Legendary Napa Valley winemakers Jean-Charles Boisset and Gina Gallo-Boisset have turned the former Helios Ranch into the ultimate luxury inn for oenophiles, The Ink House. Originally built in 1878 as a single-family home by Theron H. Ink, the property became a local landmark known as Helios Ranch, even serving as Elvis Presley’s home during the filming of Wild in the Country in 1960. In 1985, it was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Ink House offers four en-suite bedrooms, a formal dining room, and an underground speakeasy, which will allow guests to take advantage of some of the exclusive experiences the Boissets have curated, including bespoke wine and culinary tastings. From learning how to properly craft a charcuterie board with an award-winning cheesemaker to chocolate truffle making with a professional chocolatier, the space’s culinary crafts allow guests to dip their hands in luxury.
The biggest pull, however, may be the invite-only (you have to be a guest at the inn) Secret Indulgence, a one-of-a-kind tasting experience that takes place in a 19th-century Victorian home nestled amongst the vineyards. There, diners will take part in sumptuous wine and food pairings led by a private sommelier. The climax is a 13-course dinner featuring delicacies such as alligator, oysters, and caviar, prepared by a private chef. The Secret Indulgence doesn’t come chape, it’s priced a $10,000 per person and can accommodate up to 12 people.
“The Ink House, with its rich history, exceptional location and extraordinary style, allows us to share our Napa lifestyle with our guests,” said Jean-Charles Boisset. “We are excited to introduce our style of luxury travel with immersive experiences to discover and learn about wine and the beauty of Napa Valley. Gina and I are thrilled to curate exceptional moments for guests, connecting them to our wineries, our chefs, friends, partners and our vision of an exquisite yet authentic Napa dream.”
“Jean-Charles and I love to entertain and to share the wine world with our friends and guests,” added Gina Gallo-Boisset. “Coming from a long lineage of winemakers I have always had a deep appreciation for quality stewardship of the land. Our family will bring this same level of care to this special historic property. We intend to continue to build upon the wonderful work the Castellucis did to restore this Napa Valley landmark, and look forward to welcoming guests to The Ink House where they can step into our world and experience the very best of Napa.”
The Ink House is located at 1575 St. Helena Highway in St. Helena, California and nightly rates start at $850. For more information or to make a reservation, head over to the inn’s official website.
