Cliff Lede isn’t a man who does anything by halves, so when he set out to make his mark on Napa Valley, simply making wine wasn’t enough. He’s backed multiple vineyards, labels and a world-class tasting experience, including his rock-and-roll-infused Backstage tasting room. It’s little surprise, then, that he also wanted to create the perfect Napa getaway.
Enter: Poetry Inn. Nestled into the cliffside overlooking the Stags Leap District in the heart of the Napa Valley, Lede’s five-suite hotel is, by design, a sanctuary, with killer views and oversized balconies (which feature outdoor showers).
Given Lede’s passion for the arts, and his connections to the music world, it’s safe to imagine the hotel as an escape for bands at the end of a long tour. The boutique hotel honors five poets with namesake suites — Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, E.E. Cummings, Robert Frost and Robert Louis Stevenson — and it’s available for buyouts. The small size allows the staff to serve with a personal concierge style; they’ll book itineraries, organize wine tastings and dinner reservations, and of course, coordinate private dining or spa treatments on site. Staff will also note which amenities guests gravitate toward during their stay and have them at the ready: After I grabbed a sparkling water or two the first night, several were always on hand when I returned to the property.
The hotel originally opened in 2005, but an interiors overhaul in 2021 brought some contemporary updates to the inn’s classic elegance. Led by Erin Martin Design, a design firm in nearby St. Helena, the refresh also included some new amenities, like the creation of a private hiking trail for guests, and adding the Hemingway Bar just inside the front door.
If you’ve never lived in Napa, staying at the Poetry Inn is as close as you’ll get to feeling like you own a private estate. Ranging from 950 to 1,450 square feet, these suites are closer to spacious apartments than hotel rooms. Generous soaking tubs and double vanities are elevated by limestone and marble finishes, while the floor-to-ceiling glass lets in the light and an unforgettable view of the valley from sunrise to sunset. The sound system was tuned to a playlist that seemed taken from my own Spotify Wrapped upon arrival, and a wood-burning fireplace only adds to the charm, especially as Napa nights can run a bit chilly.
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It was Robert Louis Stevenson who wrote that “wine is poetry in a bottle,” and certainly, Mr. Stevenson’s words had an impact on Lede’s choice in naming his estate. But when it comes to the real poetry of a place like Napa, it’s only half what’s in the glass at any given moment, and the rest comes from the open-hearted hospitality of the person pouring. This is certainly one of the most exclusive hotels in Wine Country, and after all the amenities listed, readers won’t be shocked to learn a night or two doesn’t come cheap (hovering around the $2,000-per-night mark.) That said, Poetry Inn is a priceless experience for any Napa visitor. And if you’re lucky, a visit to Backstage during your trip might just elicit a few more rock-and-roll stories as the wine begins to flow.
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