.

Like a fine wine, the California wine region should be savored. Enjoy the fine restaurants, take a bicycle ride off the beaten path to a solitary vintner, or simply revel in the ambiance of this romantic escape.