Our 2011 Food and Wine Events

At the Wine Country Inn, we know you love food and wine. While the Napa Valley has many great food and wine options, we’ve also put together our own food and wine events for 2011. Each event will be fun, educational, and—we hope—a celebration of our more than 35 years helping guests experience the wonderful food and wine the Napa Valley has to offer.

Fun Thursdays Each Thursday May through October, we will be hosting a special food and wine educational event in the Inn's Common Room from 6-7 p.m. These events are for Inn guests only, and subject to availability. First Thursday: "All about Olive Oil" with Chef Diane DeFilipi Second Thursday: "All about Balsamic" with Chef Diane DeFilipi Third Thursday: "Food and Wine Pairing" with Marty Paradise Fourth Thursday: "Food and Wine Pairing" with Marty Paradise Note: The Food and Wine Pairing classes are limited to 12 people, and cost $25/couple or $15/single.

Anniversary Al Fresco Dinners We will be hosting nine specials dinners this August and September to help celebrate our 36th anniversary. Stay tuned for more info. Ode to the Olive Our fourth annual Ode to the Olive celebration will take place November 18-20. Please visit our Ode to the Olive schedule of events for more info.

New Year’s Eve On December 31, 2011, we’ll host our third annual New Year’s Eve dinner. This special night will include a four-course Italian meal served family style in the Inn’s common room (complete with roaring fire), wine, and midnight champagne toast. Cost will be $175 per couple plus tax and gratuity. Seating will be limited to 26 people (13 couples), so contact the Inn for reservations. Please don't hesitate to call us toll-free at 1-888-465-4608 for more information, or to reserve your spot!

Return Guest Reunion Set for Feb 25-26

Our third annual Wine Country Inn "Return Guest Reunion" will take place February 25-26, 2011.

This event is the "baby" of our Inn Manager, Deniese, who plans a fun two days, including on Saturday a special party complete with cocktails, a catered dinner in the Inn's Common Room, and more. Guests who have stayed at Wine Country Inn in the past and who would like to return for this fun weekend (and make some new friends) should contact Deniese for availability:

Toll-free: 888-465-4608

From a cell phone: 707-963-7077

Come have some fun with your friends at Wine Country Inn!

New Year's Eve 2010 Dinner Menu

We're excited to announce the following as the menu for the Wine Country Inn New Year’s Eve Dinner to be held Friday, December, 31, 2010. Cost for this dinner is only $175 per couple (plus tax and gratuity), which includes the meal, all wine, and a midnight champagne toast. Wines for this special Italian family-style dinner held in the Inn’s Common Room (complete with roaring fire!) are from our friends at Jessup Cellars.

Prepared by Chef Domenico Cardano, of Grana et Vina (Grain and Wine)
Corso Speciale
"Foccacia Tre"
Three different Italian foccacia breads: one with cherry tomatoes, olives, and oregano; another with potatoes and rosemary; and a third with onions and sage.

Prepared by Chef Diane De Filipi, of Let’s Go Cook Italian
Antipasti Course
“Crispeli Bechamel”
Delicate Italian "crepes" filled with a mixture of spinach, nutmeg and aromatic Italian cheeses baked in classic Bechamel sauce.
Jessup wine: 2009 Napa Valley Chardonnay

Prima Piatti
“Papa Pomodoro”
A classic Florentine dish: thick, zesty soup of tomato, bread, and herbs.
Jessup wine: 2007 Napa Valley Merlot

Secondi Piatti
"Chicken Cacciatore"
Traditional "Hunter's Chicken" browned in a savory style Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and simmered in a tomato and white wine reduction sauce. Includes coarsely chopped carrots, red onion, fresh porcini mushrooms and black olives.
Jessup wine: 2006 Louer Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Dolce
"Olive Oil Cake with Ricotta"
A delicate white cake, baked with a light and fruity style Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and filled with a cream of imported Ricotta Cheese, vanilla powdered sugar, and Sultana's (raisins) soaked in Vin Santo.
Jessup wine: 2007 Napa Valley Zinfandel Port

After Dinner
~ House-made Lemoncello
~ Special “nibbles”
~ Midnight Champagne toast

Come, eat, enjoy!

For reservations, please call 1-888-465-4608 or 707-963-7077.

Anniversary Dinners a Hit!

