SummerWood Inn: Central Valley Wine Retreat
2130 Arbor Road | Paso Robles, CA 93446
photos by Dawn Garcia
Romance shouldn’t be confined to a single day. It should be a lifestyle … much like having your morning coffee, romance should be a constant part of your daily lives. Sure, it’s not always easy but nothing really good ever is. That said, it seems synonymous that wine country and romance go hand in hand. Imagine a bed and breakfast that had the charm and intrigue of romance, the style and elegance of simplicity, with wine at the ready and a daily breakfast that started your day off with something tasty. Let me introduce you to SummerWood Inn, a Paso Robles Wine Retreat.
Paso is a Wine Country that epitomizes authenticity and charm. Lodging, however, was not quite on par with more recognized high-end wine regions like Napa or Sonoma or even SLO … until now. That said, SummerWood defies the laid back, easy going in-the-country feel and instead embraces a bold new level of design and luxury that can make any hotel savant pleasantly surprised.
In a word, SummerWood Inn in Paso Robles Wine Country can best be described as: TRANQUILITY. Off the beaten path in Paso, a beautiful Bed + Breakfast that was recently renovated primarily thanks to the vision of Executive Chef (and recent Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen” WINNER), Kelly Wangard. Situated on Highway 46, the property invites you in with a grandiose plantation-like estate with endless green rows of freshly planted grape vines soon to be cultivated by the SummerWood winemaking team, beautiful gardens – and, just across the way, the Winery and Tasting Room.
What Chef Wengard has done is create a rather simply modern, yet aquatic-themed sophistication. SummerWood Inn is like nothing else in the area. With exquisite bathroom fixtures in the Top Floor Suite where I stayed, every aspect of this B + B takes luxury and comfort into account. Couple that with the impeccable service, the gorgeous views and the breakfast and wine + appetizer hour menus Chef Wangard creates daily and you will be so glad you stopped in. I was honored to be able to talk with Kelly almost every morning and she is a visionary. She not only makes delicious cuisine, she is passionate about the property itself. She believes in the mission behind the winery, the importance of quality hospitality, and her devotion to creating a space you’ll want to keep coming back to is clear. A mom, a wife, a chef, and designer, I’m pretty sure there isn’t a lot she isn’t capable of accomplishing.
The Pros: Beautiful environment, wonderful cuisine, exceptional service.
Cons: A bit pricey for the area, no snacks or restaurant on site for lunch and dinner.
A few things that would have made it near perfect: Water carafes available for every room 24-hours a day, an on-site “store” that carries the same snacks and goodies they do in the Tasting Room, in-room goodies (a great example of a well stocked snack bar is the Heywood, Austin [A Boutique Hotel]. All in-room snacks are under $4 each and are all exquisite!), and maybe a fridge in the suite so guests can make themselves cozy and stay in.
TIP FOR TRAVEL SAVANTS: Get your room and then go explore the neighboring wineries. Some of my favorites are Ancient Peaks, Justin, Halter Ranch. Make Dinner Reservations at Thomas Hill Organics, Artisan Restaurant and La Cosecha.
ABOUT THE CUISINE
At Summerwood we believe good food is as important as good wine. “Seasonal with a sense of surprise,” is SummerWood Executive Chef Kelly Wangard’s approach to using only the freshest and highest quality ingredients procured from local farms and purveyors to offer you an unforgettable culinary experience, full of flavor. As a guest of the inn you will enjoy a farm fresh cooked-to-order breakfast each morning. Return to the inn each afternoon and savor seasonally inspired appetizers paired with SummerWood wines. In the evening you will be treated to unique and delectable desserts.
ABOUT THE INN
Indulge, Unwind and Experience … SummerWood Artisan Wines and Farm-Fresh Cuisine in One Perfect Setting!
We invite you to discover the SummerWood Inn, where you can experience a sense of relaxation and be immersed in the wine country lifestyle set amidst the rolling hills, picturesque vineyards and majestic oaks of Paso Robles. Your stay at SummerWood offers a unique and memorable experience – enjoy the intimate feel of a bed and breakfast, with the amenities and concierge service of a luxurious retreat.
ABOUT THE TASTING ROOM
SummerWood Winery welcomes guests to visit the Tasting Room and experience limited production American Rhône and Bordeaux wines. The inviting SummerWood Tasting Room overlooks the estate’s Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard, with picturesque views of the rolling coastal terrain. The vast lawn and gazebo setting invite you to linger, enjoy a picnic and a glass of SummerWood wine. The boutique features a unique collection of wine accessories, local specialty foods and gift items.
ABOUT THE REGION
SUMMERWOOD WINERY & INN is located in the Paso Robles American Viticultureal Area (AVA). Located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along California’s scenic Central Coast.
Recently honored as the “2013 Wine Region of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast magazine, the appellation is a thriving wine region, home to over 200 wineries and 32,000 acres of wine grapes. The locale is unique, with warm days that end with coastal maritime breezes that flow over the Santa Lucia Mountain range, enhancing optimal growing conditions for premium wine grapes inland. This, combined with thediverse topography and soil composition of the area, results in intense colored fruit with extraordinary phenolic structure.
[separator type=”thin”]THIS MONTH AT THE OSCARS
