Napa and Sonoma Style

(Travel + Leisure) -- Travel + Leisure scoured California's wine country to find one-of-a-kind boutiques and charming small-town stores. From Calistoga to Healdsburg, these eight spots are worth a visit.

Napa Valley

CALISTOGA

The shop: Nearly everything at Ca'Toga Galleria D'Arte (1206 Cedar St.; 707/942-3900) is hand-painted by the prominent trompe l'oeil artist Carlo Marchiori: the folding screens, the ceramic plates -- even the barrel-vaulted ceiling, done Michelangelo-style with a celestial mural. T+L tip: Marchiori lives up the road, in a Palladian villa whose seven rooms are covered in frescoes. The shop can arrange a visit ($25 per person; May-October).

The shop: The region's best source for small-scale artisanal wines, Enoteca Wine Shop (1348-B Lincoln Ave.; 707/942-1117), also carries hard-to-find producers that the proprietress, Margaux Singleton, calls unobtainia. Be sure to check out the glass cases in the back, dedicated to rare 100-point wines, so rated by industry experts like Robert Parker. T+L tip: Singleton is an expert on the area and she's happy to plot you out a customized tasting tour, gratis.

ST. HELENA

The shop: Interior designer Erin Martin spotlights an eclectic collection of furniture and objets d'art from around the globe in the loftlike Martin (1350 Main St.; 707/967-8787). A recent visit turned up Moroccan stools made of recycled tires and vintage leather wrestling mats from Russia ("perfect headboards," she says). T+L tip: Add your name to Martin's mailing list for coveted invitations to her private warehouse sales (usually in May and October), where pieces are sold at or below cost.

The shop: With white-gloved shopgirls standing behind the counter and a glittering chandelier dangling from the ceiling, Woodhouse Chocolate (1367 Main St.; 800/966-3468) resembles a fine jewelry shop -- and for good reason. Master chocolatier Tracy Anderson's handmade confections, in exotic flavors like Passion Fruit and Thai Ginger, are edible gems. T+L tip: Ask for a peek at the kitchen, where Belgian machinery whirrs and delicate truffles float down conveyor belts.

The shop: Owner Jan Niemi designed more than 200 variations of the ballet slipper for her tiny boutique Flats (1232 Spring St.; 707/967-0480). An avid traveler who splits her time between California and Italy, Niemi has her shoes handmade in Tuscany ("Chanel-quality," the shop manager notes). T+L tip: Call to find out when Niemi will return from one of her many scouting trips; her souvenirs (Italian jewelry, Indian printed fabrics) are often for sale at the store.

Sonoma County

HEALDSBURG

The shop: Lisa Palmer, wife of star chef Charlie Palmer, opened Lime Stone (315 Healdsburg Ave.; 707/433-3080) next to her husband's Dry Creek Kitchen restaurant in early 2006. In addition to avant-garde pieces (chandeliers made from wine barrels, buffalo-horn bowls), you'll find basics such as the custom steak knives and table linens used in Palmer's 10 restaurants. T+L tip: Stock up on shatterproof German titanium-crystal wineglasses -- they're as good as Reidel, at a fraction of the price.

The shop: Marty Murphy has lived all over the world, and her international sensibility informs the aesthetic of M Clothing (381 Healdsburg Ave.; 707/431-8738), which specializes in ethnic-inspired pieces by West Coast designers such as Rozae Nichols and Turk + Taylor. T+L tip: Call ahead and tell Murphy what you're looking for. She'll prepare a fitting room full of selections.

SONOMA

The shop: In a restored 1880's bungalow off Sonoma's main drag, Être Sonoma (156 E. Napa St.; 707/939-2700) stocks a sophisticated mix of cult items, from wallets by Comme des Garçons to Anichini 450-thread-count hotel linens. Around the corner, sister store Être Beauté (408 First St. E.; 707/939-7010), a small apothecary, has perfumes by Serge Lutens and Parfums Delrae. T+L tip: Être Sonoma displays a limited selection of European antiques. For more, ask to see a catalogue of the complete collection. E-mail to a friend

Planning a beach getaway? Don't miss Travel + Leisure's guide to Affordable Beach Resorts.

Copyright 2009 American Express Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved.

All About Napa • Sonoma • Napa Valley • Sonoma County