154 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | MARCH/APRIL 2017
Lodi wine country is located
35 miles south of Sacramento
and 90 miles east of San
Francisco and has become
Northern California’s hottest
new wine destination.
TRAVEL
BRENDA SPAUDE
Deciding where to stay in Lodi was easy, as
Kathryn and Russ Munson, who operate Wine
& Roses, a hotel, restaurant and spa, have made
it the ultimate Lodi wine country destination.
Wine & Roses’ 66 rooms and suites, Towne
House Restaurant and spa are spread out across
seven acres. The property, which was originally
developed as a home in 1902 for engineer Burton
Towne, was converted into a bed and breakfast
in 1984. In 1999, Kathryn and Russ acquired the
property and converted it into a resort. No two
hotel rooms are exactly alike, but each has access
to the outdoor pool and fitness center. Many rooms
and most of the suites have easy-to-use fireplaces.
The grounds are immaculate and offer a variety
of relaxing spots for Wine & Roses guests.
The Towne House Restaurant and its lounge
are located in the original historic house. The
restaurant features American classic cuisine,
and there is live jazz in the lounge nightly. Our
breakfasts were decadent, and the staff has
mastered the art of hospitality. Our first evening,
we had a dinner prepared by the Towne House
executive chef John Hitchcock, a Hyde Park
Lodi has undergone
a transformation
from grape supplier
to a fine wine
destination with its
own enviable white
and red wines.
The koi pond at the Japanese Gardens
is surrounded by 11 stone lanterns and
features two crossover bridges.