Vintners Resort 4350 Barnes Road • Santa Rosa • CA 95403

Stepping onto the grounds of this 92-acre estate is a little like going through the proverbial looking glass—you’re just a few minutes north of bustling Santa Rosa, but you appear to have entered a small village in Tuscany. Suddenly you’re enveloped by vineyards, flowerbeds, courtyards, and fountains in a tranquil setting artfully designed to enhance peace of mind.

A grand bell tower and Italian fountain mark the entrance to Vintners Resort, created especially with weddings in mind. The interior features a beautifully detailed ceiling, an abundance of windows, wood and stone surfaces, vibrant wall coverings and rich fabric furnishings. Outdoor terraces are surrounded by rows of grapevines, gardens, orchards and a multitude of flowers. An expansive prefunction area doubles as a wedding chapel for indoor ceremonies. Mirrored stone alcoves on either side of the room are filled with candles and flowers, adding warmth and beauty to the space. When the weather is balmy, however, most couples prefer to tie the knot under one of two wedding pavilions. Both gorgeous ceremony sites—the Fontana and the Toscana pavilions— sit at the edge of the resort’s vineyard, and their four-columned, trellis-topped designs create the perfect frame for a backdrop of the leafy vineyard, wisteria vines, shade trees, and surrounding hills. Guests enjoy this quintessential Wine Country tableau from their seats on the adjacent lawn.

The pièce de résistance of the center is the Rose Ballroom, a 3,200-square-foot space with walls of windows overlooking the gardens. The richly decorated room features a 15-foot ceiling, impressive iron chandeliers and plush Axminster carpeting throughout. It’s also equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual systems, including theater-sized screens that automatically drop down for a DVD or video presentation. The Ballroom opens onto a trellised veranda and stone fireplace, flanked by gardens and lawn. Newly added to the wedding celebration collection is the intimate “Vineyard Table”—another stunning outdoor venue, featuring a family-style farm table, nested among the vines and shaded by a pretty canopy.

The estate is home to the nationally-renowned restaurant, John Ash & Co.; The Front Room Bar & Lounge; River Vine Restaurant; Vi La Vita Spa; and the deluxe, Four-Diamond Vintners Resort, a 78-room boutique hotel housed in six separate villas. A short stroll across manicured lawns and tile pathways takes you from restaurant to hotel, and gives you a sense of just how close you are to some of the most important things in life: good food and wine, a soft (and elegant) place to lay your head at night, and a tangible connection to nature. Walk out of your guest room and in one minute you can be standing in the vineyards or sitting on the restaurant’s wisteria-draped rear terrace, touching the tendrils of grapevines just inches away.

The restaurant, which receives the Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence year after year, showcases California cuisine. Its menu changes seasonally to take advantage of fresh, locally grown foods, and dishes are paired with an award-winning wine list featuring some 500 wines. Because the cuisine is such an integral part of this venue’s appeal, bridal couples work with the chef to select a multicourse menu. Hors d’oeuvre choices might include Ahi Tuna Sashimi on Wonton Chips with Avocado Tartar or Lamb and Rosemary Meatballs, while entrées range from Pan Seared Salmon with White Bean Purée to Grilled Pork Chops with Cheddar Cheese Grits, Braised Cabbage and Madeira Sauce.

Many guests want to fully experience Wine Country, and plan an overnight stay at the resort. Nearby attractions include more than 200 Sonoma County wineries, hot-air balloon tours, golf, tennis, fishing, and even whale-watching and kayaking on the coast.