No, it’s not blanketed in snow. But it is blanketed in yellow mustard, and the hills are a gorgeous bright green that will be gone well before summer begins. Napa Valley should be visited every season, as it is beautiful year round.
Welcome to wine country!
I made a quick trip to Napa this weekend to check out one of the newest luxury hotels, and also visit some new wineries, and an old favorite.
Las Alcobas Napa Valley
This Starwood Luxury Collection resort expertly combines rustic and modern elements, paying homage to the area’s agricultural history, without sacrificing luxury. On arrival you check in at a Victorian house at the front of the property. But the majority of guest rooms are in three modern buildings, one which faces Beringer Estate, and the others facing a vineyard at the back of the property.
I love a good old-fashioned porch!
Guests can enjoy a cocktail while the concierge works on their requests at a table nearby.
We loved our Vineyard View room, which had floor to ceiling windows and a lovely private patio with fire pit. All standard rooms in the outer buildings have the same layout and amenities, and there are also larger suites and junior suites. There are many natural elements like wooden floors and tables, but details like motorized blackout shades, control panels for lights, an Italian rain shower, and a Toto toilet ensure you feel pampered. Even the event center is referred to as “The Barn,” but is worthy of housing wedding receptions and corporate events rather than livestock.
Furnishings by Italian designer Casa Zeta
Loved our marble sink!
The pool was heated to 82°, so hearty souls could take a dip. It was too cold for me, but I enjoyed the spacious seating area with fire pits and a full view of the vineyard. And if I had just one more day, I would have taken advantage of the steam room in the spa which is complimentary for all guests.
Not many pools have a vineyard view.
So much space!
Acacia House Restaurant is not only gaining quite a reputation for itself in the area, but it was named one of the best new restaurants of 2017 by the San Francisco Chronicle. I can understand why after enjoying a fantastic breakfast and lunch. I also had to try their signature margarita, which comes from their sister hotel in Mexico City.
White chocolate cake with cinnamon goodness on top.
Sea salt foam is a new twist on an old classic.
Virtuoso amenities for my clients include:
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Complimentary Full American À La Carte Breakfast for two daily for duration of the stay
- $100 hotel credit
- Welcome Amenity & Bottle of Wine
- Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
The location is perfect for wine tasting. It’s right on Hwy 29, just after passing through St Helena. With several restaurants within a half mile, it’s a pleasant walk to dinner even on a chilly evening. But you can also have the house car whisk you downtown in minutes. It’s also a convenient location for visiting some of the best wineries in the Calistoga area; the three we visited were within an 8 mile radius of the hotel.
Words of wisdom
Wine Tasting Suggestions (available by appointment only)
Reverie – Tasting fees are waived for guests of the hotel (concierge must make the appointment). There is no fancy tasting room, on arrival you are invited into a private room on the second floor of a turn of the century barn. But I really liked it because of the informal tasting experience, the pretty grounds, and the good value, as all wines are <$100. We had a private room to ourselves, and chatted with the Director of Hospitality about not just their wines, but the California wine industry in general. When there was a break in the light rain, we strolled out to enjoy more wine in their small redwood grove – that’s not something you find very often! They also have a large garden where tastings are done in the warmer months (the late wife of the founder was a Master Gardener).
Is there anything more quintessentially California than tasting wine under a redwood tree?
It doesn’t take much imagination to see the photo op potential when these gardens are in bloom.
Venge – I had been to this winery several years ago on a girls’ trip and was wow’ed, and it did not disappoint for my second visit. This is one of the nicest tasting rooms I have visited, with tables scattered throughout a cozy room with a gorgeous view overlooking the vineyard. (Tastings are also fofferd on the deck in nice weather.) The experience was a bit more scripted than Reverie, but still very nice, and I appreciated that our host gave us time alone to enjoy the wine. They also aggressively aerate the reds before serving them, which makes them even more yummy. Their top cabs are expensive, but amazing, and for smaller budgets they have an excellent red blend for <$40.
A much better view than standing elbow to elbow in a public tasting room.
See those cars in the background? No, you don’t.
A final note about the fires last fall: There was no evidence of the fires as we drove up Hwy 29. The main fire was in the southeast hills, and even if you know where to look, it’s difficult to see any signs. (I tried, even using a map of the fire perimeter for reference.) So Napa Valley is fully open for business and beautiful!
A lovely retreat at the end of the day. We were even able to enjoy the patio on a February evening because of the firepit.
