Harvest Inn St. Helena

Harvest Inn is a rare thing in upvalley Napa: a vineyard-set inn where you can walk to several wineries. It sits at One Main Street in St. Helena, with 81 rooms across 19 buildings in Tudor-style architecture, built in 1978 and rated four and a half stars. The grounds are the draw, with vineyard views, gardens, redwood-dotted lawns, a terrace and a picnic area. There are two outdoor pools and a children's pool, open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. with free cabanas, loungers and umbrellas, and two hot tubs, including vineyard-backed ones. Dining is at Harvest Table, an American restaurant serving breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, with al fresco seating. A spa is not part of the property. The location is excellent for tasting without a car: Louis M. Martini is about a five-minute walk, HALL St. Helena and Salvestrin about eight, Flora Springs about nine and V. Sattui about eleven. Dogs are welcome in specific rooms, up to two per stay, for a fee. Parking is free, but guests are asked to contact the property in advance to reserve a space, so do that before you arrive. Check-in is from 4 p.m. to midnight and check-out is by noon, with late check-out available for a fee. It is a good choice for couples and wine lovers who want a fireside, small-inn feel at a price lower than the top Napa resorts.

The walkable wineries. The ability to stroll to Louis M. Martini, HALL, Salvestrin, Flora Springs and V. Sattui is unusual in Napa Valley, where most wineries are a drive apart. It means you can plan a relaxed day of tastings and return to the pool without worrying about the road. Book tastings ahead, since each of these wineries has its own reservation rules.

The inn itself. The Tudor-style buildings, gardens and vineyard views give the property a cozy, almost English feel in the middle of wine country. Rooms vary and only specific rooms accept dogs, so ask when booking. The pools and hot tubs are the place to unwind, and the picnic area suits an afternoon with a bottle from a nearby winery.

Planning notes. Because there is no spa on site, book treatments elsewhere in St. Helena or Calistoga if you want one. Contact the property in advance about parking, and ask about pet-friendly rooms if you are travelling with a dog. St. Helena town, with its shops and restaurants, is close by, and the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone is a short drive north. Weekends in harvest season book out early, so reserve well ahead.