“Two of Yountville’s Top Hotels in Napa Valley”
Once upon a time, in the heart of Napa Valley, there once was a small unknown village slightly off the beaten path called Yountville, long before Michelin Star restaurants, luxury hotels, charming little shops, and boutique winery tasting rooms. The town actually began when a small 11,887-acre parcel owned by the Mexican government awarded a land grant to George C. Yount in 1836. Yount was the first Euro-American to settle in these parts and was a true pioneer in planting vineyards in the Napa Valley. In the early days, part of Yountville was actually named Sebastopol. However, after George Yount's death in 1867, Sebastopol united with Yountville in honor of Yount's life and the two communities became one in Napa County.
The influence of the railroad coming in in 1886 brought new growth. Shortly after that, newcomer Gottlieb Groezinger bought 20 acres and built one of the first wineries in the area with a barrel room & distillery in 1870, now known in the center of town as V Marketplace. Next came the building of Yountville's veterans home, bringing more added life to this sleepy hamlet. In 1965, the Town of Yountville became the 4th incorporated community in the Napa Valley.
Napa Valley's first sparkling wine producer, Domaine Chandon, opened their visitor center in 1977. The winery and restaurant brought new notoriety to the region, which proved to be instrumental in the continued wave of growth in Yountville. The expansion and popularity eventually put this famed "Miracle Mile" on the map as one of the most sought-after destinations to visit in wine country. The metamorphosis over the last several decades has transformed George Yount's vision into an international tourist mecca.
Often referred to as the "Culinary Heart" of the Napa Valley, Yountville is host to many renowned restaurants, including Thomas Keller's famed French Laundry. A few fun facts provided by the town of Yountville:
2,933 – Yountville Population
19 – Number of Tasting Rooms
1,600 – Number of Restaurant Seats
1 – Gas Station with great wine and hot dogs
451 – Number of Hotel Rooms
$466 – Average Room Rate
$589 – Average Room Rate in October
Along the main drag in Yountville, you will find many charming get-a-ways - inns, B&B's, Hotels and resorts to indulge and pamper you for your stay while on your visit to this magical little town. Two of the grandest luxury properties in Yountville are the Bardessono Hotel and Spa, and The Estate, which includes both the Hotel Villagio and the Vintage House.
The Bardessono comes with its own bit of history. It was built on the original home site of Yountville's Bardessono family, who relocated to the Napa Valley with their six children from the Piedmont region in Italy in 1926. John and Lucy bought the 20-acre parcel for a mere $14,000. Their extended family maintained the family compound until 1989 when part of it was sold off for residential development. There were five remaining acres in the Bardessono Brothers partnership, which is where the location of Bardessono Hotel and Spa stands today.
This "Deep Green" property situated in the core of Yountville in its own private enclave is the LEED Platinum Certified Bardessono Hotel. There are 28 LEED-certified properties in the United States, all dedicated to building a smarter, more sustainable future. "Bardessono makes a commitment to provide a luxurious experience for guests within a sustainable environment."
The developers of the hotel utilized over 10,000 square feet of salvaged wood, which they incorporated into the doors, flooring, walls of the guestrooms, spa, restaurant, and event space. Of the unique guestrooms and suites on the property, each offers its own individual space and personal sanctuary. They are described as a space for timeless indulgence, from the organic cotton bed linens to the hand-crafted bath products. Guest rooms are also equipped with leading technology, including a virtual surround speaker system and media hub. Taking the pampering and their first-class indulgence to new heights is their suite collection, including the Spa-Suites, Steam-Spa Suites, Tufa Suites as well as customized ADA Suites.
Upon your arrival at the Bardessono, the essence of tranquility and beauty is immediate, as you experience a welcome peacefulness from the Zen-like surroundings transcending throughout the property. There are numerous gardens, sculptures, and water features adorned throughout every enclave around this stunning hotel's grounds. It feels so private that your experience often makes you feel like you are the only guest there. Yet there are so many excellent amenities to offer from this unique property.
