Wine Country or Charm Country?

After living in SoCal for about 12 years, my husband and I decided to take a trip to the Wine Country and spend a couple of nights at a Bed and Breakfast in Santa Ynez. Our journey began in early January on a Friday afternoon. As we drove on the scenic route passing Ventura, Carpinteria and Santa Barbara, we found ourselves in a narrow winding path with lots of bends and curves pleasing every sense. The hills and fields were all lush green.

The endless beauty of nature and the anticipation of the Wine Country made me think of a few great wine songs, in particular “Two More Bottles of Wine” by Emmylou Harris, “Dust on the Bottle” by David Lee Murphy and “Good With Wine” by Eric Paslay. Then I couldn’t get UB40s “Red, Red Wine” out of my head.

As I write this blog, I realize that I tend to pair places with songs. Places remind me of songs and vice versa. Every place has a particular energy that pairs beautifully with a song, kind of like perfect pairings for wine, which is probably the reason for so many varieties.

As we were enjoying a lovely drive, we pulled into the driveway of For Friends Inn, which is our destination for the weekend. The wrap around porch with oversized rocking chairs lined up perfectly so they were all in sight at the right angle. The garden and the potted hanging plants looked cared for. The driveway ended with a two-story cottage at the end and a lovely tiny cottage on the right. There was a path with a few steps below the two cottages which led to a grassy area with tables and chairs and a wooden deck with built in seats. Below the wooden deck was another sitting area with a gazebo.

Inside the main building, there is an oversized fireplace and plenty of seating including two large rectangular dining tables. The walls are decorated tastefully by art from local artists. Every detail was carefully and lovingly tended to, making the Inn splendidly charming. Coffee mugs and wine glasses were arranged carefully displaying the Inn’s logo. The floral candle scent filled the room and added warmth to the welcoming ambiance.

Every afternoon, the Staff sets up a fabulous “happy hour” selection of nuts, fruit and cheeses with the perfect wine pairing allowing guests to taste some local wines and relax in the garden while listening to Dave singing and playing his guitar. As I sat there admiring the details from

the sparkle of the candles decorating each table to the baskets of rolled blankets (in case it gets chilly – I tell you, every detail is thought of) to the hung lights above, I can’t help but fall in love with the charm of the Wine Country.

So, if you need a break from your ordinary routine and usual destinations, vacations and staycations; if you want to experience the simplicity of the extraordinary, you need to plan a road trip to the Charm Country and let every fiber of your being experience elevation to a higher level of satisfaction for all your senses.