A Fall Weekend in Kenwood
This weekend we traveled up to one of my now favorite parts of Sonoma called Kenwood. It's a beautiful, small region in the county of Sonoma that sits along Sonoma Highway.
On Friday afternoon we left a bit early from work to beat the traffic up to wine country. Getting out of the city to experience the beautiful nature of close-by Sonoma is one of my favorite things to do.
We arrived at Kenwood Inn and Spa just a bit later and were greeted by a stunning ivy-covered Tuscan façade. Entering the hotel was a bit like stepping into a romantic Italian foreign film. The hotel is romantically dramatic, and covered in antique European-inspired furniture. Nestled up against the mountains, the hotel is dark and moody - filled with relaxed Tuscan elegance and eclectic charm.
I loved the art and light fixtures in our room - so magnifique! The grounds are delightful, each path wrapping around the buildings taking you to ivy covered overpasses and stunning gardenscapes. There are three total pools on the property - all of which are open at anytime of day or night. My personal favorite was the warming pool, a European tradition, this larger scale hot tub is nestled among palm trees and roses, making it feel almost hidden and private. Grab your coffee and take a stroll through the grounds in the morning - the property is covered in natural splendor that will fuel your senses. Among all the vines and potted plants are various fruit and citrus trees - I loved the pomegranate and lime trees.
After settling into our room, we went down for a wine and cheese pairing. It's a charming happy hour that the hotel offers nightly from 5 - 6 pm. After we sipped, it was time for dinner. Salt and Stone is just right down the road and a definite must if you’re a fan of meat (salt) and fish (stone). We were there in the later evening, but their outdoor eating area is super cute and fun for larger parties if you’re looking for a good lunch or early dinner spot.
On Saturday we woke up bright and early for a 10:30 am mountain top tasting at Kunde Winery just up the road. Kunde is a lovely estate winery with an extensive property and views that are breathtaking. We were lucky enough to have a private tour and tasting at their secluded mountain top overlooking the estate. This experience was lovely and offered through Kenwood Inn and Spa so be sure to take advantage.
Shortly following, we returned back to catch some rest at the pool before heading out for dinner at The Charter Oak in St. Helena. It's a bit of a trip, but if you’re up for the drive I loved this restaurant. We were blown away by the food - so simple and so so so delicious. The atmosphere is something out of Game of Thrones, dark and moody with a touch of medieval-decor. My favorite thing was their pasta - made with durum wheat, a heartier flour that makes for a fantastic (and rich) pasta. After dinner we tried out Goose and Gander just up the road for a night cap. Their restaurant I’ve heard is phenomenal, but we ducked to their basement speakeasy for a craft cocktail. They have over 20 house-made bitters and are known primarily for their bourbon and whiskey based drinks. I had the Negroni Blanco (white negroni made with gin, orange and bitters). I’d recommend going on a weeknight if you can - as Saturday nights tend to get a bit louder and busier.
I loved every minute of this weekend - it was one of those trips that I’ll think about forever. I can’t wait to go back and visit again, the people were so delightful and friendly and the food/wine was to die for. If you’re up in wine country, its highly worth a visit! And now I’ll let all the beautiful photographs speak for themselves.
Walking into the Kenwood Inn and Spa - so so so charming!
Can I take this keychain home with me? So adorable.
Always my first stop after checking in.
Shoes - Freda Salvador
Jeans - Everlane
Jacket - Sézane
Bag - Mansur Gavriel
I’m in love with these fixtures.
Pomegranates are all around the property!
Sonoma actually has Fall! Look at those leaves 🍂
A fun day at Kunde Winery doing their Mountain Top tasting - how cheesy are we? 😘
We stopped for a quick bite before leaving Kunde at their own taco and oyster truck - how amazing of a combo is that? Tacos + wine, sign me up!
Centre Court of Kenwood Inn and Spa, where we ate breakfast everyday.
“Autumn is a second Spring when every leaf is a flower. ”
My favorite go-to bag these days.
Frozé by the pool, yes please!
Its still summer in wine country.
Post-dinner drinks at the Goose and Gander in Saint Helena.
