NEW: Food & Wine Events

We're excited to announce today the launch of our NEW Wine Country Inn Food & Wine Events exclusively for Wine Country Inn guests. Our vision for these is to create a series of fun, educational, and memorable events for you to enjoy... and remember for years to come! We'll also be introducing you to our friends throughout the Napa Valley, be they winemakers, chefs, or plain ole "foodies".

The events will range from a paella party to a port tasting to cooking at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). We'll take you on a barrel-tasting-and-bocce-ball extravaganza, as well as have you tasting grapes (and later, we promise, wine too!) in some of the most pristine Napa Valley vineyards. Plus lots more.

Visit our Web site for a complete list of events. For more information or make room or event reservations, contact our staff toll-free at 1-888-465-4608.

We hope to see you soon!

NEW: WCI Aprons

We're excited to share that our NEW Wine Country Inn aprons are here. They're hunter green with white lettering, have two front pockets, adjustable straps, and are made of high-quality 100% cotton with, on the front, a DuPont Teflon fabric protection to prevent staining. The aprons cost $18 each, plus tax, and are available in our gift shop in the reception (check-in) area, or by calling our staff toll-free at 1-888-465-4608. Enjoy! (Note: Shipping charges will apply if needed.)

Viva Mexico!

I review all the guest comment cards which guests complete, and it always amazes me how almost everyone comments so positively about our breakfasts. If you haven't stayed with us before, just know that one of the highlights of your visit to The Wine Country Inn will be the breakfast: big, fresh, tasty, varied, and fun! Chef Guy prepares a great breakfast, the cornerstone of which is one of his great egg casserole dishes. Recently he served his Mexican Quiche, which is one of my favorites. Here’s the recipe, should you want to indulge:

Chef Guy’s Mexican Quiche
(serves 6-8)

1 lb chorizo sausage, sans casings
2 medium onions, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
¼ diced fresh mild chilies
10 eggs
2 cups milk or half-and-half
1 can (about 2 ¼ oz) sliced ripe olives, drained
1 can (about 8 ¾ oz) whole kernel corn
3 cups (about 12 oz) shredded Jack cheese
Avocado, tomato slices, and cilantro sprigs for garnish

Crumble chorizo into a wide frying pan and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until browned. Add onions and cook, stirring often, until soft (about four minutes). Discard fat. Stir in salt, pepper, and chilies. Remove from heat.

In a large bowl, beat eggs until blended. Stir in the chorizo mixture, olives, corn, and cheese. Spread mixture evenly in a greased 10x15-inch rimmed baking pan.

Bake in a 350F oven until a knife inserted in center comes out clean (about 30 minutes). Let stand for 10 minutes. To serve, cut into squares, and garnish with tomato, avocado, and cilantro sprigs.

We hope to see you soon at our Napa Valley vacation spot.

Foodie Haven: the CIA

Wine is awesome, of course, but a person has to eat too, right? Just a mile or so from the Wine Country Inn sits the historic Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, aka: the CIA. Not only do they have a fabulous restaurant -- the Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant -- they also give many public and private cooking demonstrations.

We suggest that you begin with a public cooking demo. They are approximately one hour, cost $15 per person, and generally run Fri-Sun at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. I'm looking at their June calendar right now, and some of the fun demos include traditional strawberry shortcake...with a twist, and summer berry neapolitan. As always, you can contact our staff at 1-888-465-4608 for assistance in planning events during your stay with us, or you can contact the CIA directly at (707) 967-2320.

And be sure to check out the restaurant while you're here. My marketing manager, Tim, and I did so the other night, just to be certain that it's still going strong, and we were VERY happy: fantastic setting, exceptional staff, great wine selection, and, of course, awesome food.

Preview

Just wanted to let you in on two little behind-the-scenes secrets regarding our california wine country vacation spot.

One, my staff and I are brainstorming and preparing several Wine Country Inn guest food and wine events for this fall. These will (we hope!) be different, fun, and introduce you to new wines, foods, and people you otherwise wouldn't have met while visiting the Napa Valley. Again, more info to come shortly....

And two, here's something fun that could turn into something BIG: a Wine Country film production company, Susan and Wayne Boyer of Twin Brain Productions, are attempting to produce what they call a non-scripted reality show about life here in Wine Country. They've lined up three wineries/vineyard management companies, have spent several days filming, and now are producing what's called a "sizzle reel" -- a 5- to 7-minute video which they'll use to promote the show and the concept to the big cable execs back East (or wherever those big cable execs hang out). If Susan and Wayne get the "green light" on the project, called Crush, they'll begin production almost immediately and plan to produce 5-7 episodes, sort of a year-in-the-life-of-a-winemaker/vineyard manager type thing. And little birds have whispered into my ear that if the series gets picked up, the Wine Country Inn has already been scouted out and approved for some sort of filming/shots. Wouldn't that be fun, some filming here? Why, I might even have to get a facial from the spa ladies beforehand! Anyway, stay tuned....

P.S. Pics courtesy of Lori Laube

Room 2

Occasionally I thought I'd talk up an individual room, suite, or one of our five luxury cottages. Today I'd like to talk about Room 2. This is located in the main building, and is the closest room to our sun-drenched pool. I particularly like this room's patio: surrounded by plant life, it's an excellent place to relax in the morning with a cup of coffee, read during the day, or enjoy in the afternoon with that someone special in your life a great glass of Napa Valley wine (and perhaps with one of our fruit and cheese plates, too). The rate for this room runs between $275 and $335 per night, depending on the season, and includes our full breakfast, afternoon wine tasting, and complimentary evening restaurant shuttle service.

We hope to see you soon. If you're interested in learning more about our rooms, you can of course check us out online or -- and this makes me so warm and fuzzy inside -- you can call us toll-free at (888) 465-4608 and TALK TO A REAL PERSON.

Heirloom Tomatoes

Of course we're partial to the Napa Valley, seeing as how we're pretty much in the center of it, especially when it comes to Napa Valley vacations. We do acknowledge our neighbor on the other side of the mountain, though: Sonoma County. They have lots of great wineries and some fantastic restaurants. It's definitely worth a day trip from the Inn, should your schedule permit.

One big event that's especially fun is the Heirloom Tomato Festival at Kendall-Jackson Vineyards. They showcase more than 150 different types of heirloom tomatoes, plus there's lots of food and wine. The K-J Wine Center is about a 35- to 40-minute drive from the Inn, and our staff will be happy to give you directions. And here's an inn-sider's tip: this event ALWAYS sells out, so if you are interested in going, I suggest that you purchase your tickets now. Here are the details:

Date: Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008

Time: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

$: $55 per person before June 30; $65 thereafter

Tickets: call (800) 769-3649 or visit their web site

Note: The pics are from the K-J gardens...