Napa and Sonoma Open Up

From the vineyards to the city streets, new tasting rooms, resorts and restaurants refresh wine country. 

The charcoal-colored Victorian house perched on the west side of Highway 29 stands in stark contrast to its surrounding natural landscape. Built in 1878, the house was formally St. Clement winery before Huneeus Vintners purchased the property in 2016.

The renovation evokes Dr. Faust, a character from German lore who sells his soul to the Devil in exchange for worldly pleasures. The first floor represents Faust’s sullen and moody vibes, like in the narrow, dark-hued library with a dining table and blue and gold accents/ Here, collodion photographs and ephemera from the winery’s estate in Coombsville (20 miles south) adorn the walls. Up stairs, the room transforms from dark to light, representing Faust’s enlightenment. Drenched in sun, the open second floor has minimal furnishings and white-neutral-and-tan accents.

Outside, a terrace overlooking the valley is an excellent setting for an alfresco tasting. Below ground, a stonewall wine cellar with lounge seating offers a speakeasy-like feel.