Last weekend my husband and I visited one of our favorite local wineries for a special event open exclusively to its wine club members. I’ve written several times before about how much we enjoy everything about DANCIN Vineyards: its lovely setting, just above its estate vineyards on a forested hillside amid landscaped grounds; its Tuscan-inspired tasting room, patio and terrace; the wonderful food paired with the wines, including wood-fired pizzas and amazing stuffed mushrooms; owners Dan and Cindy Marca and their welcoming, knowledgable staff; and, of course, the wonderful wines, many estate-grown, always elegant, nuanced and delicious. The afternoon event’s purpose was to celebrate the winery’s 2021 Tribute Barbera, which recently won Best of Class and a Double Gold at the Sunset International Wine Competition (and a score of 98 points). It also provided the opportunity to show off DANCIN’s newest venue, the DANCIN Residence.

To reach the Residence, you skirt the tasting room grounds and continue further uphill to what appears to be a large, modern home with extensive views out over the winery, vineyards and valley stretching to the mountains ringing the horizon. Entrance through a roomy foyer leads you to an expansive great room with a barrel-vaulted ceiling and large windows framing the views. To one side stands a gourmet kitchen, a large granite island separating it from the rest of the room. Here were lined up the wines available for tasting. In addition to the award-winning Barbera, we could sample the 2021 Piqué Sangiovese, also a Double Gold winner at the Sunset competition; the 2022 Coda Pinot Noir; the 2022 Mélange Chardonnay; and the 2022 En L’air Rosé of Pinot Noir.

A small alcove to one side of the kitchen (what would be a breakfast nook in a private home) held a table with a selection of fruits, nuts, cheeses, crudité and charcuterie to enjoy with the wines. We also were served a sampling of hors d’oeuvres prepared by the winery’s resident chef. We were invited to taste as many and as much of the different wines as we wished, and we were also invited to wander about the property, as this was a sort of coming-out party for this multifunctional space meant to serve groups of around 30. After sampling some of the wines and enjoying the live piano music as we chatted with other guests, I went exploring.

Down a long hall off the great room were four bedrooms, the first with a double/twin bunk bed arrangement and the next two with queen beds. Each bed was made up with deluxe linens, cozy duvets and lots of pillows; and all of the finishes and furnishings would be at home in a luxury hotel. The last bedroom at the end of the hall, the largest of all, boasted a magnificent king bed and a spacious en suite bathroom, complete with a large glassed-in shower, a stand-alone tub, dual vanity and an enormous closet. (The other bedrooms have access to a shared bathroom along the hallway opposite them and another bathroom along a separate hall at the back of the house.)

Off the kitchen there was a large butler’s pantry and a hallway that led to a doorway giving onto the back garden, which steps up the hillside in a series of terraces, culminating in an arbor at the top with more magnificent views over the top of the house’s roof below. Water features and a firepit made it easy to see what a wonderful spot this would be on a warm summer evening for an intimate reception or party.

Back inside, I chatted with one of our hosts and learned that the space could be rented out for all manner of gatherings, with on-site catering (the menu flexible and compiled in consultation with the chef) available and prices varying depending on the size of the group and the type of food served. It really got me thinking about what a great venue it would be for a special birthday, anniversary or holiday gathering . . . and wouldn’t it be nice to just wander down the hall to retire in one of those bedrooms after a night of partying rather than have to find a way to get safely home? The wheels started turning … .

We enjoyed all of the wines and gazed at the views    before we picked up a few bottles of the magnificent Barbera and headed back down the hill. We really enjoyed the experience and hope to return for another event there soon (perhaps a winemaker’s dinner later in the year). And perhaps we’ll host our own special occasion there sometime in the future.

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor