Napa Valley Luxury Accommodation

Think Napa Valley, and most wine lovers think Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Indeed, the Napa Valley is a single appellation, or AVA (American Viticultural Area). Yet within its borders reside 16 sub-appellations, each with its own distinctive microclimate, and often, its own signature grapes.

The St Helena AVA, for example, home to the Rutherford Wine Company and many others on the celebrated Silverado Trail, is a warm area with less fog or wind than many more southerly areas, making it perfect for a rainbow of varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. Another estate that capitalises on the variations of Napa Valley terroir is the Fleury Estate Winery, which has three vineyards in three appellations at three elevations.

Napa Valley is home to 16 sub-appellations, each with its own distinctive microclimate and often its own signature grapes, such as Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel.

Many wineries here have deep roots as pioneer vineyards, showcasing Napa Valley’s longstanding commitment to premium grapes. Just a few examples: Mayacamas Vineyards is comprised of a stone building that was carved into the side of a dormant volcano crater on Mount Veeder in 1889 (happily, this historic building survived the 2017 wine-country wildfires).  Sinegal Estate was once a St Helena Pony Express stop, then the historic Inglewood Estate, before being bought and completely renovated by new owners in 2015.  Beaulieu Vineyards, founded in 1900 and housed in a building that dates to 1885, managed to flourish during Prohibition, when so many Napa vineyards were forced to close, due to their contract to provide sacramental wines to the Catholic Church. And some wineries have brought their own sense of history: Calistoga’s Castello di Amorosa, owned by Dario Sattui, makes Italian-inspired reds in a sprawling, 13th-century-style castle.

A new generation of wine growers is planting newer-to-the-area varieties as well.  Summers Estate Wines in the Calistoga AVA bottles Charbono, a rare Italian grape found on less than 100 acres in all of California, plus a Greek Muscat Canelli, known in Europe as Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. Plush, plummy Merlot is back in the spotlight too, such as Duckhorn Vineyard’s prized bottling from the Atlas Peak AVA.

Set on 28 acres of rolling vineyards between the towns of Napa and Sonoma, Carneros Resort and Spa features a relaxed sophistication that takes full advantage of its perfect location. Airy views stretch out over the vines to the mountains beyond, while a cottage-focused design imbues the resort with an agri-chic feel.

These cottages make up most of the resort’s 100 accommodations, all of which offer plenty of privacy and outdoor space. Interiors are decorated in muted tones, with vaulted ceilings and luxury-farmhouse decor. But you might just spend more time outside anyway, enjoying the front porch (complete with rocking chairs), patio, garden and attached al fresco shower. Some cottages come with extra features, like a two-person outdoor hot tub and fire pit—and your fireside butler can help spark some romance while you’re off dining or exploring. (Of course, this all adds up to the ideal setting for a wedding and Carneros offers several package options.) For more space, opt for a cottage suite or one of the six 223-square-metre private homes that feature wood-burning fireplaces and a first-floor deck with outstanding views.

The hotel’s dining options also soak up the wine-country flavour: ingredients mostly originate from the resort’s own garden or within a 150-mile radius; even Executive Chef Aaron Meneghelli is a local. A highlight of the upmarket FARM restaurant is the ever-evolving five-course tasting menu which incorporates one specific, seasonal ingredient in each course. But you’ll probably want to start your day with sugar-dusted doughnuts from the resort’s Boon Fly Café, or eat at the guests-only Hilltop Dining Room while enjoying its sweeping views of Napa Valley.

Panoramic views also abound at the adults-only pool (there’s a separate one for families). Lounge there after borrowing one of the resort’s orange bikes and taking a relaxing cycle through wine country; there are mini-versions with stabilisers so the children can come along, too. For even more relaxation, head to the Spa at Carneros, renovated in mid-2018, which features (what else?) local ingredients in the same rustic, cottage-like setting that’s become your temporary wine country home.

There’s a lot to explore in Napa Valley, and it certainly helps to know your way around the winding country roads and steep mountain drives. So for an extra-relaxing experience (including a designated driver), why not venture out with a savvy local guide? You can book any number of private chauffeurs, or hop on board a bus tour as part of a group. Either way, your driver can offer insights about wineries and other points of interest—like, how you can be in Carneros, but also in both Napa and Sonoma, at the very same time.

There are other fascinating ways to explore the Napa Valley too—by bike, train or hot air balloon—where the journey becomes as joyful as the destination. Some of the region’s numerous cycling guides put special spins on their tours. The Velo ‘n’ Vino cycle tour, for instance, by Getaway Adventures puts you on a specialised Crosstrail road bike for a 20- to 30-mile ride fuelled by a seasonal picnic lunch of charcuterie, artisan breads and cheeses (plus stops for sipping at as many wineries you choose), while Napa Valley Bike Tours invites warriors for off-road spins on sturdy mountain bikes, as well as road cruises.

Explore Napa Valley by bike, stopping for a picnic lunch of charcuterie and cheese, or tour wineries while riding in a turn-of-the-20th-century cable car.

The Napa Valley Wine Train is a classic, multi-hour excursion in vintage Pullman cars (dress up in period costume for extra flair). Among the wine train’s cool experiences, you can feast on a multiple-course gourmet meal cooked onboard as you gaze at wineries and vineyards through velvet-curtained windows. Take one of the three Quattro Vino trips to stop at wineries, too: each of the tours combines a four-course meal onboard the train with tastings at three wineries, including such bucket-list wineries as Robert Mondavi, Charles Krug and V. Sattui. Or, try the Napa Valley Wine Trolley, a converted, turn-of-the-20th-century, San Francisco–style cable car. Guided tours take you to four wineries and include a gourmet lunch.

