Any Four Seasons opening is guaranteed to catch the eye of the team here at Elite Traveler, with the global hotel group synonymous with high levels of luxury and impeccable service. A new Four Seasons resort on a winery in Napa Valley, on the other hand, is causing serious excitement.
Tucked away in the charming town of Calistoga, Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley is set in stunning Californian surroundings, flanked by dramatic mountains, towering forests and, of course, rolling vineyards. However, the pièce de resistance, is its unrivaled position in the heart of a working organic winery, offering an unrivaled grape-to-glass experience.
Having opened its doors on November 1 after an extensive build project, Four Seasons Napa Valley is boldly establishing its position as the region’s go-to resort for elevated hospitality – a highly contested title in the country’s most famed food and wine destination. Join us for a first look inside.
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Sleep
As Four Seasons go, the Napa Valley resort edges toward being boutique with a total of just 85 guest bedrooms and suites. Design for each of the accommodations has come courtesy of Napa-native Erin Martin, who, along with design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates, has created a finish that is modern while still retaining a distinctly rustic feel.
In true Four Seasons style, extra touches and special amenities are aplenty: some rooms have views across the winery; others have private balconies; and some have standalone bathtubs. What they all have in common is a temperature-controlled wine fridge, as well as a private bar with curated stemware, making a late-night glass all the more irresistible.
The resort’s top key, however, is to The Estate Villa. Set in its own freestanding building, this expansive suite has space for eight guests across three bedrooms, as well as three bathrooms with deep soaking tubs – including a master bathroom complete with an outdoor shower. Designed for families and groups, The Estate Villa has plenty of room for entertaining with a cozy living room, media room, indoor and outdoor dining areas, as well as a private garden with a swimming pool. It’s going to be a real struggle to leave once you’ve checked in here.
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Dine
Four Seasons Napa Valley is set to become a dining destination in its own right, with Four Season’s culinary alumni Shaun Acosta overseeing the resort’s dining offering, which will include its signature restaurant, TRUSS. While the restaurant has not yet opened, when it does it is promising to deliver elevated modern dining with local influences.
Until the main restaurant opens, guests can indulge in a more casual lunch or dinner at the TRUSS Living Room. The relaxed menu comprises small plates and sharing dishes, with highlights including rustic pizzas, pressed chicken with butternut squash, and Napa Valley crudites. Completing the offer is an impressive wine menu (naturally) and signature cocktails, all of which can be enjoyed in stylish settings with uninterrupted mountain views.
For a more intimate experience, the Cork Room offers private dining and wine tastings, and for poolside dining, guests can head to Campo, which serves up light Mexican-inspired bites.
Relax
Although Napa Valley is most famous for its wine, the Californian region is also revered for its natural wellness properties. In fact, the town of Calistoga was originally developed thanks to its geothermal springs and mineral pools. Four Seasons Napa Valley’s Spa Talisa celebrates its hometown’s heritage through a series of locally inspired spa treatments, including mineral-rich mud baths, steam experiences and bespoke facials.
Spa Talisa maintains the wider resorts’ focus on all things wine by using products by sustainable skincare line, Seed to Skin. Combining organic ingredients with molecular technology, Skin to Seed harnesses both nature and science to create a range of highly effective yet responsibly made range of health and beauty products. It’s a win-win in our eyes.
The resort’s spa facilities also include an outdoor sun deck, garden whirlpool, a traditional steam room and tranquility lounges.
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Explore
You don’t have to travel far from your room to experience the best of Napa Valley. Integrated into the resort is the Elusa Winery and its 4.7-acre organic vineyard, which offer guests a fully immersive taste of wine country life, right on their doorstep.
Thanks to Napa’s enviable climate, Cabernet Sauvignon is the winery’s most prominent grape variety, with, seasons permitting, guests invited to help during the entire winemaking process. From harvesting and sorting to blending and ageing, the experience is impressively hands-on, with a tasting of some of the winery’s finest labels being the well-deserved reward.
Wine aside, guests can also venture further afield into Calistoga which, thanks to careful preservation, has retained its original charm with vehicle traffic limited and fast-food outlets banned. Four Seasons Napa Valley offers complimentary use of its collection of bikes for guests to enjoy exploring on their own terms, with the knowledgeable team on-hand to create bespoke itineraries that showcase the best local eateries, shopping boutiques, art museums and farmers markets. This truly is a wine country vacation at its best.
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