Candlelight Inn – A Tranquil Oasis in Wine Country

When the local postmaster built the beautiful Tudor-style mansion now known as the Candlelight Inn in 1929, he had no idea that one day the Napa Valley would become an internationally-famous mecca for wine and food lovers. With its dark oak timbers, whitewashed plaster and manicured grounds, now, more than 75 years later, the inn is a tranquil oasis for visitors to the Wine Country.
Set at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac just a mile from downtown Napa, this stately ten-room bed-and-breakfast inn sits among tall, mature trees – including some towering and majestic redwoods – backed onto the serene Napa Creek. A fenced pasture lies to one side in a quiet, charming setting that is still close to restaurants, shopping and, of course, wineries.
Longtime innkeeper Wendy Tamiso views the property as not just a vocation but as a passion, and has received numerous accolades. The Candlelight Inn was voted one of the Top 10 Inns in California in a survey of over 8 million households and was named “Best of the Web” on TripAdvisor.com. Even Fluffy, the big (and, yes, quite fluffy) resident cat seems to take his job with a mixture of both pleasure and consummate professionalism.
Each of the ten rooms is unique. The variety of rooms and amenity options offers something for almost any budget. Some have balconies overlooking the pool, others have decks; six have fireplaces and two person in-room Jacuzzi tubs for the ultimate in luxury. Imagine a fire, a glass of Champagne and a long soak in the large tub. Like everything else at the inn the feeling of calm, quiet and romance are prevalent. Not contrived, simply always present and always welcoming.
In the summer the pool in back is a convivial meeting place for guests, while in cooler months the period-decorated parlor is the focal point. A selection of local and national newspapers is always laid out on the dining room table on the other side of the entrance hallway, and snacks appear regularly in the afternoon.
As part of Wendy’s commitment to the comfort and well-being of her guests, Candlelight Inn is one of the very few bed-and-breakfasts with a full-time concierge on staff. In fact, the entire staff is experienced, knowledgeable, and eager to help. Need lunch or dinner reservations, a winery tour, a limousine or hot air balloon ride, flowers delivered, suggestions on shopping, tickets to the Lincoln Theatre or the Napa Valley Opera House, or just simple directions? The concierge is there to assist you. A complete itinerary for your stay can be created, meaning that all that the guest has to do is show up at the inn and everything else is taken care of. What could be easier – or more luxurious – than that?
As Wendy said recently, “So many of our guests lead hectic lives, and we know their time off is precious. We take care of all of the advance planning so they can just relax and enjoy being here, and we do our best to accommodate any special requests. Our ‘Ultimate Wine Country’ package is very popular, and includes a hot air balloon ride, a day with a private wine tour guide, a horseback ride through the vineyards, and in-room couple’s massages, plus some special treats.”
Breakfast at the inn is a lavish affair as well, though still Wine Country casual in its own way. Every day at the Candlelight Inn starts off with a leisurely but gourmet three-course breakfast served in the Country English-inspired breakfast room looking out on the grounds and the pool. Tables for two provide the option for privacy or for conversation with fellow guests. A different menu is beautifully prepared and served each day. There is always an assortment of tea or freshly-brewed coffee, fresh juice and fruit in season. This is followed by a second course that might be Banana Pancakes with Caramel Sauce and Toasted Cashews; Croissant French Toast with Spiced Apples, Pears, and Cranberries; or delicate Fruit-filled Crepes with Grand Marnier Cream.
As if this were not enough, the third course might offer house specialties such as a Zucchini and Pepper Frittata with Ham, or an Artichoke and Roasted Red Pepper Egg Puff served with Home-fried Potatoes. The “breakfast” half of the bed and breakfast equation is not a commitment taken lightly at the Candlelight Inn. And if you take a particular fancy to one or more of the dishes you’ve had served to you and would like the recipe, just ask. They are famously generous with their knowledge.
“Our goal is to provide a fun and comfortable getaway with elegance and pampering, too. We have lots of special occasions here: birthdays, anniversaries, and honeymoons, but we do our best to make every guest’s stay special and memorable. We feel we have done our job when guests tell us it was ‘like staying with friends.’”
The Candlelight Inn was recently added to the Unique Inns website (www.uniqueinns.com). Unique Inns features inns in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California that reflect the diversity in style and personality of its innkeepers and locales.
The Candlelight Inn is located at 1045 Easum Drive about a half mile west of the intersection of Route 29 and First Street in Napa. For reservations or information call 1-800-624-0395 or (707) 257-3717 or look at their website, www.candlelightinn.com.