Our 35th Anniversary 'Al Fresco' Dinners (on our lower patio) have been huge hits. Again, these special dinners are held every Wednesday in August and September to celebrate Wine Country Inn's 35th anniversary, in August 2010.

What's a Malfatti? Find out this and more including how you can join us by calling us toll-free at 1-888-465-4608 or clicking here.

Ciao!

New Year's Eve Dinner 2010

The Wine Country Inn will host its second annual New Year's Eve dinner on Friday, December 31, 2010.

This dinner will be an "Italian family style" dinner, served in the Inn's common room (complete with roaring fire!). Cost is $175 per couple, which includes: a five-course meal, wines provided by our friends at Jessup Cellars, after-dinner treats, and a midnight champagne toast. For the dinner menu, please click here.

This is a fantastic way to spend a romantic New Year's Eve, while also making new friends...and being able to simply walk to your room after dinner! Come join us for a wonderful weekend and to celebrate the coming year.

Toll free: 1-888-465-4608; Local: 707-963-7077

Food and Wine Pairing Classes

Marty Paradise, one of our Inn-cursion wine tour drivers and author of the book Paradise Picks, will host a series of food and wine pairing classes at Wine Country Inn. These classes will take place the second and fourth Mondays of the month, June through October, from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Cost per person will be $10.

Please call us toll-free at 1-888-465-4608 for more information.

Anniversary Al Fresco Dinners

As part of our 35th Anniversary celebration this summer, we will be hosting what we are calling our Anniversary Al Fresco Dinners. Here are the details:

Date and Time:
Every Wednesday in August and September; 7:00 p.m.

Location:
We'll eat outdoors on the Inn's lower patio

Food and Wine:
The dinners will be in an Italian "rustica" style--hearty, everyday (though very quality) food and wine, served family style, meaning that you'll not only get to feast on great food and wine, but also meet new people and, we hope, make some new friends.

Cost:
$80 per person (includes full meal with wine)

To Reserve a Spot:
Contact the Inn by phone toll-free at 1-888-465-4608 to reserve your spot. (Please note--our Anniversary Al Fresco Dinners are only available to Inn guests.)

We look forward to dining with you under the stars!

Our 2010 Food and Wine Events

At the Wine Country Inn, we know you love food and wine. While the Napa Valley has many great food and wine options, we’ve also put together our own food and wine events for 2010. Each event will be fun, educational, and—we hope—a celebration of our 35 years helping guests experience the wonderful food and wine the Napa Valley has to offer. Fun Thursdays Each Thursday April through November, we will be hosting a special food and wine educational event in the Inn's Common Room from 6-7 p.m. These events are complimentary to Inn guests (and subject to availability). First Thursday: "All About Olive Oil" with Chef Diane DeFilipi Second Thursday: "Cheese Tasting" with Dean & DeLuca Third Thursday: "Stories from the Vineyard" with grapegrower and winemaker Pete Hoffman Fourth Thursday: "Chocolate Tasting" with Woodhouse Chocolate Food and Wine Pairing Classes Marty Paradise, one of our Inn-cursion wine tour drivers, will host a series of food and wine pairing classes at Wine Country Inn. These classes will take place the second and fourth Mondays of the month, June through October, from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Cost per person will be $10. Anniversary Italian Al Fresco Dinners We will be hosting nine specials dinners this August and September to help celebrate our 35th anniversary. Click here for more info. Ode to the Olive Our third annual Ode to the Olive celebration will take place November 18-20. Please visit our Ode to the Olive schedule of events for more info. New Year’s Eve On December 31, 2010, we’ll host our second annual New Year’s Eve dinner. This special night will include a four-course Italian meal served family style in the Inn’s common room (complete with roaring fire), wine, and midnight champagne toast. Cost will be $175 per couple plus tax and gratuity. Seating will be limited to 26 people (13 couples), so contact the Inn for reservations. Please don't hesitate to call us toll-free at 1-888-465-4608 for more information, or to reserve your spot!

Inn Wins Celebration Vacation Recognition

ST. HELENA, Calif. July 1, 2009 – Editors of BedandBreakfast.com, the leading online bed and breakfast directory and reservation network worldwide, have named the Wine Country Inn among its best inns nationwide for celebrating love.

