2006-06-09
by Sue Straight, The Wine Wench
On a glorious spring day, I followed Dennis De La Montanya behind his winery, past a fragrant rose garden and through a drift of white apple blossoms to check out the Little Yellow Cottage. This cozy two-bedroom retreat is one of the first places that I would suggest for out-of-town visitors. It is completely charming, with a rustic Wine Country feel. It is also very affordable, especially if you are a wine club member.
You’ll find the cottage just 30 yards behind the winery, surrounded by a tall redwood fence for the sake of visitor’s privacy. It is surrounded by a redwood deck and is shaded by tall cedars and a variety of fruit trees. A good sized hot tub shares the deck with a well equipped BBQ, a large patio table, an outdoor bar and plenty of chairs.
There is a well-tended vegetable garden, and guests are welcome to help themselves to fresh veggies and fruit, still warm from the garden and fruit trees. Talk about your Wine Country experience!
The cottage comfortably houses four adults, and there is a basketball hoop outside for kids of all ages. This is the perfect place for a romantic getaway or a fun weekend with your best friends. A complimentary bottle of De La Montanya wine (their wines are really delicious!) is included in your two night stay.
Warm colors soothe the eye, both outside and inside. The outside walls are painted a cheerful yellow, and the interior colors create a comfortable palate of light earth tones. When you walk inside, a sigh of pleasure may escape your lips because the cottage is just so inviting and comfortable. Overstuffed chairs and sofas beg to be flopped down in, big cushy beds with soft sheets grace each of the two bedrooms and tasteful artwork hangs on the walls. There is a large desk complete with high-speed internet cable if you wish to use your computer. The bathroom is airy, clean and spacious, with a shower and a nice deep tub for soaking.
The roomy modern kitchen is fully equipped with a stove, refrigerator, microwave, small appliances, cookware, flatware and serving-ware. The counter has lots of space for creative cooks. With a kitchen like this, you may want to stay in and cook, even though Healdsburg abounds with wonderful restaurants.
If you do choose to stay in and take advantage of the kitchen and BBQ, Healdsburg has some fabulous markets. Take it from a local girl – for the best meats in town, go to Big John’s Market on the corner of Dry Creek Road and Healdsburg Avenue;
For a mind-boggling array of fresh, organic produce and healthy foods, check out Anstead’s on Center Street and if you crave ready-made gourmet goodies, drop by Oakville Grocery on the corner of Matheson and Center Streets in downtown Healdsburg.
A neighbor of the De La Montanyas grew up in the cottage, which was built during the early 1940s. The same neighbor planted the beautiful heirloom apple trees that surround the property.
The De La Montanya family welcomes visitors in their “Little Yellow Cottage” year-round, and wanna-be winemaker guests are welcome to jump in and “get their hands dirty” with harvest and bottling.
Experience Wine Country hospitality at its finest at “The Little Yellow Cottage at De La Montanya Winery.” If I didn’t live in Healdsburg, I’d stay there myself!
The websites are www.dlmwine.com and www.vacationrentals.com. For more information and rates, call (707) 433-3711.
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