Napa Valley is by far one of our favorite regions to visit in the world. It has everything to offer; arguably the best wine in the world, incredible dining made with fresh, local ingredients, world class resorts, and some of the best spas you’ll ever visit, not to mention year around mild weather. What’s not to love? The hardest part about Napa is the sheer number of incredible options. So we decided to curate a guide to help you discover some of the best resorts, spas, dining, and vineyards in Napa Valley. Here’s our lineup:
Resorts
Napa resorts are known for their sprawling estates, luxurious accommodations, and second to none service. If you need a serene retreat to escape to, here are our top picks:
Meadowood
Meadowood continuously ranks as one of Napa’s best resorts -and for good reason. Nestled on 250 acres in the mountains of St. Helena, this luxurious estate is a breath of fresh air away from the hustle and bustle. The property includes 85 romantic guest cottages, each with a fireplace and private terrace. You’ll find an array of activities on-site including hiking trails, a 9 hole golf course, tennis, swimming, croquet, fitness classes, and of course, plenty of wine.
On the dining front, you’ll find The Restaurant at Meadowood, one of the only four Michelin three-star rated restaurants in the western U.S. Created by chef Christopher Kostow, this modern new American restaurant prides itself on artistic dishes that combine creative flavors and textures. The menu changes frequently, but you’ll find plenty of delicacies served alongside perfectly paired wine and champagne.
For those looking for a more casual meal, you can head next door to the The Grill for more delicious options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Grill is also the provider of in-room service, so you can schedule your meals and wake up to their incredible “Country Breakfast” that includes a spread of fruit, yogurt, eggs, sausage, biscuit, coffee, fresh pressed juice, and more.
Another experience you must have at Meadowood is their 14,000 square foot all-suite spa. As the only Forbes 5 star rated spa in the area, this incredible retreat offers a menu of luxurious treatments from detox body wraps, to hot and cold stone massages to rejuvenating hydrafacials that will leave your skin radiant and renewed. We experienced their Hydrafacial and it was by far the best facial we’ve ever had.
If you’re not familiar with hydrafacials, it’s a treatment that uses a hydro wand with suction to exfoliate, extract, and infuse the skin with treatments of your choice (usually peels, Vitamin C, stem cells, anti-aging serums etc.). The result is resurfaced skin that is positively glowing and rejuvenated after one treatment. The best part of hydrafacials is that they’re powerful without being harsh, so you’ll walk out with glowing skin -not red or irritated. Meadowood Spa Hydrafacial, $235 and up
With their serene sprawling grounds, luxurious accommodations, Michelin star dining, world class spa, and second to none service, it’s no wonder Meadowood is one of Napa’s most sought after resorts. To learn more about Meadowood and to make a reservation you can visit their official site at www.meadowood.com.
Silverado Resort
Silverado is one of Napa’s classic resorts with old world charm. Conveniently located to dozens of vineyards in central Napa, it boasts two expansive PGA golf courses, 10 tennis courts and swimming pools, bocce courts, a spa, bicycle rentals and the Silverado Market & Bakery, which may or may not include resident wild turkeys on any given day! Silverado features condo-like, luxury accommodations with open terraces overlooking their massive golf courses so you can sip a glass of wine while watching golfers tee-off.
Or if you’re looking for some more r & r, head over to their spa for an array of body treatments, massages, facials, and hair and nail services. The spa also offers yoga classes and wellness coaches for the ultimate relaxing experience.
Another key aspect of Silverado is its fantastic location! Centrally located to some of the best wineries in the region including William Hill, Del Dotto Wine Caves, Chimney Rock, Darioush, among many more, it’s easy to walk or take a quick Uber to wine taste. This eliminates the expense and stress of trying to hire a designated driver so you can eat, drink, be merry, and head back to your room conveniently. They also have excellent rates starting at $150 per night. To learn more about Silverado and to make a reservation, you can visit their official website at www.silveradoresort.com.
Auberge du Soleil
Auberge du Soleil is another mountain nestled Napa estate that offers a luxe experience. This adults-only resort features a Michelin star restaurant, beautiful views, an award winning spa, a beautiful outdoor sculpture garden and incredible culinary, wine, and music events.
Auberge de Soleil’s focus is on relaxation, serenity and culinary experiences, so while you won’t find an on-site golf course or family activities, you’ll find plenty of peace and luxury at this romantic, secluded, adult-only resort. aubergedusoleil.aubergeresorts.com
Carneros Resort & Spa
Carneros Resort & Spa is another romantic property featuring cottage style suites on 27 acres in the Carneros region of Napa Valley. It boasts 3 full service restaurants including FARM, Hilltop Dining Room, and Boon Fly Cafe. With a world class spa and two pools and one hot tub surrounded by a horizon of beautiful vineyards, guests will find all the relaxation and serenity they need.
