This Small California Town Is Home to a Gorgeous Winery — and You Can Spend the Night in One of Its Exclusive Suites

Each of the three suites features a fireplace, antiques, and an interior balcony.

There’s no denying Healdsburg, California, is having a moment, especially when it comes to luxury lodging. It’s been a long time coming. For years, the charming heart of Sonoma wine country failed to capture the well-heeled tourists who headed instead to nearby Napa. Then came SingleThread (and its subsequent three Michelin stars) in late 2016. It was followed soon after by a stunning five-star Montage property set amid the vines. Last year, the iconic Madrona Manor reopened after a $6 million refurbishment. Now, the case can be made that this is the destination for overnighting oenophiles. And the most enviable experience of them all is one that’s not even open to the general public.

The Chateau Suites at Jordan Winery afford guests an opportunity to sleep inside an actual working winehouse. Vibe wise, it’s about as close to Old World accommodations as you’ll encounter in the United States. Indeed, they were designed as an homage to the French countryside. But a stylish bedroom is merely a part of the charm. Here’s all you can expect if you’re lucky enough to overnight here — and what you need to do to snag the exclusive booking.

"Even if they weren’t bottling world-class cabernet, Jordan is worth a visit just to see the spectacular chateau,” says Healdsburg-based drinks writer Carey Jones, coauthor of "Every Cocktail Has a Twist." "It sits in one of the most idyllic parts of the Alexander Valley, occupying acre upon acre of rolling hills. It’s the kind of place where you start snapping photos on the drive in and never stop."

There are 1,200 of those idyllic acres, to be exact. And within them, you'll find a culinary garden, one of the largest pollinator sanctuaries in the country, and a new chef’s terrace tasting helmed by Jesse Mallgren — the latest addition to the winery’s talented team of craftspeople. "Jordan really scored in hiring Jesse Mallgren," says Jones. "He’s a local legend in Healdsburg for his time at Madrona Manor and a huge culinary talent."

And all of this serves as an exciting prelude to the wine. Around here, the juice is hardly an afterthought. To wit, Jordan was just named the top-rated producer in North America, according to the annual World’s 50 Best Vineyards list. Maggie Kruse, who has been the head winemaker since 2019, can often be spotted mingling with guests under the shadows of the chateau’s ivy-covered facades.

Directly inside those walls is a recently revamped lobby area tracing French sensibilities in exhausting detail. The marble concierge desk is meant to echo the reception at George V in Paris. A curated art collection clings to the walls, evoking the winery’s 50-year history through French paintings and animations. 

Upstairs are the three guest suites comprising the Jordan chateau. Each one features antiques collected from the Louis XIII, XV, and XVI periods. The rooms are fitted with king beds, sitting areas, and individual fireplaces. French doors and window seats provide ideal vantage points from which to admire the estate. But it’s the interior balcony that really sets these stately quarters apart. The living space adjoins the winery’s barrel room, peering out over the workspace from a floor above, so you can savor a sumptuous mouthful of 2019 JR Classic cabernet sauvignon while admiring the slumbering liquids that will eventually evolve into future vintages.

"As an avowed wine fanatic, I can confirm that it’s truly a one-of-a-kind experience,” says Amanda Blue, president of Tasting Alliance, organizers of the annual San Francisco International Wine Competition. "It makes me wish I was in Healdsburg more often."

Securing your stay requires some advance legwork. But the first step is to sign up for Jordan Winery’s loyalty program. You’ll earn 3,000 bonus points at initiation and then start accumulating three points for every dollar spent on wine purchases. A night at the Chateau Suite will set you back $275 plus an additional 5,000 points. The maximum stay is two nights, which includes complimentary continental breakfast served in room. The property only serves lunch, though they provide courtesy round-trip transportation to and from Healdsburg when it’s time for dinner.

For adventurous gourmands such as Blue, that’s more of a blessing than a burden. "This town has become the wine destination for true connoisseurs," she says. "It has multiple world-class restaurants, a vibrant local community dedicated to protecting the Russian River watershed, an ideal microclimate, and vineyard vistas that will melt your heart."

But, as it becomes an increasingly coveted place to be, one thing it doesn’t offer is an easy reservation. So, if you have your heart set on that 10-course tasting meal at SingleThread — and you should — you better start planning your trip several months in advance. Thankfully, that’ll give you plenty of time to build up reward points at Jordan.

For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.