Where to stay to celebrate the holiday season is the first question anyone traveling at the end of December and into the new year needs to consider. There are trips to see grandparents, relaxing staycations, renting a massive Airbnb to house even the far reaches of your extended family. Or, for something truly unforgettable, you can stay with your family and friends in California’s Sonoma wine country and have an entire vineyard to yourselves.
Photo: Bricoleur Vineyards
Looking for a Luxurious Last-Minute Holiday Getaway? It's Hard to Beat a Private Vineyard Stay in California Wine Country
Bricoleur Vineyards started a new holiday experience this year that it’s calling a “Festive Fête Stay.” Luxury is baked into the three-night stay in the four-bedroom Vineyard Residence. Holiday decorations abound around the 2,750-square-foot home, from the open kitchen to the indoor and outdoor living spaces, the media room, the game room, and the expansive deck. Views from the property include the estate vineyards, Mount St. Helena, and the Mayacamas Ridge.
The location and home is a draw on its own. The experiences that come along with the stay take it another step further. A basket of fresh goods and produce starts things right — think the estate’s extra virgin olive oil, custom Bricoleur x Tsar Nicoulai Cavair sets, and a risotto with dried mushrooms kit. Recipe cards from Bricoleur’s executive chef Todd Knoll and senior sous chef Rebeca Robinson make the farm-fresh holiday meal planing easy. As an added bonus, a framed sketch on how to plate the feast from Knoll is useful in the moment and a great keepsake when you return home.
This being a vineyard, wine is of course part of the experience. Winemaker Tom Pierson hand-selected a set of Bricoleur Vineyards bottles — bubbly, chardonnay, and pinot noir — that pair with the food. Also included is access to a concierge and a complimentary tasting experience for up to eight guests complete with a six-course wine and food pairing, to be scheduled in advance based on availability.
Bricoleur Vineyards (the name comes from a French term meaning someone who builds with no clear plan and cobbles together a whole by the seat of their pants) opened in Windsor, Sonoma County, in 2020. It isn’t exactly an entirely new kid on the block, however. Founder Sarah Hanson Citron is the great-great-granddaughter of Pietro Carlo Rossi, one of the pioneers of early California winemaking in the 19th century. The sustainable, small-production winemaking at Bricoleur continues that legacy.
Is this your typical last-minute holiday planning destination? Definitely not. But is one that will set a high standard for every holiday to come. For pricing and more details, reach out to Bricoleur Vineyards on the Festive Fête Stay page. 