Truth be told, we weren’t sure what to say when we heard our name called. After the applause, after the acceptance speech on stage and the congratulatory handshakes, then the short drive home and ensuing excitement — we sat on our veranda looking over our vineyards (with a glass of our favorite DeCoupage wine of course) to celebrate and just let it sink in. Domaine Chardonnay. Prestigious Xenia Hospitality Awards. Innkeeper of the Year!
We still can’t quite believe it. It is quite an accomplishment, winning over some very worthy competitors. Seven years of hard work and 100% dedication has been quietly observed and now rewarded.
“This award belongs to every single person who has walked through our doors — the guests who trusted us with their special moments, and the team who pours their heart into every single stay.”
When we opened Domaine Chardonnay, the dream was simple: create a place where people feel genuinely at home… but as good, or even better than their home. A unique wine country experience. A private winery estate, custom built by hand. A morning where the light comes through just right, the coffee is delicious how you like it, and there’s nowhere else you’d rather be in that moment.
It turns out that dream is really just a series of small, quiet choices made every single day. The extra blanket to cozy up in, in your private vineyard view garden. The local wine recommendation that leads to a favorite new producer. The extra five minutes of conversation that turns a guest into a friend and makes them feel welcome and completely at home.
We do this work because we love it — love the stories people bring with them, love the way a place can hold a memory, love the privilege of being part of so many celebrations, escapes, and quiet little adventures. An award like this reminds us that those small things we do daily are noticed. That they matter greatly.
To our guests, past and future: thank you. You are why we do this. Every review, every return visit, every kind word — you fuel us more than you know.
Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have rooms to prepare and a very good bottle of estate Chardonnay to open.
With gratitude and a full heart,
The Domaine Chardonnay Team