Another Way to Relax in Napa
While Northern California’s wine country might be best known for its cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay, it also boasts plenty of top-notch spots in which to recover from a vino tasting marathon. (As an added bonus, some even offer grape-infused treatments, along with pre and post-service wine for sipping.) Here, some of our favorites.
1
Auberge du Soleil At the Auberge Spa, massage therapists are highly trained technicians who will explain their every move and how it benefits you, or if you prefer, they will shut up and let their hands do all the talking. Their signature, the 75-minute Auberge Attunement ($275, incorporates deep tissue massage techniques, soothing essential oils, and herbal compresses. Current seasonal offerings include the Summer Thyme Bliss ($400), a thyme, lemon verbena and orange zest-infused bath, followed by a full body massage and foot and scalp treatments; and the 90-minute Peaches and Cream Body Masque ($300). Make sure to take time to enjoy a glass of post-treatment bubbly and sit in the outdoor hot tubs with sweeping views of the valley.
Photo courtesy of the spa.
2
Kenwood Inn and Spa This 29-room, Mediterranean-style resort off the Sonoma Highway boasts vineyard views, a pool, and local farm fresh fare. But the spa—with its grape-infused treatments—is the real draw. The relaxing, 25-minute vinotherapy bath treatment—take your pick between pinot noir, chardonnay, and sparkling wine— is a house favorite. Not only do you soak in grape essential oils and chardonnay bath salts, you also get a glass of wine to sip, along with a bag of vinotherapy bath products to take home. Regulars at the spa are partial to the Good to Glow card ($600), which includes four 50-minute treatments (take your pick from the vinoexpert facial, wine country massage, or the vinoperfect facial), along with access to the pool and hot tubs, and a discount on the spa’s products.
Photo courtesy of the spa.
3
Farmhouse Inn The farm-to-table spa at this 25-room boutique hotel in Sonoma County is the brainchild of spa directors Peggy Francis and Loma Alexander, who have also worked on the spas at Auberge, Solage, and more. For a seasonal couples treatment, test out their two-hour Roll in the Hay ($350 per person), which kicks off with a mocha cookie scrub, followed by an alfafa hay, lavender, and chamomile wrap, and then a chocolate-infused massage. Wine and snacks from the estate chef Trevor Anderson are also included. Francis and Alexander also recommend the new Girlfriend’s Getaway package ($260 per person), which has a four-person minimum and caps at eight people. The afternoon includes sparkling wine, a 60-minute spa treatment, poolside lunch, and a wine tasting.
Photo courtesy of the spa.
4
Meadowood Napa Valley Nestled into the hills of St. Helena, Meadowood is truly one of Napa Valley’s shining stars. From the sweeping, perfectly manicured golf course, to The Restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Christopher Kostow, the guest experience is hard to beat. The new spa, opening in late summer/early fall, is set to be on par with the rest of the hotel’s offerings. The 14,000-square-foot space will feature an all-suite concept (there are eight suites), for a completely private guest experience. Until then, the current spa is still open. Try the Meadowood Signature Customized Facial (60 minutes for $145; 90 minutes for $225) or the Ultimate Oxygen Facial (75 minutes for $200).
Photo courtesy of the spa.
5
Solage Calistoga Spa Solage was voted number one spa in the Americas and Caribbean by Conde Nast Traveller and it certainly lives up to that honor. When visiting, plan for a full spa day experience—there are geo-thermal pools, eucalyptus steam rooms, and a mud room to test out. We suggest getting there early for a yoga class in the newly renovated, sleek fitness studios before your treatment. Solage’s 60-minute Signature Mudslide is unlike any mud treatment we’ve come across. It starts with a mud masque enriched with pure essential oils of your choosing, moves on to a bathtub soak in geo-thermal mineral water, and finishes up with a power nap in a state-of-the-art vibration chair. If you’re looking for a seasonal treatment, they have several great options, including the Summer Soother Mudslide, the Summer Skin Renewal Facial, and the Summer Seasonal Relief. After you are done spa-ing, stay for lunch—the fish tacos are particularly divine.
Photo courtesy of the spa.
