Three specialty cottages dot the inn's acreage, which includes a working seven-acre vineyard.
Upscale but unpretentious, the inn is welcoming from the outset.
Genial hosts Richard and Kae Rosenberg enjoy showing guests the "speakeasy" - a basement wine cellar reachable via a hidden stone staircase.
Complimentary wine tastings (including some rare vintages) are only on weekends, but don't despair if you miss it; each guestroom has a bottle of wine from the inn's very own seven-acre vineyard - yours to keep.
The 12 rooms in the main house, each named for a wine varietal, are all a little different but decorated in a becoming country style.
West Wing Rooms (so-called because they are part of an addition completed in 2001) have fireplaces and whirlpool tubs for two.
Three specialty cottages dot the inn's acreage, offering more privacy.
Among ancient cedars and oaks and beds of fragrant lavender sits the two-bedroom Winemaker's Cottage, built in the 1930s by a local jeweler.
The cottage's decks overlook the Alexander Valley, and there's a huge country kitchen, complete with cappuccino machine.
In close proximity are the two-bedroom Villa Trentandue (named after the original owner of the vineyard) and, my favorite, the Mouse House.
This tiny rustic cottage dates back to when the property was a plum orchard 100 years ago.
Richard and Kae have put a lot into this little gem - a king bed, stone fireplace, hardwood floors covered with thick oriental rugs and a completely private outdoor hot tub.
Breakfasts are three-course affairs, with gourmet options like saffron risotto with sausage and a perfectly poached egg.
My favorite is a decadent smoked salmon and Jarlsberg French-toast panini with a chile-lime dipping sauce, followed by one of Kae's sorbets - ginger, blood orange or basil: a great way to gear up for wine tasting.
An unexpected delight was that the wine cellar reachable only by secret passage.
Some of the rooms have two-person tubs and a few secluded cottages offer a glimpse of wine-country living at its best.
A specific recommendation would beto visit the Alexander Valley landmark Jimtown Store offers box lunches, or order a picnic - try the prosciutto and Jimtown fig and olive spread, with Point Reyes blue cheese.
Or see and be seen at the trendy communal table at Spoon Bar.
Pair a glass of local wine (on tap!) with a silky Italian burrata or hand-cut spaghettini.
Points to remember:
- Best for couples, but kids are allowed
- No spa per se, but the inn can arrange services
- It's a four-block walk to downtown Healdsburg; parking is free
- Pets are allowed at no additional fee
- The cottages are a seven-minute drive from the main guesthouse
- A minimum two-night stay is required for the Mouse House Cottage