Alternatively, enjoy the view from overhead: colourful hot air balloon voyages feel even loftier when capped with a post-flight breakfast and mimosas at Domaine Chandon Winery in Yountville, courtesy of Napa Valley Balloons, or a touchdown sparkling wine breakfast from Napa Valley Aloft.

While it's true that you'll go to Napa Valley for the wine tasting, in between pours, take some time to explore the many green spaces of the area that provide the perfect opportunity to picnic, walk, or just take in the history and lush landscape. Here’s a rundown of the Napa Valley state and city parks that beckon.

Most people don’t associate coastal redwoods with the warm climate of Napa Valley, but Bothe-Napa Valley State Park is home to rare, impressive clutches of these California giants of the plant world. Now spanning nearly 2,000 acres, the park has been a treasure since it was established in 1960, and offers year-round camping, picnicking, walking, BYOH (bring your own horse) riding and seasonal swimming in a spring-fed pool. For an overnight adventure, reserve a pitch or cosy yurt, offering you more time to explore the park’s historic features, such as a pioneer cemetery, the site of Napa Valley’s first Methodist church and a Native American plant garden.

You’re within walking distance of the Bale Grist Mill Historic Park, a fascinating example of 1846 ingenuity, where millers used, and still use, water-wheel-powered pulleys and grinding stones to craft organic flours, cornmeal and polenta which that you can buy at an on-site shop (open weekends year-round).

The city-run Alston Park is another secret gem, covering 157 acres in the remote rolling hills of north-west Napa. Three miles of meandering creek and wildflower-lined paths lead equestrians, mountain bikers, hikers and dog-walkers (lead required) to an upper area known as Canine Commons, a popular off-lead dog area.

For another scenic walk, set out on the Napa Valley Vine Trail, which, when finished, is planned to span 47 miles from the Vallejo ferry terminal to Calistoga; you can view a map showing how much of the trail is already open. Its picturesque route runs mostly parallel to Highway 29, and along a stretch of Highway 37 into Vallejo.

Central Napa is home to Fuller Park, a spacious and lush park with several playgrounds, BBQ spaces, picnic tables and toilet facilities.

Note: Kennedy Park, which runs along the river in the city of Napa, is closed 2019–2020.

The bustling city of Napa, on the banks of the Napa River, is celebrating a glamorous reinvention. There was a time not so long ago when the town was a sleepy residential area with just small shopping parades. Yet an influx of celebrity-chef restaurants, upmarket accommodation, manicured parks and river walks, and dozens of tasting rooms have redefined the area as a luxury destination.

Highlights include Oxbow Public Market, a lively food hall where you can slurp fresh oysters at Hog Island, savour artisanal charcuterie from Fatted Calf, or indulge in truffles and toffees from Anette’s Chocolates. If wine tasting has you in the mood for a good pizza, pick up an organic wood-fired one from the market’s Ca’ Momi, which has been certified by both the VPN (Vera Pizza Napoletana) and APN (Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napoletani). The restaurant also contributes mightily to Napa’s nightlife with its performance venue, which hosts live bands regularly.

For more edible pleasures, treat yourself to sushi at nearby Morimoto Napa, dine on chef Ken Frank’s elegant offerings at the Michelin-starred La Toque or discover some of wine country’s most spectacular local-ingredient-driven cuisine on the Napa riverfront at Celadon. Then, take in a show along the street at an outpost of New York City’s famed Blue Note, inside one of the region’s social and cultural hubs, the Napa Valley Opera House.

One of the area’s best new developments unites many joys as well. St. Clair Brown is a boutique winery and restaurant framed by a 420-square-metre organic garden, which overlooks the path of the Napa Valley Wine Train (diners tend to wave as the locomotive chugs by).

For overnight stays, there's rest and relaxation aplenty at options such as the big-city-chic Andaz Napa hotel and the impossibly romantic 1889 Churchill Manor B&B mansion, with its remarkable old-growth redwood mouldings and crystal chandeliers. Overnight stays at the historic Napa River Inn include a decadent breakfast from the Sweetie Pies bakery downstairs. Family-run Cedar Gables Inn offers a full series of cooking classes, and guests share a communal dinner that they helped to cook, paired with a featured local vintner’s choice of wine.

Nicknamed ‘Napa Valley’s Main Street’, this popular wine-country town has a bumper crop of shops, art galleries and cute cafes. Join an olive oil tasting at Olivier and satisfy your sweet tooth at Woodhouse Chocolate. Merryvale Vineyards (the first winery in the valley to be built after the repeal of Prohibition) holds daily tasting seminars in its historic cask room—it’s a great way to educate your palette before you head out to area wineries. That said, there are plenty of in-town tasting rooms—nice if you don’t want to drive. A local Passport St. Helena gives you access to eight stroll-to wineries, where you’ll get exclusive tastes of top vintages paired with nibbles. 

'You’ll get exclusive tastes of top vintages paired with nibbles.' 

Though St. Helena is undeniably appealing, try to drag yourself away long enough to check out Hall Vineyard, where top-notch wines and edgy art go hand-in-hand. The property is dotted with sculptures and installations and wow-worthy views from the second-floor ‘glass house’ tasting room.

Back in town, relax with a Harvest Signature Mud Wrap & Massage treatment in the garden at Health Spa Napa Valley, then dress up for dinner cooked by budding chefs at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in the magnificent Greystone estate.