Sandy Soule, a BedandBreakfast.com editor and highly recognized author on the B&B industry, said Wine Country Inn received the “celebration vacation” recognition based on many factors. “The Wine Country was singled out as being a romantic destination based on its pampering amenities, quality décor, vineyard setting, hospitality, and food and wine,” Soule said. “Again and again guests have called this a truly magical place to celebrate a special occasion.”

Jim Smith, The Wine Country Inn’s innkeeper, said the award didn’t surprise him. “We put a focus on hospitality and creating a unique guest experience in everything we do, from our staff to our beautiful grounds to our homemade granola,” Smith said. “We feel there’s no better romantic getaway for two in the Napa Valley.”

Celebration vacations remain a key part of travel nationwide. According to editors at BedandBreakfast.com, a June 2008 survey conducted by Peter Yesawich’s Y Partnership found that 70% of respondents celebrated a special occasion with a vacation, while 75% vacationed in celebration of their honeymoon or significant anniversary. Similarly, a May 2009 survey compiled by hotels.com found honeymooners are not cutting back despite the economic times; more than 98% of the 500 brides surveyed are still planning to honeymoon after their wedding.

About The Wine Country Inn: Celebrating 34 years of romance
Built and operated by the Smith family since 1975, The Wine Country Inn has been transformed from the Napa Valley’s first bed and breakfast inn into a magnificent Boutique Hotel. The Inn contains 24 distinctive rooms and five luxury cottages. Each guest stay includes a full gourmet breakfast and afternoon wine tasting. Guests also can avail themselves to spa services, local winery tours, and a complimentary evening shuttle service to nearby restaurants. For more information: www.winecountryinn.com and www.winecountryinn.blogspot.com.
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2009 WCI Special Events

At Wine Country Inn, we believe strongly in adding as much value to your stay with us as possible. With this in mind, we have created the following Special Events throughout 2009 to make your stay even more pleasurable. Most are complimentary to Inn guests, and all are available only to our guests. For reservations or more information, please call our front desk staff toll-free at 1-888-465-4608 or send an email to: romance@winecountryinn.com.

February 27-28, 2009: Return Guest Reunion
Please click here for a quick recap of our inaugural Return Guest Reunion.

Fun Thursdays: April through November
Each Thursday April through November, we will be hosting a special food and wine educational event in the Inn's Common Room from 6-7 p.m. These events are complimentary to Inn guests (and subject to availability). Here's the lineup:

First Thursday: Wine Appreciation
Join Marty Paradise to learn the ins and outs of how to better understand -- and appreciate -- the various wines you'll be exposed to during your stay in Napa Valley. Marty is a fantastic wine person (note, we were tempted to call him a 'wine geek') and fun to be around, to boot.

Second Thursday: All About Olive Oil
Diane De Filipi, who leads yearly gourmet cooking class excursions to Tuscany and Rome through her company Let's Go Cook Italian, will help educate us on all things olive oil-related, including how to taste, olive oil characteristics, and much more. Diane's passion for food and wine -- particularly as they relate to Italy -- are unmatched!

Third Thursday: Beer Fun
Our friends at Silverado Brewing Company will lead a "beer fun" course sure to entertain and delight. Brewmaster Ken Mee will lead many of these events. As Ken says, "Keep drinking beer--I'll make more!"

Fourth Thursday: Italian Wine Appreciation
Our friends at Benessere Vineyards will lead this exploration of all things Italian-wine related, including some fantastic wine and cheese pairings. Wine Country Inn guests will learn about the various Italian grape varieties planted throughout Napa Valley, and the steps Benessere takes to produce the highest quality grapes possible (in the winemaking world, more is not better, better is better).

November 19-21: Ode to the Olive
We'll put on a three-day tribute to all things olive-related, culminating in a Saturday blind olive oil tasting with celebrity judges. This was event was a huge hit with Wine Country Inn guests in 2008. For a complete schedule of events, which are limited to Wine Country Inn guests and, unless otherwise noted, complimentary, visit our Ode to the Olive site. (For information on last year's Ode to the Olive event, click here.)

December 31: New Year's Eve
We're putting together plans for a special New Year's Eve party (hint: might be one of only a handful of dinners we've actually hosted at the Inn). More info coming soon...

February 26-27, 2010: Return Guest Reunion
Mark your calendars now: We'll celebrate our 2nd Annual Return Guest Reunion this weekend. Stay tuned for more info.