The property also includes a 3,000 square foot fitness center, complimentary fitness classes on weekends, bocce ball courts, complimentary bicycles, and a car service within a 5 mile radius, so you can get to and from wine tastings safely. To learn more about make a reservation, go to www.carnerosresort.com
Wine
Where do we start? It’s pretty hard to find bad wine in Napa Valley, so curating this list is challenging. In order to cull this list we looked for a combination of great wine, ambiance/views and guest service. While our list of great vineyards in Napa is endless, here are few you must start with:
William Hill Estates
Great views, incredible wine, and excellent service. What more could you ask for? William Hill is a stunning property situated off the Silverado Trail and is best known for their Chardonnay. Guests will enjoy their own private table and sweeping 140 acre vineyard views while sipping on 4 or 8 glass tastings of some of the best Chardonnay and Bordeaux varietal wine you’ll ever have. Tastings start at $25 and require an appointment, though they do take walk ins if they have openings. www.williamhillestate.com
Known for: Chardonnay and Bordeaux Varietals
Quintessa
Quintessa
Quintessa releases just one wine at a time and prides themselves on their exquisite process and privately hosted wine tastings. Located in the Rutherford appellation, Quintessa provides a unique experience of tasting their limited release wines created from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carménère varietals. First you’ll enjoy a tour to view the property and wine caves followed by an intimate sit-down cheese pair and wine tasting experience of their most current 2014 wine as well as previous years releases. Approximately 90 minutes, by appointment. Starting at $75 per guest. www.quintessa.com
Known for: Single, limited release reds
Domaine Carneros
Domaine Carneros is renowned for its exquisite grounds and Pinot Noir. Sip wine while overlooking expansive lake and vineyard views from your own private table. Sparkling wines and Pinot Noir are paired with artisanal cheeses, chocolates, and other paired appetizers. You can also take the “Art of Sparkling Wine” tour and get an insight to how Domaine Carneros makes their exquisite wines. Tastings are available daily 10am-5:30pm. Reservations are required and can be booked up until 5pm on the day of your arrival. www.domainecarneros.com
Known for: Pinot Noir, sparkling wine
HALL
HALL has two locations, one in St. Helena and one in Rutherford. They’re known for their spectacular Cabernet Sauvignon, so if you’re a cab fan, HALL is a must-visit. Their collection features five Certified Organic estates that produce Bordeaux varietals. Their Cabernet Sauvignon consistently tops “best wine” lists and over 140 HALL wines have been rated at 90 points or higher. 90 minute tastings start at $125 per person and require an appointment. www.hallwines.com
Known for: Cabernet Sauvignon
Castello di Amorosa
Castello di Amorosa is known for its incredible medieval-style Tuscan architecture. Upon arriving you’ll almost believe you’re in Tuscany. As you may suspect, they create incredible Italian-style wines and the grounds take you back to another long-gone era. Step in for a tasting and cheese pairing or take a full tour of the stunning grounds surrounded by incredible views of Napa. Admission starts at $30. Tours requirement an appointment. www.castellodiamorosa.com
Known for: Italian-style wines
Dining
Like the region’s wine, there’s really no “bad” food in Napa. Fresh, delectable food is abundant just about everywhere you go, but here are the top spots everyone should try at least once when it Napa.
The Restaurant at Meadowood
As we mentioned earlier, The Restaurant at Meadowood is one of the only four Michelin three-star rated restaurants in the western U.S. Created by chef Christopher Kostow, this modern new American restaurant prides itself on artistic dishes that combine creative flavors and textures. While the menu changes frequently, you’ll find plenty of delicacies served alongside perfectly paired wine and champagne. If you are a serious foodie out to experience one of the best restaurants in the western U.S. region, The Restaurant at Meadowood is a must-visit. www.therestaurantatmeadowood.com
Morimoto
Have the best sushi, sake, and Japanese Whiskey of your life from THE ultimate iron chef, Masaharu Morimoto. This restaurant really needs no introduction, so we’ll simply say, if you love sushi, you have to visit Morimoto Napa. For the ultimate experience we recommend doing the Morimoto Omakase tasting menu. Make a reservation in advance as they are often completely booked. www.morimotonapa.com
Oenotri
If you want incredible Southern Italian food, Oenotri is a must-visit. With thin-crust pizza, seasonal entrees, delicious homemade pastas and fresh ingredients straight from the restaurants on-site garden, you’ll feel like you’re dining right in Cinque Terre. The restaurant also features an incredible wine selection to pair with all your dishes. www.oenotri.com
Oakville Grocery
Oakville Grocery isn’t fancy like the other restaurants on this list, but it’s a Napa Valley staple and has been around since 1881. Here you’ll sit outside in a rustic picnic area and have the best sandwich of your life along with a variety of desserts, olive oils, coffee, chocolates, and other delectable treats. It’s located along Hwy 29, perfect for dropping in for a snack between wine tastings. Don’t forget to pick up a couple of their cute logo souvenir wine glasses on the way out. www.oakvillegrocery.com
What are your favorite spots in Napa Valley? Let us know in the comments below!
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