Not everyone is lucky enough to live in wine country. That doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the feeling you get from visiting Napa Valley. Wine country is special, regardless of what country it happens to be located. Californians naturally feel a sense of pride in their slice of the great vineyard. There, the art of the grape is practiced at a level on par with the world’s best. People travel from the farthest reaches for a taste of California wine country. It is a singular luxury that every Californian should experience.
You don’t have to be a Californian to spend some time in wine country. If you have been there once, you will likely want to visit again. Good luck buying property in the region. It is natural to want to stay forever. But it is not realistic for most. That’s okay. If you can’t bring your home to the wine country, you can bring the wine country to your home, even as far away as the San Fernando Valley. Homes in Northridge, CA, for example–one of the valley’s many communities–are far more accessible than homes in Napa. A Los Angeles suburb 300 miles away might seem like a world away. But it really isn’t. Here are a few ways to make your next home feel like a luxurious wine country estate:
Make It Luxurious
One thing that stands out in wine country is the sense of luxury. It might look casual and simple and rustic. Indeed, there is some truth in all of those observations. But everything about it is elevated and refined. You will understand what I mean the moment you enter any of the winery luxury spaces in Napa Valley. Your home can be any style you like. Once you visit a few wineries, you will notice design influences of every kind. It is not monolithic.
You can have anything from hypermodern to A-frame log cabin. It all works. But it also has to be the best of its breed. Wine country is often luxury in disguise. It is the best of everything because that is what people have come to expect. That said, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to match everything you see. You have to remember that every winery has a staff of white-gloved professionals making sure that everything is in order and polished to within an inch of its life. Your home has to be more lived in than that. But you can still take inspiration without creating a duplicate.
Nature on Display
One thing common to all wineries is the central role nature plays in the business. They are located in some of the most beautiful patches of earth on the planet. This is not something that is easy to replicate. But if you have any kind of yard, there are ways to make it less suburban and more natural.
It is not just the landscape. You should pay attention to the materials visible in your home. If the exterior of your home has wood elements, try leaving them unpainted so that they actually look like wood and not something synthetic. Consider going with open ceilings with exposed wooden beams. If you don’t have the scenery for picture windows, add a skylight as a way of bringing the outside inside. Finally, use whatever patch of ground you have to grow something. It doesn’t have to be a vineyard. It could be an orchard, or even a few tomato planters hanging on the porch. Make your home a place where nature comes to life.
Don’t Forget the Wine
When you are trying to capture the feeling you get when visiting a winery, you can’t forget the wine. Everything about wine is art. The bottles are as much art as a painting, and should be displayed accordingly. Put them in shadow boxes and hang them on the walls. Choose a proper wine cabinet you will be proud to display. You don’t have to have a proper wine cellar to celebrate the artistry and craft of wine.
Many people visit wine country who don’t drink alcohol of any kind. It is not necessary. Beer is a drink. Wine is an art. You can showcase that art and make it a part of your living space by implementing quiet luxury, a focus on nature, and tasteful displays of the craft at its finest.