12 Wine Country Suites for Every Travel Style

If you're thinking of visiting Napa or Sonoma to sip some the valleys' celebrated Cabernet, Pinot Noir, and Syrah, odds are you're already a wine lover. But when the tasting is done, do you prefer to relax in a country-style cottage in the woods or mix and mingle in a LEED-certified downtown hotel? Is your dream bed covered in posh French brocade or pure New Zealand wool? Choosing a suite that matches your style will enhance your enjoyment of California wine country, so here are a dozen distinct options to consider.

by Donna Heiderstadt

WHERE: Healdsburg

Style: Eco-Chic

Sustain your “green” dreams at this funky-chic, LEED-Gold-certified hotel in Healdsburg, where the roof is planted with grass; the art in the courtyard and lobby celebrates reclaimed materials and conservation; the solar-heated pool and free bikes offer guilt-free recreation; and the 36 rooms feature bamboo flooring, organic cotton sheets, low-VOC paints, chemical-free rugs, smart sensors, and every other environmentally responsible feature you can imagine.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor's Sonoma Valley Guide and h2hotel review

WHERE: Calistoga

Style: Modern Loft

The cool cement floors, creamy vaulted ceilings, and sleek gas fireplace create a contemporary ambience, while the down bedding, cozy New Zealand wool throw, locally made toiletries, and woven chairs on the patio provide comfort. Set in single-story, foliage-surrounded studios, each of the 89 rooms channels a Napa vibe that is sophisticated, cheerful, and nature-centric—a theme carried over into the Spa Solage and the Michelin-starred Solbar restaurant.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor's Napa Valley Guide and Solage Calistoga review

WHERE: Napa

Style: Trendy Yet Friendly

The complimentary glass of wine at check-in and the convivial open-air Mercantile Social bar ablaze with fire pits and buzzing with locals are major hints that this happening, 141-room property in downtown Napa doesn't have an attitude. The 422-square-foot Andaz Lofts are equally down to earth, with hickory floors, king beds backed by brown leather headboards, rainfall showerheads, and sleek two-sided glass fireplaces complemented by fabrics in wine and moss-green hues.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor's Napa Valley Guide and Andaz Napa review

WHERE: Yountville

Style: Sustainably Indulgent

You don't have to forsake luxury to vacation responsibly when your home away from home is a Spa Suite at this 62-room, LEED-Platinum, non-smoking resort located in the center of Napa's culinary capital. At 800 square feet (room and private patio) with a spacious bathroom, large walk-in shower, and jetted tub (plus room to accommodate a massage table), this suite will coddle you with organic bedding, handcrafted bath products, and a fireplace.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor's Napa Valley Guide and Bardessono review

WHERE: Yountville

Style: Tuscan Warmth

If you can't make it to Italy this year, enjoy a sunny interpretation of the Tuscan wine region at this 112-room property designed in rich hues of terracotta and sunflower yellow and traversed by cobblestone pathways lined with marble fountains. While all rooms have gas fireplaces, patios, and a complimentary bottle of wine, only the Upstairs Mini Suites feature king-size, wrought-iron canopy beds, domed ceilings, and a separate sitting area.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor's Napa Valley Guide and Villagio Inn & Spa review

WHERE: Healdsburg

Style: Parisian Opulence

The richly patterned fabrics cascading from ceiling to floor around the windows, king-size canopy bed, mahogany armoir, and the antique marble mantle gas fireplace make this impeccable 550-square-foot suite (one of 16 rooms in this elegant family-run Relais & Chateaux mansion) a sophisticated haven that feels like it should overlook the River Seine rather than a square in a sleepy town in northern Sonoma.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor's Sonoma Valley Guide and Hotel Les Mars review

WHERE: Napa

Style: Panoramic & Private

Boasting sweeping views of the green vineyards below, these intimate five suites will make you feel like a Napa Valley resident, or better yet, a successful vintner. This 1,450-square-foot, top-floor suite is the best spot for taking in the natural beauty, complete with a wrap-around deck, living room with a fireplace, and light-filled bedroom with a four-poster bed from which you can watch the sun rise over owner/winemaker Cliff Lede's Cabernet and Pinot Noir grapes.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor's Napa Valley Guide

WHERE: Glen Ellen

Style: Asian-Inspired Bliss

The clean, calming lines of a Japanese ryokan (guesthouse) meld with the contemporary sophistication of California wine-country architecture in this 715-square-foot creek-side suite that features interior glass atriums; a bedroom with a king-size bed, fireplace and relaxing outdoor patio; and a spacious bathroom with a unique black granite soaking tub and a spacious shower. What isn't spare is the sumptuous breakfast, a signature of the 23-room inn for years.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor's Sonoma Valley Guide and Gaige House review

WHERE: Yountville

Style: Provencal Charm

Inside and out, this 13-room inn tucked off the main road in food-centric Yountville oozes rustic French charm. In one of the Bakery Building guestrooms, you'll find king-sized beds topped with soft floral comforters, overstuffed armchairs next to the gas fireplace, a patio overlooking the garden or the inn's secluded pool, and a bathroom with a separate shower and jetted spa tub.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor's Napa Valley Guide and Maison Fleurie review

WHERE: American Canyon

Style: Affordably Green

You don't have to blow your budget to be eco-conscious in wine country with the spacious suites at this 132-room, LEED-Gold-certified property, featuring a king bed with hypoallergenic down pillows, a separate living area, two flat-screen TVs, free WiFi, a minifridge, and views of a landscaped lagoon—all convenient located just off Highway 29, 10 minutes from downtown Napa.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor's Napa Valley Guide

WHERE: St. Helena

Style: Woodsy Hideaway

If you enjoy exploring the great outdoors by day, but prefer a soft and luxurious landing at night, this 600-square-foot suite is the perfect cottage in the woods—elegant, airy, and newly remodeled with a king bed, relaxed wine-country décor, a fireplace in the living room, and a porch that's a soothing spot to sip a favorite wine before enjoying Meadowood's three-Michelin-star cuisine.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor's Napa Valley Guide and Meadowood Napa Valley

WHERE: Napa

Style: Quirky Modernity

The 86-room resort's retro-style cottages are lined up close to each other along pathways almost like a miniature movie set, but once you enter, you'll enjoy 450 square feet of eclectic modern décor; polished wood floors; a king bed with a crisp, white canvas headboard; a leather swivel recliner; a fireplace; a spacious bathroom with heated floors; and a patio or garden with an outdoor shower and lounge chairs.

PLAN YOUR TRIP: Visit Fodor's Napa Valley Travel Guide and Carneros Inn review