Irresistible indulgences await at Cave B
I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I think it’s a cliché. If I hear the overused term “stay-cation” one more time, I might explode. As economic uncertainties drag on, it’s tough for those of us whose compensation packages don’t include multimillion-dollar retention bonuses to justify pampering ourselves. Sure, there are signs of better days ahead, but for now, the few bright sides of this economic down-cycle are the variety of deals available to those traveling near or far.
These were some of the thoughts that crossed my mind on a recent drive out to Quincy to visit the Cave B Inn. The 30-unit destination resort, which sits atop multihued cliffs along the Columbia River, includes 15 Prairie School–inspired cottages set among the vineyards of the Cave B Estate Winery. The presence of a winery, fine-dining restaurant and full-service spa on the property, combined with the grandeur of its natural surroundings, have helped establish the resort as one of the most romantic destinations in the Northwest. At last check, it was leading in “Evening Magazine’s” voting for best “Girls Weekend Destination,” and the resort’s new Live! at the Cellar! concert series gives me one more reason to add it to my personal list of “Best Reasons to Leave Work Early on a Friday Afternoon.” As a quick disclaimer, this latter list is quite arbitrary, rather long and probably something that my employers should never find out about.
Live! at the Cellar brings emerging artists from across the Northwest to Cave B’s wine cellar on select Friday nights throughout spring and summer. My visit coincided with a performance by Tacoma native Vicci Martinez, a singer/songwriter whose claims to fame include opening for the likes of Sting, Annie Lennox and BB King. Other artists scheduled to appear include Massey Ferguson (April 10), Kris Orlowski (May 8), and Kim Virant (June 12). Longtime followers of the Seattle music scene may remember Virant from her days as the vocalist for Lazy Susan in the early 90s.
With low ceilings and a wall of basalt rocks carved into an adjoining knoll, the cellar doubles as an intimate, 60-seat concert hall. It is also attached to the winery tasting room, which means that you can order glasses of wine and light fare during the performances.
The setting also offers a striking contrast to the larger, louder concerts that take place next door at the Gorge Amphitheatre. Cave B’s founders and owners, Dr. Vince Bryan and his wife, Carol, opened the revered concert venue on their former Champs de Brionne winery in 1985. They sold the concert venue in 1993 but retained ownership of the land that still houses their vineyards, some planted as far back as 1980, along with Cave B’s winery, inn, spa and restaurant. The Bryans plan on building a golf course, homes, and an artists’ retreat and hilltop village on their nearly 700-acre spread, which they call SageCliffe, in the future.
From what I hear, there are more than enough lovers of fine living among rock’n’roll fans to book up Cave B’s rooms within hours after concerts are announced at the Gorge. For those interested in lower decibels, Cave B offers a variety of package deals, often available during those times when the amphitheater sits dark. The Spring Break Special, for instance, provides a 10 percent discount on your first night’s stay and a 15 percent discount for each additional night when you stay between Sunday and Thursday nights through April 30. The Dog Package includes a gift bag for your dog and a photo of your pooch with Cuvée, the resort’s resident black Labrador retriever. Cave B donates a portion of the proceeds from this package to agencies that provide medical care to rescue dogs. Try the Mood Stimulus package for a box lunch and picnic-backpack that you can carry on hikes along the trails that lead between the inn and the river. The latter package begins at $179 on weekdays and $259 on weekends. The Yoga and Wine weekend (April 24–26) combines yoga sessions with wine tastings and cooking classes at a higher price. Even if you choose one of the discount packages, however, you should be forewarned: The resort’s irresistible indulgences—slow-food dinners at Tendrils restaurant, rejuvenating body and beauty treatments in the spa and bottles of the winery’s luscious varietals—will likely compel you to splurge. On the other hand, there’s nothing wrong with investing in your own well being from time to time. You don’t even have to use the term “stay-cation.”
Tags: Cave B Inn, Columbia River Gorge, Dr. Vince Bryan, Gorge Amphitheatre, Quincy, Rob Bhatt, Tendrils Restaurant, Yoga and Wine weekend