Carneros Resort and Spa Napa, California

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The Setting

The phrase “best of both worlds” often gets thrown around casually, but in this case, Los Carneros (the rams) wine-growing region happens to be uniquely shared by both Napa and Sonoma Counties. The region is also distinctive for the gentle rolling hills of the sparsely-wooded Mayacamas range which cradle the cool breezes and fog from nearby San Pablo Bay. Another distinction worthy of our affections is the Carneros Resort & Spa, nestled upon 28 acres of picturesque countryside and a 15-minute drive to both Downtown Napa and historic Sonoma Plaza. The resort showcases the best Carneros has to offer -- the landscapes, the lush vineyard surroundings and natural beauty -- and helping to preserve this pristine setting has always been at the heart of Carneros Resort and Spa. As such, a focus on sustainability and social responsibility is a part of their everyday efforts. Significant changes have been made in managing energy, conserving water, recycling and waste reduction and improving air quality, while continuing to offer the quintessential Napa Valley experience. 

Sleep and Sanctuary 

Across the 28 golden acres of Carneros Resort you’ll find 100 individual Cottages, two-cottage Harvest Suites, Residences and Private Homes in gated communities. Blending a "from the land" philosophy with modern resort accommodations, each cottage, suite and home features a refined farm-house design paired with informal elegance that seamlessly blends in with the natural surroundings. The secluded Cottages are arranged within 17 private neighborhoods named after local flora and fauna indigenous to the region and are equipped with one fabulous thing after another. We’re talking private garden patios and backyards, relaxing front porches, indoor/outdoor showers, fire pits, individual soaking tubs and the creme de la creme for Napa, Plum wine dispensers for on-demand local wines. Floor to ceiling glass bi-fold doors have replaced French doors on one complete wall in a majority of cottages, opening onto a private deck creating a seamless indoor-outdoor living area that doubles the size of the indoor space. On the subject of space, the Private Homes are perfect for groups and families visiting wine country offering home-away-from-home amenities like full kitchens adorned with Viking appliances. In all of the property dwellings, you’ll experience abundant natural light, natural ventilation and harmony with the surrounding landscape. 

Eat. Pray. Eat.

It’s always smart to visit Napa with a hearty appetite, and at Carneros Resort you will embark on a culinary journey highlighted by three on-property restaurants worthy of Napa Valley’s stellar reputation. Helmed by executive chef, Jeffrey Jake, FARM (truly lives up to the name) at Carneros is the fine-dining centerpiece, while Boon Fly Café and the guest-exclusive Hilltop Dining Room offer farm-to-table dining at its finest, featuring only local ingredients from small farms, regional wines and handcrafted cocktails.  The resort  recently unveiled eight new raised-bed culinary gardens to join the farm. Managed by chef de cuisine, John Carney and the resort’s culinary gardener, Marley Dawson, the farm will provide year-round produce for the on-site restaurants and heavily influences FARM’s seasonal menu. The garden houses more than 50 varieties of organic herbs, vegetables, and fresh eggs from the resort's chicken coop. Sustainability is obviopusly important to FARM; all food waste is composted (green waste is used to fertilize resort garden plots and proteins are composted offsite). Even used cooking oils find a second life as biofuel.

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