"Wine tastings, sunsets, private hot tubs—who says you need to reinvent the wheel on your next romantic getaway, if the classics work this well? Sure, some wine country stays can feel a bit, erm, predictable, but this restored Victorian mansion stands out with turn-of-the-century architecture, sleek contemporary interiors, and a restaurant from celebrated chef Chris Cosentino that does wine-supporting dishes in a decidedly NorCal fashion (think fresh rigatoni with kale pesto). Spend your days between the farmhouse-style spa, the saltwater pool, and, of course, tasting as many of the valley's wines as you can. There's nothing quite as romantic, though, as sipping apéritifs on the communal porch, from where you can watch the sun set over the cabernet vines of Beringer Estate. Get there: Just over a two-hour drive from San Francisco. Splurge on: We lied, it can get more romantic than sunset on the porch—if you're willing to pay. Book a room with a private fire pit or tub, and enjoy the sunset from there (ask for a west-facing room). It’ll feel as though the entire home is just yours, even if only for an evening." - Megan Spurrell
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