These Are the Best Hotels to Book When Wine Tasting in the West

Every year the Sunset Travel Awards honor the best in travel in the West. This year we had over 600 entries across all categories (a record number!). These hotels are the 2023 winners of the Where to Stay: Best Wine Country Escapes category. Check out the complete list of winners here. For our definitive directory to travel in the West, click here.

Best Wine Country Escapes

Meadowood Napa Valley

Meadowood Napa Valley

This iconic, exclusive resort of cottages nestled in wine country has literally risen from the ashes after the restaurant and other parts of the property were destroyed by the Glass Fire in 2020. And it’s better than ever, with Howard Backen–designed restaurant Forum, expanded wellness and tennis programs, and revived Wine Center.

Hotel Ynez

Courtesy of Hotel Ynez

This charming Santa Ynez escape is situated on two acres studded with live oak trees, gardens, and bonfire pits. With plush bedding, DIY BBQ kits delivered to your door, and vintage touches throughout, it’s the definitive spot to spend your time in wine country.

The Genevieve

The Genevieve

Elegant and polished yet un-stuffy, this Victorian-style boutique inn in Santa Ynez has an incredibly impressive whiskey library for those looking for a break from vino. The stay is first-class from the start, with champagne at check-in, a candy station for noshing, and a gourmet restaurant with top-notch brekkie to fuel you for a day of tasting.

Tributary Hotel

Evan Sung

Built within the historic Taylor Dale building, this fastidiously restored eight-room inn in McMinnville, Oregon, radiates old-world charm. Think dramatic fireplaces, exposed brick walls, oak beams, and amenities crafted by Pacific Northwest artists. Don’t skip dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, ōkta, where chef-partner Matthew Lightner shares the bounty of the property’s farm in his innovative menus and incredible in-room breakfast service.

Stanly Ranch

Auberge Resorts Collection

Napa Valley’s latest luxe retreat improves upon the wine country resort with modern cabins surrounded by vines, multiple pools, a Scandi-meets-California-cuisine restaurant with a top-shelf bar and an on-site vegetable garden. Add bespoke local outings and this property encapsulates all that we love about wine country.

Four Seasons Resort and Residences

Don Riddle

Located on a working vineyard near Calistoga, the Four Seasons is a refined experience thanks to its suites, villas, and private residences that raise the bar on rustic luxury. Add multiple restaurants, pools, and holistic spa treatments and the wine country retreat gets more refined.

Francis House

Dina Dwyer

Imagine you had a private manor in the Napa Valley and you’re close to envisioning what Francis House in Calistoga is all about. This seven-room hotel offers luxury accommodations for travelers looking for a communal experience with daily shared meals, an on-site spa, and expansive grounds allowing for a serene, right-sized respite.

The Landsby

David Tsay

In Solvang, a town known for its throw-back Danish heritage, Scandinavian modernism is alive and well at this boutique hotel. All the rooms are well appointed, but try to book a suite with a patio on the restaurant courtyard for a lovely indoor-outdoor experience.

Skyview Los Alamos

Courtesy of Skyview Los Alamos

With views of the vineyards of the Santa Ynez Valley and the foodie town of Los Alamos, this revived hilltop motel offers private patios, a pool, and a restaurant featuring local produce and wines and craft cocktails. It’s the perfect balance of a groovy mid-century modern aesthetic and country charm.