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Collection by Megan Hamaker

A Dwell Guide to the California Wine Country

From beautiful places to stay, to modern places to sip, to yummy places to eat, and even some stunning places to live—if you can get the owners to sell—we take you through some of our favorite places across the California wine country.

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BARDESSONO GREEN HOTEL, NAPA VALLEY Northern California's wine country has the advantage of built-in open space preservation by virtue of its indispensable agricultural acreage. While there are certainly more tourist accommodations now than there used to be, the roads through Napa Valley are still flanked mostly by row upon row of perfectly trussed grapevines and—at this time of year—the bright yellow blossoms of mustard grass.
BARDESSONO GREEN HOTEL, NAPA VALLEY Northern California's wine country has the advantage of built-in open space preservation by virtue of its indispensable agricultural acreage. While there are certainly more tourist accommodations now than there used to be, the roads through Napa Valley are still flanked mostly by row upon row of perfectly trussed grapevines and—at this time of year—the bright yellow blossoms of mustard grass.
The winery itself is secluded from the road--the Napa thoroughfare Silverado Trail--but once you wind up the small hillside vineyard it reveals itself in all it's agro-industrial modernist splendor. After a two-year search for another property for Hourglass, Smith found what would become the Blueline property. He told me that he "tripped along this property by accident. I was actually coming back from the dump." He bought it in 2006 and got underway with construction in 2007.
The winery itself is secluded from the road--the Napa thoroughfare Silverado Trail--but once you wind up the small hillside vineyard it reveals itself in all it's agro-industrial modernist splendor. After a two-year search for another property for Hourglass, Smith found what would become the Blueline property. He told me that he "tripped along this property by accident. I was actually coming back from the dump." He bought it in 2006 and got underway with construction in 2007.
Herzog + de Meuron used a variety of industrial materials throughout Dominus Estate. After ascending the stairwell to the second level, one is met by brutalist, concrete floors, a wire-mesh ceiling, floor-to-ceiling glass, and sunlight that shines through the gabions. A varnished-wood handrail contrasts with the metal, stone, and glass, adding warmth to the otherwise cool setting.
Herzog + de Meuron used a variety of industrial materials throughout Dominus Estate. After ascending the stairwell to the second level, one is met by brutalist, concrete floors, a wire-mesh ceiling, floor-to-ceiling glass, and sunlight that shines through the gabions. A varnished-wood handrail contrasts with the metal, stone, and glass, adding warmth to the otherwise cool setting.
Hall called on Johanson (whose firm specializes in restaurant design) in May 2009 to create the interior of his new restaurant. "He was very committed to making a place that's casual for locals," she says. "He wanted it to be something that felt very authentic and that had a farm feel, not an interior-decorated one."
Hall called on Johanson (whose firm specializes in restaurant design) in May 2009 to create the interior of his new restaurant. "He was very committed to making a place that's casual for locals," she says. "He wanted it to be something that felt very authentic and that had a farm feel, not an interior-decorated one."
Two linked 1,000-square-foot pavilions are greater than a sum of their parts. The simply detailed, taut, flat-roofed home’s two wings form a T-shape. One wing runs north to south, parallel to a pool, and contains the open-plan living spaces. Photo by Matthew Millman.
Two linked 1,000-square-foot pavilions are greater than a sum of their parts. The simply detailed, taut, flat-roofed home’s two wings form a T-shape. One wing runs north to south, parallel to a pool, and contains the open-plan living spaces. Photo by Matthew Millman.
The blurring of boundaries between outside and inside encourages the Siegel/Subbotin family to enjoy the temperate climate year-round. “My favorite thing to do at the house is to sit in the dogtrot and read,” Kyra Subbotin says.
The blurring of boundaries between outside and inside encourages the Siegel/Subbotin family to enjoy the temperate climate year-round. “My favorite thing to do at the house is to sit in the dogtrot and read,” Kyra Subbotin says.