Calistoga is one of my favorites places on earth. It boosts outstanding Napa Valley wines, but more important for me it has the most rejuvenating mineral baths on earth. The Wine Way Inn will help you escape into a peaceful world with all of the amenities a weary travel would want.
My Dad used to take me to Calistoga in the mid 80’s, to use the mineral baths at The Calistoga Spa. We would leave from Berkeley early in the morning stop at Clover Stornetta to pick up some fresh chocolate milk, stop at a road side fruit stand, and make our way on Highway 29 to Calistoga. It was a great way to spend time with my Dad and get some healing waters at the same time!
My room was cozy, with great amenities. A lot of Bed and Breakfasts don’t have televisions in them, it’s the host’s way of telling you to relax and unplug. I like watching television in my room at the end of my traveled day, it helps me unwind. Wine Way Inn had the biggest HD flat screen TV I have ever seen. Host Nick told me upon arrival, “We have On Demand with great movies”, I managed to watch 2. A few of the other hotel stays did not have TV’s, so this was a welcomed amenity. My room also had a fireplace and a state of the art claw footbath tub, fully equipped with a light show and strong jets, this was a highlight of my stay.
Built at the turn of the century the Wine Way Inn is one of the finest examples of Craftsman architecture in Calistoga. Reputedly built for Leland Stanford, the structural timbers are American white pine that were shipped around the horn from South Carolina. Converted from its original status as a family home in 1978, the Wine Way Inn is Calistoga’s oldest Bed and Breakfast Inn. The original adaptation, and the loving care of the current and previous owners, has preserved the best of the original architecture while providing accommodation with period charm and modern convenience.
Innkeepers, Gillian & Nick Kite also have their sister property The Craftsman Inn right next door, and the night that I was there they served their delicious breakfast there. On my next trip I am going to stay there and do another review.
Breakfast is Gillian’s department, she is the master chef responsible for all of her guest’s remarkable breakfast every morning. “I have been passionate about food and cooking for as long as I can remember,” she says. Gillian has studied cooking in Britain, France and America. She has published her own cookbook, Inn Food: Seasonal Breakfasts in the Wine Country. All done with great pride and lovely ingredients, just eating her breakfast will make you very happy.
Here’s what I had for breakfast:
House made Granola, made with nuts and just the right amount of sweetness, what great cereal. Owner Gillian packages this granola and sells it in the local markets.
Fresh Juices and French Press Wine Way Inn Blend Coffee
Apricot and pecan scones.
Breakfast quiche ~ fresh seasonal vegetables
served with apple wood smoked bacon.
The guest dining room and parlor have the original shoulder high oak wainscoting and leaded glass built-in cabinets along with a charming fireplace. There is a stunning multi level redwood deck at the rear of the house. You can see a great view of Mount St. Helena and the Palisades from the deck and garden.
Small and quaint, just another slice of heaven, I would highly recommend this sweet property. All of the amenities, great affordable prices, and little comforting nuances that you don’t usually get. This Bed and Breakfast rated high in my book, I will stay again and again.
Gillian & Nick Kite, Innkeepers
Calistoga Wine Way Inn
1019 Foothill Blvd., Calistoga, CA 94515
1.800.572.0679 • 707.942.0680
http://www.winewayinn.com/
