Churchill Manor, an Enchanting Napa Valley Bed and Breakfast

Photo Credit: Jumping Rocks

There are few accommodations in the area that combine food, wine, history and scenery like the Churchill Manor, a Napa Valley bed and breakfast experience you don’t want to miss. If you’re planning the idyllic wine country retreat, there is certainly no place more quintessentially Napa than one of the area’s original mansions, which was built with the intention of being a memory of Napa’s founding fathers. Come experience the legacy of Napa’s original aristocrats while you enjoy gourmet breakfasts, luxurious accommodations, and the ability to walk to all of downtown Napa’s attractions.

Churchill Manor History

Edward Churchill built this magnificent mansion in 1889 on what was considered the founder’s street of Napa. It was the largest residence in Napa and signified the high-culture life of the area’s foremost citizens. The Napa River was the main mode of transportation to and from the Valley, and people would frequently travel upstream for the extravagant parties and weddings that were hosted at the Churchill Manor. It is certainly a Napa Valley landmark and was the first Napa building to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

After three long generations of Churchill’s occupying the ornate estate, it left their hands to be passed through a number of tenants including the Napa State Hospital, a commune, and a group of college men who held weddings on the property to pay their rent. Finally in the 1987 the mansion was put on the market in need of serious renovations, which is around the time that the current owners, then professionals on the San Francisco Bay Peninsula, bought the property and, room-by-room, turned it into the exquisite Napa Valley bed and breakfast it is today.

Photo Credit: Jumping Rocks

Stay at the Churchill Manor

Aside from its luxurious accommodations in the large and beautifully decorated rooms, guests enjoy the fresh, seasonal cooking of the innkeeper every morning between 8:30 and 10:00 am. The Churchill Manor’s breakfasts have become a big draw to the many guests who return year after year to enjoy this ideal downtown inn. Breakfast begins with freshly brewed coffee and a buffet or warm pastries, yogurt, and fresh cut fruits. After you’ve thoroughly enjoyed the first course, you will get to choose from two hot breakfasts off the daily menu. As you wind down from this delicious spread, you can start looking forward to the evening wine and appetizer reception including, of course, local wines alongside an assortment of cheeses, fruits, vegetables, and tapenades.

A Napa Valley bed and breakfast is the best way to experience the area, and will afford you the opportunity to linger over handmade pastries, gourmet coffee, and the Churchill Manor’s elegant setting before heading out to explore the rest of what the valley has to offer. This relaxing part of the day is crucial to your enjoyment of your visit, and will prove to be just as precious an experience as seeing the famous Mondavi vineyards and art collection, or taking in a show during Music in the Vineyards.

Don’t miss a chance to enjoy this extravagant Napa Valley experience, and be sure to peruse this free vacation guide for more ideas on things to do while in the area.