The Restaurant Lucy, named after the original proprietress of the property, Lucy Bardessono, presents garden-style award-winning cuisine created by Executive Chef Nate Lindsay. Whether you are a guest at the hotel or visiting the Yountville for an evening, a stop at this stunning restaurant is a must. Lucy had a gift for farming and cultivated the grounds into a working farm in the 1920s on the historic Bardessono grounds. Her passion for working the land with fresh farm produce inspired the ingredients utilized in Chef Lindsay's stylized dishes. All the ingredients on The Lucy menus are from locally sourced purveyors and from the onsite certified organic gardens just steps from the restaurant.
One of the many stand-out features of Lucy Restaurant is the specialty Bloody Mary Cart. The bar's talented mixologist will create a customized Bloody Mary to suit your tastes and your favorite flavors. The demonstration is a visual experience and worth the journey to the cart, where the "Liquid Artists" craft this specialty beverage from Platinum 7X Vodka, fresh tomatoes and garden garnishes, and a few other delicious additions.
After your Bloody Mary, you may want to retreat back to your room for a dip in the Beer Bath Spa Treatment explicitly designed to enjoy in the privacy of your Bardessono guest room. A perfect treat for dad after a long day of sightseeing, wine tasting, or golf. And of course, there is also an extensive Spa Menu for Mom as well. Their full-service spa was named the top wellness spa in the US in 2017 by Organic Spa Magazine.
Centered in the middle of Yountville, along a significant stretch of Washington Street, is known as The Estate in Yountville. The expansive property extends just south of the French Laundry Gardens to the entry gateway to the south of town. Showcased along The Estate's 22-acre compound is everything you can ask for in creating the perfect visitor experience. Nestled at each end of the expansive grounds are their two luxurious hotels, the Vintage House and the Hotel Villagio. You can also indulge in their newly renovated spa or visit the neighboring winery tasting rooms – Silver Trident and JCB Tasting Salon. If it's a bit of shopping that is up to your alley, a leisurely stroll through V Marketplace offers plenty of options for your Napa Valley treasures.
Open for lunch and dinner is, renowned chef and TV Host, Michael Chiarello's Bottega Restaurant. His inspired Italian / California cuisine has earned him many culinary accolades, including Zagat, Top 10 by Forbes, Top 20 by Esquire, and Top 100 Bay Area by Michael Bauer. Also throughout the Estate’s property are numerous meeting, indoor and outdoor venues and pavilions for everything from weddings, corporate retreats as well as small and large convention facilities. With the new addition of their gathering retreats and intimate garden areas, they can transition from 2700-square feet of indoor meetings to 11,000-square feet of outdoor entertaining space.
The rebranding of the Estate began with the transformation and renovation of the Vintage House formerly the Vintage Inn, where they began welcoming guests in October 2017. Bringing further luxurious updates is the welcoming of their newest additions with the Vineyard and the Pavilion, as well as a full-service bar with onsite entertainment in the newly built lounge and lobby at Hotel Villagio.
The spacious guest rooms at both hotels offer luxurious adornments throughout including fireplaces, outdoor balconies, complimentary daily breakfast, all welcoming visiting guests in a sophisticated, inviting retreat atmosphere. The Hotel's Winery Partner Program offers guests exclusive perks to many of the most sought-after wineries in the Napa Valley.
Renovations to The Estate have been extensive. No detail has been overlooked from the complete remodel, including all of the guest accommodations, the grounds, luxurious spa, poolside cabanas, and much, much more.
Everything you can imagine to make your visit to the Napa Valley memorable is here at The Estate's luxury playground along this Napa Valley promenade.
A few of the unique guest experiences offered a The Estate are:
Once Upon a Vine: A Guided vineyard tour and wine tasting at the Estate, sharing a sense of the heritage, culture and the history of Yountville
Love is in the Air: A private helicopter tour over the Napa Valley
The Art of Sabering: A lesson on the secrets of sabering a sparkling wine bottle from the masters at V Wine Cellars
That's Amore: Indulge in a culinary experience led by Yountville's own Celebrity Chef Michael Chiarello
This fabulous transformation of The Estate Yountville is slated as one of the most ambitious and grand renovations projects in the area. Their recent redevelopment efforts have contributed to an even more significant presence of this beautiful Napa Valley village along Yountville’s impressive Miracle Mile.
www.villagio.com/the-estate-en.html