Return Guest Reunion Rocks!

Wow, we had a wonderful time February 27-28 with our first annual Wine Country Inn Return Guest Reunion. Guests who have stayed with us before from all across the U.S. attended our special event.

The Return Guest Reunion culminated in a special dinner held in the Wine Country Inn common room. Guests and Inn staff began with cocktails from Charbay and wine from Benessere Vineyards, along with cheese and other passed appetizers, including Sonoma Duck Pate, Hog Island Oysters, and caviar and salmon gravlax on potato gaufrette.

For dinner, catered by the catering department at Silverado Brewing Company led by Chef Bernardo Ayala, we feasted on Maine Lobster Salad, pan-seared Filet Mignon, and, for dessert, Dagoba organic bittersweet chocolate cake with raspberry ganache and passion fruit coulis.

The Inn's common room looked beautiful, and guests were treated to a guitar accompanist.

Please note: If you missed this year's Return Guest Reunion, have no fear--plans are already underway for next year's event. Stay tuned.

Coming Feb 27-28: Return Guest Reunion

Just a friendly reminder that our first ever/annual Return Guest Reunion will take place at Wine Country Inn February 27-28, 2009. We have planned a fun time for those people who have stayed at the Inn before and would like an excuse (hey, it's February!) to get away, enjoy some fantastic food and wine, reconnect with our Inn staff, and also meet new friends.

For more information, click here.

For information, room rates, or availability, please call the Inn toll-free at 1-888-465-4608.

P.S. We're busy making plans for our events in 2009; stay tuned.

New Year's Eve PARTY

Just a reminder that we still have some availability for our complimentary (that's right, complimentary) New Year's Eve party this December 31st.

Now, we know what you're probably saying: They'll just raise the room rates for that night, right? No! That's right: this year the Wine Country Inn will be offering our guests a special New Year’s Eve party on December 31 at regular December (off-season) rates. Highlights of the event include:

~ Our New Year’s Eve party will be complimentary for guests of the Inn that night. That’s right—while most places mark up (significantly!) their fees for New Year’s Eve, we’re going to throw a party at no additional cost to you.

~ In keeping with our old-fashioned holiday theme, the Inn’s room rates for that night will not increase.

~ Our New Year’s Eve Party will run from approximately 10:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. (or so), and include a champagne toast and dessert bar loaded with all sorts of homemade goodies.

~ Of course, you’ll avoid driving hazards by simply walking to your room.

Come celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of a new one with old friends... or make some new ones in our cozy common room complete with roaring fire. Visit our web site our call toll-free 1-888-465-4608 for room availability and rates.

Olive Taste-Off Winner

We had a wonderful time Saturday, Nov 15 at The Wine Country Inn for our Olive Oil Taste-Off, which was the culminating event in our four-day "Ode to the Olive" celebration. Three celebrity judges blind-tasted four Napa Valley olive oils, and also answered questions and conversed with Wine Country Inn guests (we were nearly sold out -- there was one available room!). The judges were the Inn's own Innkeeper, Jim Smith; Chef Lars Kronmark from our neighbor the Culinary Institute of America (CIA); and Diane DeFilipe, an expert on Italian food and olive oil through her Italian touring company, Let's Go Cook Italian.

And the winner was... Harris Ranch Napa Valley! The judges loved this organic extra virgin olive oil's flavor (of course), but also its aroma and that spicy/peppery taste that hits the back of the mouth. (When tasting olive oils, it's a GOOD thing to cough! No, seriously!) Congratulations to the brother and sister team of Gingy Harris Gable and Jody Harris who own and run Harris Ranch Napa Valley. The winning olive oil retails for $38 per 500ml bottle. For more information or to purchase this fine Napa Valley olive oil, visit their web site at http://www.hrnv.net/.

Stay tuned for more re-cap info soon on the Ode to the Olive event... and as we begin looking forward to our New Year's Eve celebration.

