Historic Inn

This week our bed and breakfast broker sent the first listing for us to review. It is a historic inn located in Calistoga, California. This is on the northern end of Napa Valley and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There is a charming wrap around porch ideal for hosting afternoon wine hour, and the obligatory white picket fence surrounding the property. Although we find this quite appealing, we have concerns about the building's structural integrity (it was built in 1860). We are also concerned that the cottage only has 6 units to rent (our ideal would be 8), and there is no owner's unit currently on the property. This means that we would have to build a separate owner's cottage for us to live in. As fun at that sounds, it could also be an additional expense we would rather not undertake. We'll hold off on requesting more information on this property (ie. financials) for now.

Inn-spired

It all began in August 2001, when we visited what we now consider the benchmark of all bed and breakfasts--Chateau Talaud in Provence, France. Of course, the Chateau had a lot going for it to begin with, being in France and situated on it's own small vineyard. But the overall experience has been a lasting one for us. With each new bed and breakfast that we visit, we are continually comparing it to everything we loved about Chateau Talaud. Where was the wine offered upon arrival? The long drive flanked by Cypress trees? The one and a half bathroom suites with soaking tub (and mind you, that tub was big enough to fit a 6' person comfortably). We began to think that perhaps, the French knew something not only about wine, but also creating a special b+b that Americans didn't.

Much like the American wine industry learning from the French to set down successful roots in California, so are we hoping to take what we've learned and create our own European-style bed and breakfast in the heart of the California wine country. This is the beginning of our journey.