Ever think about quitting your job to become a winemaker? Thankfully, California’s wine country lets you play out this fantasy. From Sonoma County to Temecula Valley, multiple wineries provide accommodations right on the property. Enjoy life as a vintner for a night, a weekend, or longer. At the end of each day, you’ll retire to a farmhouse and let your evening glass of Cab Franc lull you to sleep, before waking up to sunrise over the vineyard.
Carhartt Family Wines, Santa Ynez Valley
The well-known creators of the clothing and outerwear line also have a booming wine business, with a centralized tasting room in Los Olivos. Known for staying open late (6:30 p.m. on weekends) and for offering pop-up food trucks and delicious red blends, these winemakers recently opened 11 Oaks, where you can stay over on Carhartt property. This gated estate can sleep 4 to 6 people and comes with a hot tub, bocce court, spa, pizza oven, and firepit. Situated between Los Olivos and Solvang, this location provides prime access to all the nearby vineyards.
Chateau de Vie, Calistoga
Part winery, part bed-and-breakfast, and full-time French countryside-style getaway, Napa Valley’s Chateau de Vie offers five separate private rooms and suites. Guests enjoy luxe treatment with oversized terrycloth robes, Egyptian cotton sheets, a heated lap pool in the vineyard, and complimentary cheese plates served on the back patio each night.
Cliff Lede Winery, Napa
They had us at indoor-outdoor shower… each of the five rooms at Cliff Lede’s Poetry Inn also has a private deck and fireplace. Perched above the Silverado Trail, Poetry serves guests a full breakfast, featuring pastries from Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery. If you’re planning a big celebration, you can even book the entire house and property.
Enriquez Estate Wines, Forestville
Stay in a beautifully renovated dairy milk barn, transformed into a sweet two-bedroom vineyard cottage with modern amenities. The property is close to both Healdsburg and Windsor in magical Sonoma County, and guests have access to the winery’s in-house wine tour drivers, massage therapists, and private chefs.
Jeriko Estate, Hopland
In the laid-back Mendocino County town of Hopland, this winery offers a number of options for a heart-of-the-vineyard stay. Singles, couples, and small families can choose from a suite or stand-alone casita, but the real attraction is the Jeriko House—a five-bedroom, 6,000-square-foot mansion that has a billiards room, wine cellar, swimming pool, cocktail lounge, and wood-burning pizza oven.
Justin Winery, Paso Robles
At The Just Inn in Paso Robles wine country, stays include premium tastings, preferred access to The Restaurant at Justin, and a daily farm-to-table breakfast. Choose from suites with sumptuous linens and spa tubs or book the Vintner’s Villa—a modern French country farmhouse surrounded by vineyards. The spectacular Justin Chateau, a 12,000-square-foot mansion, comes with its own resident chef and private concierge.
Lynmar Estate, Sebastopol
Situated on the iconic Quail Hill Valley vineyard, the Lynmar Estate boasts the Bliss House. This delightful three-bed, three-and-a half-bath home in the heart of Sonoma County is perfect for family or friends’ retreats. Encircled by rose gardens and crawling with grapevines, you’d be hard-pressed (hard-stomped?) to feel closer to wine country living.
Ponte Winery, Temecula
Surrounded by 300 acres of Temecula Valley vineyards, the Ponte Vineyard Inn is a Spanish Mission–style oasis offering 90 rooms, a pool, and three restaurants—each with its own personality. Choose from rooms or suites equipped with oversized showers along with patio or balcony views. Stays include complimentary tastings at Ponte and its nearby sister winery Bottaia. (At the latter, you can take your winemaker fantasy to the next level with a blend-your-own-wine session!)
Testa Ranch, Calpella
This ranch and multigenerational winery near Mendocino has been in the Testa family for more than 100 years. Experience the land’s rich history with a weekend in the Testa House, a three-bedroom, Craftsman-style farmhouse built by the ranch’s first settlers, or in the Ridgeview Ranch House, a family-friendly farmhouse with a wrap-around porch, a pool, and vegetable and flower gardens.
If you’re looking for a less conventional way to explore the California countryside, check out our list of surprising wine tours which include horseback rides, motorcycle sidecar excursions, and tuk-tuk tours through the vineyards. And while you’re at it, check out our expertly curated list of wineries that serve amazing food.