Ode to the Olive: Events Schedule

Here is the schedule for our 2008 Ode to the Olive event:

Wed., Nov 12:

Breakfast - selection of dips and olives

Afternoon wine service - Kendall-Jackson Winery and Pearl Wonderful Clothing

Thur., Nov 13:

Breakfast - selection of dips and olives

Afternoon wine service - 'Ode to the Martini' with Charbay Vodka; displays by Christopher Hill Art Gallery

Fri., Nov 14:

Breakfast - selection of dips and olives

Afternoon wine service: William Harrison Winery; olive oil tasting with Long Meadow Ranch

Sat., Nov 15:

Breakfast - selection of dips and olives

10:30 a.m. - tour of Long Meadow Ranch

Afternoon wine service: Rutherford Hill Winery; Olive Oil 'taste off'

For information or reservations, please call the Wine Country Inn toll-free at 1-888-465-4608.

PEARL Wonderful Clothing

We're excited to announce that PEARL Wonderful Clothing will be participating in our Ode to the Olive event Nov. 12-15.

PEARL will be visiting the Inn on Wednesday, Nov. 12 during our afternoon wine service (4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.). The PEARL folks will be showcasing some of their new fall and winter fashions, be available to answer questions, and will be providing Inn guests with special incentives, should you want to visit the PEARL store, located on Main Street in downtown St. Helena. Don't miss this fun event at the Inn.

For information or to inquire about availability, please call us at the Wine Country Inn toll-free at 1-888-465-4608.

Ode to the Olive: Thank You to Our Sponsors

We would like to thank the following sponsors who will be part of the Wine Country Inn's Ode to the Olive event Nov. 12-15, 2008.

Every Meal A Feast
A fun food and wine blog







Nord Vineyards
Fantastic Napa Valley wine

PEARL Wonderful Clothing
Upscale women's clothing boutique

Return Guest Reunion

Many of our Wine Country Inn guests return to the Inn year after year. Of course, our staff becomes quite close with this new friends.... With these guests in mind, we decided to say "thank you" by offering a "Return Guest Reunion" in early 2009. Even if people didn’t know each other at the beginning of the weekend, we figure that they would by the end! Here are the details:

~ Our Return Guest Reunion weekend will be February 27-28, 2009.

~ You and a guest will receive two nights lodging, all regular Inn amenities (breakfast, etc.), and on the Saturday night a return guest party in our common room complete with cocktails, wine, and a four-course catered dinner.

~ The package price for the weekend, for two people, varies by room type:

Traditional Room: $700

Suites: $870

Cottages: $1,190

Please visit our web site or call toll-free 1-888-465-4608 for availability or to make a reservation. We hope to see you --again! -- soon!

New Year's Eve Party

What, a New Year's Eve party that's... free? Oh, wait--they'll just raise the room rates, right? No!

That's right: this year the Wine Country Inn will be offering our guests a special New Year’s Eve party on December 31. Highlights of the event include:

~ Our New Year’s Eve party will be complimentary for guests of the Inn that night. That’s right—while most places mark up (significantly!) their fees for New Year’s Eve, we’re going to throw a party at no additional cost to you.

~ In keeping with our old-fashioned holiday theme, the Inn’s room rates for that night will not increase.

~ Our New Year’s Eve Party will run from approximately 10:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. (or so), and include a champagne toast and dessert bar loaded with all sorts of homemade goodies.

~ Of course, you’ll avoid driving hazards by simply walking to your room.

Come celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of a new one with old friends... or make some new ones in our cozy common room complete with roaring fire. Visit our web site our call toll-free 1-888-465-4608 for room availability and rates.

Ode to the Olive

Yes, the Napa Valley has awesome wine. But we also have many other food producers, including many ultra-premium olive oil companies. To help our Wine Country Inn guests experience this wonderful fruit, we’ve created what we hope will become an annual celebration: the Ode to the Olive, to be held Nov. 12-15 at the Wine Country Inn.

Wine Country Inn guests will have a multitude of ways to experience the olive, including:
~ Numerous tasting opportunities, from spreads to tapenades to olive oils ~ The opportunity to visit one or more nearby olive oil producers
~ A complimentary copy of our Ode to the Olive Collector’s Book
~ An “ode to the martini” evening event, complete with stuffed olives
~ Special discounts or goodies from nearby participating restaurants

The nearly-week long celebration will culminate in our Saturday afternoon Olive Oil Taste-Off, in which three celebrity judges (stay tuned!) will taste from numerous Napa Valley and local olive oil producers. The winner will become the Wine Country Inn’s featured olive oil for 2009.

For more information, visit our web site, or call toll-free 1-888-465-4608 for room availability and rates. We hope to see you in November!