An outdoor massage at Silverado Resort and Spa. Being situated in prime wine country, the spa uses local ingredients and wine.
Fall is a popular time for Sonoma and Napa Valley, with oenophiles and budding wine enthusiasts alike congregating in late August to late October/early November for one of wine country’s most important events: the crush. Those serious about viticulture can gather to witness the process of picking, tasting and pressing, before fermentation begins. With most of the work out of the way by morning, guests should use the rest of their day to check out some of the local spas, which usually offer a wine-focused take on a spa getaway. For your wine aficionado clients, we round up some of the region’s luxury spas which are sure to offer a VIP experience.
Napa Valley’s Auberge du Soleil is a great option for travelers wanting some privacy, with the property spanning only 55 rooms and surrounded by 33 acres of vineyards. The resort’s spa is modeled after a centuries-old monastery yet manages to incorporate 7,000 square feet of space, including eight treatment rooms. The resort takes advantage of the surrounding landscape in its range of treatments. Expect house-infused oils, as well as potions cultivated from the onsite garden’s fresh calendula, rosemary and lemon balm. Beverage-based treatments take center stage in the seasonally changing menu; check out the Cocoa Cabernet Brulee, a cocktail of ground cocoa and cabernet grape seeds combined for an anti-oxidant exfoliating scrub. With all available treatments, guests have the option to kick off their pampering session with a special water ritual, a circuit of three soaking springs on the outdoor deck.
At Auberge, couples reign supreme with a full spa menu available for two. Those seeking to learn a trick or two should try out the “Couples Loving” massage, where guests get a private session with a trained massage therapist who teaches spa-goers and their partner the art of giving and receiving a massage. For some top-tier romance, try the “Ultimate Indulgence After-Hours,” where couples can soak in the warm spring-fed pools while enjoying some bubbly and sweet bites, followed by a candlelight rose petal bath and a 90-minute massage. Good to know: At the Auberge spa we hear that Vicki Auerbach and Danielle Devitt are the go-to masseuses.
Luxury travel advisors should reach out to Spa Director Karen Ray ([email protected]) to make special arrangements.
For VIPs staying at the hotel, the resort recommends the ultra-spacious “Champagne” or “Loire” private maisons. These stand-alone villas cover an impressive 1,800 square feet with master bedrooms containing their own sitting area and bathrooms hosting a steam shower big enough for two. Guests should take in the sweeping valley views below from their on-deck sculptural tub.
Sending a VIP client to the property? Carol King ([email protected]; 707-967-3134) will take care of the arrangements.
Nice Touch: The property provides five MBUSA vehicles onsite to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis.
Getting There: Land at Oakland or Sacramento airport. VIPs can land their private jets at the nearby Napa Valley Airport, which is only a 30-minute drive.
Couples Suite at Auberge du Soleil lets spa-goers and their partners enjoy the experience in tandem.
Fresh off a yearlong makeover is Napa’s Silverado Resort and Spa. The property was treated to improvements in its 380 guest rooms, a public-space refreshment and a complete redesign of its PGA Championship North course. Wine enthusiasts with a penchant for golf will appreciate that this Johnny Miller-owned resort recently hosted the Frys.com Open—the first event on the PGA tour calendar. The links’ theme continues in the 16,000-square-foot spa with a range of signature Golf Swing Therapies available. Golf pick-me-ups include the Golfer’s Reflexology, Go Golf Facial and the specialty Golf Ball Massage, which, as the name suggests, uses golf balls as a vehicle for massage pressure. Top Tip: Hardcore players should check out the property’s range of special golf exercises, such as Awareness Through Movement and WaterFIT, which are designed to maximize your swing.
Being situated in prime wine country, the spa uses local ingredients including lavender sugar, Meyer lemons and, naturally, wine. Vinetherapy treatments run the scale from the Vineyard Grape Seed Polish to the all-natural Chardonnay Sugar Scrub. VIPs can reserve one of the 16 private treatment rooms or the three outdoor cabanas. Reach out to Spa Director Suzy Bordeaux-Johlfs (707-257-5555) a recommended seven days in advance to ensure spa availability.
Those traveling with children will be glad to hear the spa caters to all guests 16 and above, while younger clients will be catered to in the salon.
The resort recommends the Oak Creek Suites for those staying with larger parties. Nestled along the green of the south fairway, this gated community features the property’s most spacious rooms alongside its own private pool and two tennis courts. The suites start at a sizeable 1,235 square feet and can accommodate six people in its three bedrooms. These rooms offer a full kitchen, dining area, living room with a wood-burning fireplace and a private patio.
Good to know: Those in need of some refreshments should check out the Royal Oak restaurant or the Flavor! Napa Valley Food and Wine Festival, a five day epicurean and oenological fair sponsored by the hotel and running November 19–23.
Head Concierge Art Rodriguez ([email protected]; 707-257-5439 or 707-257-5436) can keep VIPs busy with private wine tastings, hot-air balloon rides and hiking excursions.
Closest airports are Sacramento International, Oakland airport and San Francisco International Airport. Napa County Airport serves private jet flights.
At Sonoma’s Kenwood Inn and Spa, the staff can do it all from breakfast in the vineyards to poolside wine tasting. With its new “Wine Country Whim” program, the resort enlists the concierge to create an extensive list of customizable experiences to match guests’ every whim. The resort is adults-only and offers visitors the opportunity to switch off from technology with absolutely no TVs in any of the guest rooms.
Kenwood Inn and Spa offers guests everything from breakfast in the vineyards to poolside wine tasting.
With five treatment rooms, the property offers an extensive menu focusing on wellness. Signature to the spa is its line of medical-based treatments, where anti-aging potions are combined with clinical skin treatments. Most requested is the Fire and Ice facial, a botanical-based glycolic peel. Buzzworthy are the Intraceuticals Oxygen Infusions such as the popular Red Carpet Infusion, a favorite among brides and VIPs. Make sure the boys don’t feel left out, with the Gentlemen’s Facial, an anti-aging exfoliation treatment.
Nice Extra: While in wine country, take advantage of local surroundings with the special vinotherapy baths, which can be added onto any spa treatment. Choose from a menu of a pinot noir-, chardonnay- or sparkling mimosa-infused soaks, all enjoyed alongside a complimentary glass of wine, of course.
Reach out to Spa Supervisor Chloe Crockett ([email protected]) to make any special arrangements.
Looking for a bite to eat? The property has its own guest-only restaurant. The eatery serves Italian-based fare. Expect wood-fire pizzas, house-made fettuccine and nightly specials made with produce from the onsite garden.
Premium accommodations include the Stanze Del Re category of suites, which cover 600 to 800 square feet of space and have a balcony or patio, fireplace, sitting area and a jet tub with room for two. They also offer some of the best views on the property, with some rooms overlooking the central courtyard and a portion showing off the 200-plus acres of the nearby Kunde Vineyards.
General Manager Heike Pacchetti ([email protected]) can take direct care of any VIPs, who can use the nearby Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport to safely land their private jets.