BY: FRAN ENDICOTT MILLER

I was first introduced to Silverado Resort three and a half decades ago when my college roommate married into an esteemed Napa Valley winemaking family. The wedding reception was held in the Silverado ballroom, and aside from a White House Christmas party I’d been fortunate to attend, it was the most refined event of my young life. The champagne flowed freely as black-tie and ball gown bedecked guests mingled on the veranda overlooking the impossibly green golf course. While the marriage didn’t last, the elegant glow of the evening was forever emblazoned upon my memory.

Fast forward a few years to a profession which led me time and again back to Silverado. As a member of the Golden State Warriors executive team, Silverado was our second home. Our annual golf tournament and season ticket holder events were held there, as were our annual marketing retreats. Our tight knit front office group swam in the pools, drove at the driving range, and imbibed at the Mansion Lounge. And all these years later, we continue to laugh about the time we placed our sleeping co-worker’s trundle bed in the middle of the fairway—which, now older and wiser, I do not recommend.

Long story short, my memories of Silverado are happy and warm, so it was with great pleasure that I returned recently for an overnight stay to find that everything I once loved about the place continues to resonate. For me, Silverado was always "quintessentially Napa," and it still is. The Mansion Lounge still serves great cocktails while a Sinatra soundtrack plays in the background; the great lawn is greener than ever, and the swimming options have expanded to include the tranquil Spa pool and a remodeled central pool with luxe cabanas. The Silverado Spa, the historic Mansion, the refurbished Conference Center,  the Silverado Market & Bakery, the Pro Shop, the Clubhouse and The Grill are all fully functioning in all their glory.

At its epicenter is the iconic Mansion, a California landmark for nearly 145 years, and to many, a symbol of Napa itself. The view, as you drive into the property, never gets old. One need not be a golfer to appreciate the serenity of the two championship courses that surround the 1,200-acre property and its vast open spaces, expansive grounds and large inviting patios and porch settings. And while guests are likely tempted to step off-property to explore the Valley and its winery and restaurant offerings, Silverado’s multitude of plexi‐paved tennis courts, varied swimming pools (the one in the 300 wing if my personal favorite), two restaurant options, the 16,000 square foot spa, exercise facilities, and salon ensure that one need not explore further in order to experience the best of Napa Valley.

Silverado’s one-bedroom condominium suites are clustered around hidden courtyards; several line the golf course fairways. Each has been remodeled over the years to reflect current trends; the latest design juxtaposes Silverado’s history with modern luxuries: open kitchen design, redesigned fireplaces, stone vanities, luxurious showers, crisp  bedding, and additional modern fixtures that lend a welcoming air to the rooms. (You’ll be hard pressed to find any hotel or resort in the Valley with rooms as large, with fully functioning kitchens.)

Despite the current proliferation of luxury resorts, inns, and B&B’s throughout the Valley, Silverado is and will always be the epitome of genteel Napa hospitality, and a celebration of the Valley itself. And it doesn’t take a personal history with a trove of warm memories to "get it." One visit, and you too will surely be hooked.  

Silverado Resort and Spa, 1600 Atlas Peak Rd., Napa