Shady Oaks Country Inn, St Helena CA

If you’ve ever stayed in a bed and breakfast,  you know what a  unique and charming experience it is with quaint, serene settings with comfortably furnished rooms, gardens, and of course, a delightful wine country breakfast served each morning.  Innkeepers are happy to recommend nearby wineries for tasting, tell you where the best wine country dining is, and a host of other activities in the area. Clearly, innkeepers love what they do. But ever wonder what innkeepers did before they were B&B owners or even what they do in their spare time?

Meet John and Lisa Runnels,  the owners of two bed and breakfast’s – Shady Oaks Country Inn and Ambrose Bierce House,  both in St. Helena. Lisa is a charming, exuberant lady full of life and able to give you the best local insider information on wine country. But what may surprise you to know is that her husband  John (along with his partner John Lansingh) is behind the award-winning wine “Tangled Vines”.  Their homemade Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah and Pinot Noir have won several awards in the Napa Valley Home Winemakers Classic held each July at St. Supery Winery, a competition for home winemakers.

Tangled Vines of Shady Oaks

The partnership and enterprise began over 20 years ago and the moniker “Tangled Vines” is the amusing result of the tangled or gnarly relationship of the duo.  According to John Runnels, “John (Lansingh) does things the old-fashioned way and he’s a little hard-headed and I do things the modern way and I’m a little hard-headed, so we tangled a lot. So we said, ‘let’s call it Tangled Vines.’ ’” John and Lisa  both enjoy sharing their love of wine and the story with guests of Shady Oaks Country Inn. To John Runnels, “it’s the only thing I can do creative. I’m not a painter or an artist, but I can create wine in my style.”

So next time you think about visiting Napa Valley for a mid-week vacation (See Special Offer) or weekend respite, be sure to check into Shady Oaks Country Inn where you might get the chance to taste John’s creativity and perhaps meet the master mind himself! Either way,  be prepared to thoroughly enjoy what John and Lisa have created together with their beloved bed and breakfast. CLICK HERE for reservations.

Tamber Bey Vineyards Tasting Room

Downtown St. Helena is a treasure trove of wine country delights. Within a two to three block radius, shop at some of Napa Valley’s most chic boutiques, taste the finest of olive oils, wander through art galleries, or spend an hour or two dining at tucked-in or around-the-corner restaurants. If you’re in the mood for wine tasting (and we know you are!) Tamber Bey Tasting Room is centrally and conveniently located in the downtown area.

Tamber Bey’s tasting room, located on 1234 Adams Street, offers a nice selection of wines in their 3 or 5 wine flight program. As their guests, you’re invited to sit at the beautiful copper top bar or outside on the sidewalk patio while sipping your 1/2 or full glass pour of any their wines or indulging in a half or full bottle. If  looking for a more exclusive tasting, call ahead and reserve a private tasting with the owner Barry Waitte or the Winermaker Mike Smith.

The town of St. Helena bustles with activity far into the evening and night. In addition to restaurants that stay open late, Tamber Bey stays open to 8pm, 7 days a week when most tasting rooms in the Valley close between 5 to 6pm! As a result, Tamber Bey’s tasting room is an ideal spot to meet after most wineries have closed and/or before a dinner reservation.

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