BY FRAN ENDICOTT MILLER

As Napa Valley continues its ascension as a world-class destination, its hotels, resorts, and B&B’s strive to keep pace. Ever more luxurious and amenity-oriented, both new and venerable spots jockey for position as the “in” place to stay. Through the ongoing maneuvering, one esteemed resort has managed to maintain its popularity for more than four decades by continually exceeding guest’s expectations. Here are four reasons why the Tuscan-inspired Napa Valley Lodge stays ahead of the wine country hospitality curve.

LOCATION: Situated at the northern end of Yountville, in the heart of the Valley, Napa Valley Lodge is steps from world-renowned restaurants and more than 13 wine tasting rooms, and is surrounded by picturesque mountains and rows of grapevines (from which hotel staff make their own Cabernet Sauvignon.) You can park your car and spend your respite on foot, swirling and sipping to your heart’s content. The iconic French Laundry, Bouchon, and Bottega restaurants (among many others) are all within walking distance, as are tasting rooms such as Hestan, Girard, and the JCB Tasting Salon – the charismatic Jean-Charles Boisset’s over-the-top, Baccarat crystal-bedecked lounge. Tour the French Laundry’s organic gardens, and meander Yountville’s streets in search of the more than 40 works of public art that make up the Yountville Art Walk. Check-out a Napa Valley Lodge bike and peddle Yountville’s back roads, lined with quaint cottages and lush gardens. By car, you’re mere miles from any of the hundreds of wineries in the area.

AMENITIES: Napa Valley Lodge offers all the bells and whistles of a luxury resort without charging the ubiquitous and infuriating ‘resort fee’ that has become de rigueur in the hotel industry. Your room rate (which, by the way, is incredibly affordable in comparison to other resorts at this level) includes: 

·     Bubbles and freshly baked cookies at check-in

·     A bountiful continental breakfast buffet every morning from 7:30am – 10am

·     Turndown service by request

·     Complimentary Wi-Fi and parking

·     Nespresso coffee makers in each room

·     Copies of The San Francisco Chronicle and the Wall Street Journal

·     Bottled water

·     A choice of down or synthetic pillows

·     Food and beverage service poolside May through September

·     Complimentary wine tasting every Thursday and Friday evening

Additionally, the resort features a large central pool and hot tub surrounded by comfy loungers. Two hammocks hang by a bocce ball court in the central patio where fire pits add ambiance. Spa treatments are offered in room, or poolside.

ACCOMMODATIONS: 55 spacious guest rooms and suites feature private patios or balconies, many with courtyard, garden, or vineyard views, vaulted ceilings, and wood burning fireplaces. Lush bed linens and plush robes serve to further raise the luxe quotient. The Lodge’s five suites include Plum Wine Machines that dispense wines by the glass at the push of a button. The Lodge is the only establishment in the Napa area to feature this vinicultural technology. 

OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT: Napa Valley Lodge is part of the Woodside Hotel Group which claims the distinction of having more #1 rated hotels (per TripAdvisor) than any other California hotel company. Their portfolio of ten California hotels and eleven restaurants stretches from Calistoga to Carmel and each property elegantly represents its sense-of-place. Gracious service, superb amenities, and local authenticity are hallmarks of Woodside, and Napa Valley Lodge is a wonderful example of the group’s genuine hospitality.

Napa Valley Lodge, 2230 Madison Street
, Yountville, California 

Photos by Paul Dyer