The Best of Wine Country in One Place: Four Seasons Resort & Residences Napa Valley
Everything one might desire and require in a Northern California wine country escape can be found at Four Seasons Resort & Residences Napa Valley. The five star Four Seasons features a working winery and vineyard with on-site wine tasting opportunities, a Michelin-starred restaurant, gracious accommodations, a deluxe spa, and a welcoming atmosphere that exudes the relaxed sophistication for which the region is known. Nowhere else within the Napa Valley is this beautiful mélange of hospitality offered in one distinct place.
Located at the northern end of the valley in charming Calistoga, the resort opened in 2021 and has since established itself as one of Napa’s premier destinations, thanks to its all-star medley of Elusa Winery, Auro restaurant, and Spa Talisa. Add to this trio the stellar on-site activities, proximity to other sought-after wine country destinations, and iconic Four Seasons service, and there is little wonder that the resort has “come into its own” after only three years.
Aiding in the resort’s notoriety was its capture of a Michelin star within a mere eight months of Rogelio Garcia’s appointment as executive chef at Auro, the property’s signature fine-dining restaurant. Garcia is an alumnus of Bravo’s Top Chef Season 15 and author of Convivir: Modern Mexican Cuisine in California's Wine Country. He rose through the ranks in some of wine country’s most respected restaurants before spending the previous seven years perfecting his craft at notable restaurants such as Traci des Jardins’ The Commissary, and Michelin-starred Spruce and Luce. His Auro inspiration is drawn from past experience and from his time-honored relationships with farmers, foragers, and fishermen, and his menu items are sublime, as illustrated by the well-deserved Michelin accolades.
The resort’s 85 beautifully appointed rooms and suites encircle Elusa Winery’s organic vineyards, from which winemaker Jonathan Walden crafts elegant and luscious varietals that can be sampled on the resort property. Resort guests are also invited to explore the winemaking process from harvest and sorting, to blending and aging, with hands-on demonstrations and opportunities to meet the winemaker. Elusa opened at the same time as the resort, yet, in years-long anticipation of that opening, former director of winemaking and current consulting winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown started crafting wines nearly 15 years ago in order for Elusa to debut with a complete library of varying vintages. Make sure to schedule the “Evolution of Elusa” tasting in order to sample these older wines. (And if traveling with children, make sure to sign them up for the fully supervised and complimentary Kids for All Seasons program, which allows parents to enjoy a bit of ‘alone time.’)
Calistoga is known for its iconic hot springs and mud treatments, so “when in Rome,” visit the resort’s Spa Talisa for intuitive and therapeutic treatments such as the Brave Spirit Ritual, an invigorating marine algae and salt scrub followed by the targeted application of a detoxifying thermal mud and soothing balm to nourish the skin. The spa features private patios with misting decks, and a large hot tub overlooking the vineyards. Additional hot tubs are found at the resort’s central two swimming pools—one for families and one specifically for adults. The pool deck is where you’ll find open-air Campo Poolside, serving delicious Cal-Mexican fare, festive libations, and some of the valley’s best guacamole. (The resort’s third dining option is the all-day dining TRUSS Restaurant + Bar, serving casual breakfast, lunch, and dinner comfort food favorites.)
And finally, the resort’s spacious rooms and suites are alone worth a stay. Each features a fireplace, a private furnished terrace, a fully stocked mini-bar, a wine fridge with a small selection of local wines for purchase, and the heavenly Four Seasons bed. Rooms on the lower level boast a wine cellar-like vibe of dark, sultry tones and low illumination, with gleaming white large bathrooms featuring soaking tubs and Le Labo bath products. Upper-level rooms feature peaked ceilings and are the reverse color scheme: bright white bedroom walls with black-tiled bathrooms, and spacious peaked ceilings. Additionally, of 20 on-site standalone residences, 10 are available for rental and are a great option for families.
The winery, the Michelin-starred Auro, the spa, the rooms—together, each makes the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley greater than the sum of its delicious and indulgent parts.
400 Silverado Trail N., Calistoga, CA
Photos courtesy of Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley
