Fall harvest is a thrilling time for any wine lover, but those who want to experience the excitement first hand can do so duringSonoma County’s Fifth Annual Grape Camp, September 20-22, 2011.

The ultimate getaway for food and wine lovers, Grape Camp is an experiential vacation which offers hands-on experience harvesting grapes and blending wine during harvest season. “Campers” will have exclusive access to the influential grape growers, winemakers and chefs who help make Sonoma County a world-class culinary destination.

Grape Camp participants will stay at award-winning Kenwood Inn and Spa, and enjoy dinner at the new Williams Selyem winery featuring super star chef Douglas Keene (of two Michelin star-rated Cyrus Restaurant), a tour and tasting at Paul Hobbs Winery, and lunch and croquet at Sonoma-Cutrer Winery. A camper cook-off at Relish Culinary School in Healdsburg will ignite friendly competition prior to dinner in the Alexander Valley at Jordan Winery with Executive Chef Todd Knoll. Guests will also take part in harvesting and sorting grapes at Mauritson Family Winery, learn wine blending at MacMurray Ranch, partake in a special graduation ceremony and tasting reception, and enjoy a celebration dinner at Kenwood prepared by executive chef Andrea Di Loreto.

Just in time for holiday gift giving, advance reservations for Sonoma County’s Fifth Annual Grape Camp are available now. For more information or to register, call 707.522.5860 or visit sonomagrapecamp.com.

Join Kenwood Inn and Spa for a fabulous girls-only Shop ‘Til You Drop weekend with Born To Shop California Wine Countryauthor Suzy Gershman and co-author Sarah Lahey.

A well-known author, journalist and television personality, Gershman has been writing the Born to Shop guides for the Frommer’s family of guidebooks for more than 25 years, and brings incredible knowledge (and incredible fun!) to the subject.

The exclusive weekend, which will take place Friday, January 14 and Saturday, January 15, will include a four-course wine dinner on Friday night prepared by Kenwood chef Andrea Di Loreto, a guided shopping excursion to Healdsburg, California with Gershman and Lahey, a private premium wine tasting of HKG estate wines at Hop Kiln Winery, breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, and two night’s accommodations. Optional spa treatments are available by appointment.

For more information or to make reservations, call 800.353.6966 or visit kenwoodinn.com.

If your guy likes to have great looking skin as much you do, bring him along for a day of indulgence at The Spa at Kenwood.

He’ll love our new Gentlemen’s Treatment (50-minutes, $145) which features the all-natural men’s products from ARCONA, and you’ll adore our aromatherapeutic Lemon Scrub (50-minutes, $125) that sloughs off dead skin cells, stimulates circulation and elevates your mood with the uplifting scent of citrus.

This month, purchase a Gentlemen’s Facial and Lemon Scrub together and enjoy a delicious, complimentary lunch for two, including two glasses of HKG estate wine (value $75).

Email or call 800.353.6966 to make your appointment.

Men aren’t excluded from pampering at Kenwood Inn and Spa, where the award-winning, full service spa offers treatments from high-end skincare brand ARCONA, a celebrity favorite. Also on the menu: an array of vinotherapy, or grape-based treatments, for face and body using the healing and rejuvenation powers of the grape.

Kenwood’s Gentlemen’s Facial (50 or 90 minutes) offers vinotherapeutic treatments and utilizes products from ARCONA’s Men’s line, including the Toning Bar, Facial Hydration, Aftershave Balm, and more.

To book an appointment, Email or call 800.353.6966.

With fall comes the harvest. Grapes are bursting with juices, olives are ripe for picking and the earth prepares to hibernate as the summer sun wanes.
Prepare your body for a farewell to summer with our relaxing 80-minute Wine Wrap, which combines the luscious fruits of the vineyard with clays, rosemary hydrosol and essential oils to detoxify the body and stimulate circulation. The treatment includes a neck, shoulder and scalp massage.

Indulge in an 80-minute Wine Wrap and receive a 
delicious glass of sparkling wine and a sweet-smelling
spa gift to take home. (Value: $55)

Email or call 800.353.6966 to make your appointment.

Travel blog Roomalicious recently ranked the top 10 hotel restaurants in the Napa region, noting, “Napa’s culinary experience is truly like no other. Foodies, connoisseurs, and wine buffs flock to this area to get a taste of award-winning food and wine from the finest restaurants.”

The restaurant at Kenwood Inn & Spa was ranked eighth in the Casual Dining category.

“The Restaurant in the Kenwood Inn & Spa epitomizes the rustic, sophisticated spirit of wine country. The Italian-inspired menu is served in a cozy terracotta dining room, complemented by an award-winning wine bar. We recommend the salmone fiorentino with spinach and rock shrimp stuffing, fresh dill potato cake and lemon butter sauce.”

To read the entire article, click here.

Men’s lifestyle website MadeMan.com ranked Kenwood Inn and Spa amongst the 10 best luxury small hotels in the world. Kenwood is in good company, with luxury hotels in Bali, Paris, New Zealand, and Florence ranking high as well.

“The 10 best luxury small hotels of the world include a variety of accommodations in cities and remote outposts. Luxury is in the eye of the visitor, but some hotels have features that surpass all others.”

Of Kenwood, MadeMan.com says, “The 29-rooms at the Mediterranean villa offer featherbeds and private entrances. The view from each room features one of the three courtyards. The adult-only inn makes the Conde Nast Travelers’ Gold List. This tiny treasure nestled in the Napa Valley also has knock out food and a wine list that features, of course, California offerings.”

To read the entire article, click here.

A graduate of the California Culinary Institute in San Francisco, Kenwood Inn and Spa’s new chef, Andrea Di Loreto, is a diminutive dynamo who seems to have her finger (and fork) on the pulse of wine country cuisine.  Blessed with access to an array of fruit on the property—think apples, pears, pomegranates and figs—and an abundance of lush farm products nearby, Kenwood has made a winning selection.

With a bent toward the ingredients of the Mediterranean and Italy (those are her roots after all!), Andrea is composing light, bright flavors in her dishes sprinkled judiciously with rich comforts like guanciale combined with her wood-fired asparagus. Especially exciting is her take on King salmon; a lovely nestle of rich fish, filled with Shrimp and Spinach with Lemon Beurre Blanc and Herb Oil and sitting on a satisfying Dill Potato Cake.

Breakfast, which is a complimentary daily offering to guests, is a real treat.  A beautifully composed and delicious plate of three items satisfy morningtime cravings for both sweet and savory.  A standout is the Braised Egg with Roasted Peppers and Spinach Puree on Yukon Gold Potatoes, Ricotta Pancake with House Made Strawberry Preserves and Fennel Sausage with Fennel Puree.

Desserts, being produced by recent CIA graduate Khambay Khamsyvoravong, are refreshingly delicious and oh, so beautiful.  Her Bittersweet Chocolate and Caramel Ganache Tart with Salted Caramel Ice Cream is sweet and salty in its best combination.

Kenwood Inn and Spa is featured in this month’s Zink Magazine, a national luxury lifestyle magazine.

Highlighting the luxurious spa and international appeal, Zink calls Kenwood a place you’ll “be pampered like never before.”

“Kenwood Inn lies amongst the vineyards and lush countryside of Sonoma County in California. As guests walk through the entrance of the inn they are taken directly to the Italian countryside as all evidence of being in the United States fades away.”

To read the full review, click here.