From a bluff-top hot tub on the Mendocino Coast, the brooding Pacific meets a delicate filigree of stars on the far horizon. The ocean is exclusively yours, in this secluded spot. With elaborately carved wood detail, and boulders and redwoods appearing inside and out (décor as compelling as it sounds), the Inn at Newport Ranch—north of the town of Fort Bragg, which is itself north of Mendocino Village proper—is one of a handful of new luxury properties that make a trip to this spectacular waterfront stretch of northern California a terrific idea now.
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The Madrones, Philo
This gracious Mediterranean-style compound is home to several tasting rooms. At Drew, you’ll find wines that lean biodynamic. Two Pinot Noirs stand out—The Fog-Eater and Valenti Ranch—for their savory, earthy profiles under red fruit. But don’t overlook the minerally, textural Albariño. Long Meadow Ranch pours Chardonnay and Pinot from the Tan Bark Ranch—acquired recently by the well-known Napa company—with its almost 70 acres of vineyards now certified organic. The Pinots here are elegant, light on their feet, coming in on the lower end of the alcohol spectrum. Don’t miss the unique Pinot Noir Blanc, and nab a bottle of killer house bloody Mary mix before you go. And in case you’d rather stay in the valley instead of out on the coast, know that the rooms in the inn at the Madrones are lovely (as are the grounds).