While grape growing and harvesting have distinct seasons, fortunately for epicureans wine tasting in scenic Northern California is a year-round activity. Of the many intimate inns and rustic retreats in this world-renowned winemaking region, one of your best bets to base yourself is the Ink House Bed & Breakfast near the charming Napa Valley town of St. Helena.

In fact, Kevin Outcalt, owner of this quaint 1884 Victorian property that’s on the National Registry of Historic Places, has a secret for the Luxury Link community…

“The Harvest Season (Crush) is very popular in the fall, but the savvy visitors come between Nov. 15 and the end of January as the weather is still great; 70-80 degree days and no rain usually until February. The crowds are gone and you are treated like rock stars as you enter restaurants and wineries that are so happy to have visitors!”

Armed with this “insider info”, guests can confidently book a stay and enjoy the bounty of outdoor activities in the area. First and foremost is wine tasting, and immediately adjacent to the Ink House is Whitehall Lane Winery where all guests of the inn are comped while sampling different varietals. Further afield, over 50 wineries are within a short drive, and you can survey the scene from the Ink House’s glass-walled Observatory Room, perched 40 feet above the hotel with 360-degree views of a sea of green vines!

While Outcalt loves the little slice of Napa Valley he and his staff have cultivated, he encourages guests to fully immerse themselves in the spas, restaurants hot air ballooning, biking and hiking that define an active Napa Valley getaway. In fact, your Luxury Link vacation includes both VIP winery passes and full-day bicycle rental for two on the day of your choice.

Before or after a busy day of exploration, the four-acre Ink House provides the idea, cozy retreat to call home for several days. Whether you choose the Torino Room, French Room, Vineyard Suite, or Grand Parlor, you’ll relish in antique furnishings and heirlooms coexisting with modern amenities like a flat-screen tv, and mini-bar.

Food is taken very seriously in Napa – with renowned restaurants including The French Laundry and étoile – and the Ink House lives up to the region’s lofty standards with its daily included breakfast.

“Our breakfasts all feature our own baked egg creations, including the world-famous 'Death By Cheese' and our guest favorite artichoke frittata and several more,” said Outcalt.

Elvis Presley called the Ink House Bed & Breakfast home for three months while filming Wild in the Country in 1960, and you too can live like the King (or Queen) at this sublime wine country escape!