California Wine Country: Renting an Entire Vineyard

February 23, 2023 10:32 AM

AirBnB/VRBO seem to have cluttered up wine country estate listings and many older standbys have closed down. What are some good winery estates with onsite lodging? Details below the fold.

Several years ago I rented a farmhouse on a winery for a birthday weekend and would like to do that again. Sadly, the awesome place I rented out several years ago is now closed down, most of the listings I've found through Sonoma/Napa county tourism sites are defunct and AirBnB/VRBO is not helping me find what I need.

Do you know of any winery estates with the following?

* Private rental of an entire villa/guesthouse/bungalows
* Can accommodate at least 4 people and up to 12
* Owned and operated by a winery or winery group
* Large acreage to stroll around on
* Maximum $1k nightly (though can go higher for the right place)
* Available add-ons like wine tastings at the property and hiring a chef for a private dinner
* Bonus: hot tub and outdoor firepit (nice but not needed)

I feel like my specifications aren't too onerous and yet cannot seem to find a suitable place after a couple of days searching. Is renting a winery/ranch estate no longer a thing in the post-modern vacation rental world? If not, do you know of any wineries still doing this?

posted by JaneTheGood to Travel & Transportation around San Francisco, CA (5 answers total)

You've probably come across this already, but if you drop the requirement that it be owned by a winery, there are options that appear to fit the bill. For example just in Sonoma:
-- Four Sisters Farmhouse
-- Moore Family Farmhouse
-- Wine country farmhouse
posted by beagle at 11:40 AM on February 23, 2023

You might look into Hipcamp. The options may be a bit more rustic than you are looking for, but there are some options.
posted by sacrifix at 12:28 PM on February 23, 2023 [1 favorite]

I don't know if the suites here would be large enough--maybe you'd just have to book a few of them. I was there years ago, and even the basic rooms were just lovely.
posted by sardonyx at 12:36 PM on February 23, 2023 [1 favorite]

I think the thing you're looking for is agritourism (or the original Italian agritourismo). $1000 a night for 4-12 people would be an absolute steal anywhere in wine country, though. The motels in the Napa Valley charge $250+ a night for a double bed in shoulder season.

It's 10 rooms, and may be above your budget, but The Purple Orchid in Livemore is on an olive orchard and definitely has that "I'm in the hills of Tuscany" vibe.
posted by wnissen at 3:13 PM on February 23, 2023 [1 favorite]

I have stayed at sunstone winery in the owner’s villa, which would meet your needs? Dunno if the prices are higher now, as I went early in covid times.
posted by beignet at 9:59 PM on February 24, 2023