Meadowood, a private estate in the heart of Napa Valley, is refinement personified. Surrounded by 250 acres of forested natural beauty and a palatable sense of rusticity, the protected property (accessible by a scenic tour through California’s viticulture capital and bordered by several neighboring wineries to prove it) caters to discerning travelers with a thirst for the wine country experience. For more than 40 years, the aptly named Meadowood has happily quenched it, thanks to unrivaled amenities, ideal proximity, and famed hospitality.
Those that make the pilgrimage to Meadowood – weary locals, globetrotters, and curious writers among them – are happily rewarded. Equal parts spiritual escape and indulgent habitat, the resort offers diversion for the senses, rejuvenation, and retreat. As far as luxury resorts are concerned, however, Meadowood is a bit of a lodging anomaly – exclusive with nary a hint of pretentiousness, the resort is a favorite destination among the Bay Area’s well-heeled weekenders, to whom restraint and taste are appreciated and still very much considered.
Details are the order of the day at Meadowood, marked by unobtrusive service that is still somehow very much on-the-spot. No guest is left unattended, and staff is friendly, accommodating and present without ever seeming to be. When I arrived for my weekend stay, it was raining mercilessly, yet I was greeted at the door of my car by an eager employee who promptly raised an open umbrella over my head so that nary a raindrop found me; he offered a kind hand in my direction, followed by a beaming smile. It was the first of many courtesies I would experience during my stay.
Resort accommodations include 85 different studios, suites and cottages; all are outfitted with wood burning fireplaces, elegantly appointed furnishings and fixtures, and stocked with top-line amenities (glassware, bath products, white haute linens). Elegant interiors in combination with the welcoming hush from the surrounding landscape impart a casual, come-as-you-are warmth that put guests immediately at home (and this writer promptly to sleep!). Indeed, I never slept better in all my life than I did on the bed in my suite (a true haven in every sense of the word). The only impetus I had to leave it was to explore – a calling too great to go unheeded.
Chief among Meadowood’s many enviable qualities – seclusion, tradition, and character – is the versatile escape it affords guests of its quarters. For those so inclined, outdoor recreation abounds, courtesy of hiking trails, a beautifully manicured nine-hole golf course, croquet lawns, and tennis courts. After partaking in outdoor activities, guests are welcome to unwind inside the resort’s full-service health spa. An impressive spa menu, onsite gym, steam rooms and saunas provide great relief to those with the good sense to visit.
Though perfect for recreation enthusiasts, Meadowood is also a respite for those swayed by art, culture, and commerce. Indeed, it is close to the boutique shopping mecca of St. Helena and a myriad of marquee wineries. Meadowood also boats its very own cultural affairs calendar and wine education program, the latter of which is an obvious point of pride for the resort. Among its offerings are wine, architecture and history tours, various excursions, mealtime food and wine pairings, after-noon wine receptions, and a comprehensive exploration of viticulture courtesy of Meadowood’s onsite educator and expert, Gilles de Chambure.
Meadowood’s crowning jewel, however, just might be its delicious and inspired wine country cuisine. Hunger is never a problem for long with such amazing restaurants ready and willing to satiate. The Grill is the resort’s casual dining option, which overlooks the golf course and offers hearty dishes prepared from the finest local ingredients (a true treat!). Wait staff is knowledgeable and incredibly accommodating with recommendations and customization options at the ready.
The Restaurant at Meadowood – a Michelin-rated fine dining establishment, the food of which you must eat to believe – offers an unparalleled culinary experience in an intimate setting manned by an expert wait staff and a world-class chef whose tasting menu is absolutely otherworldly and includes Wolfe Ranch Quail, Organic Farro Risotto, Half Moon Petrale Sole, Maine Lobster and Squab Salad, Point Reyes Grass Fed Beef, and Butterscotch Soufflé. My dining guest enjoyed selections from the restaurant’s Exotics menu, some of which included the Scottish Langoustines, Wild Greek Branzino, Four Story Hill Partridge and True Japanese Kobe Beef. After such a dining experience (which was nothing short of first-rate), it is of little surprise that both food enthusiasts and seasoned critics alike flock to The Restaurant at Meadowood and leave with an unequaled taste in their well seasoned mouths.
So, no matter what type of vacation you seek – a sporting escape, a wine adventure, or a wellness retreat Meadowood in Napa Valley can provide it…and always just a little bit more.
meadowood.com
