Leaving Lake Tahoe, we traveled west to Napa on I-50 and happened to be driving near an area where they were having many uncontrolled wildfires. In fact, we were so close at one point that we could see the flames from the top of a ridge. We learned that they actually closed the road we were on the next day! Even when we arrived in Napa, there was still a haze on the horizon from all of the smoke blowing miles away.
Our first stop was at The Meritage Resort & Spa. Just like the wine that inspired its name, The Meritage Resort and Spa is the perfect blend of wine tasting, dining, spa, and indulgence. You immediately feel like you’ve just walked into a beautiful Tuscan hotel upon entering the lobby and this Italian-inspired décor spills over into your guest room and all the areas on property. High ceilings, spacious bathrooms, luxurious beds and many rooms with private balconies or patios with vineyard views await. Relax with two swimming pools, three whirlpools, several outdoor fire places, bocce ball court and hiking trails through the nine acres of hillside vineyards. There is even a tasting room onsite – with a magnificent Estate Cave featuring the Trinitas Cellars’ award-winning wines. Even cooler if you brought the kids is Crush Ultra Lounge, the sports-themed lounge with six luxury bowling lanes and a pool table. You won’t want to leave without experiencing the full-service spa, which features steam grottos, soaking pools, waterfalls, revitalizing treatments and therapies.
And what’s even better is all of their green practices including:
- An on-site herb garden to supply herbs for the restaurants
- On-site lemon and olive trees which help lower the insect problems naturally
- Fryer oil is donated for biodiesel/biofuel
- All coffee and tea at Blend™ Café is organic and fair trade
- Lunch bags for groups are reusable
- Clear cups and to-go boxes are made of biodegradable corn
- Low flow plumbing fixtures
- EV Charging Stations for electric cars
- Programmable thermostats used in common areas
- Certain Guest Room keys save energy as the lights and air/heat turn on when the key is inserted and off when the key is removed
If you like the feel of a large, sprawling resort with all these amenities on-site, you’ll love the Meritage Resort. Visit http://meritageresort.com.
The next day we headed out for some classic Napa Valley wine tasting. I’ve often said you need weeks to really explore Napa because you can really only visit about 3-4 wineries in a day (even if you have a limo driver). Plus, depending on what region you want to visit (southern, central or nothern Napa), and if you are visiting more than one in a single day, you’ll have to account for traffic and driving time. We were able to hit about 10 or so in the 3 days we were there, and the ones that really stood out to me were: Whitehall Lane, Miner Family, Del Dotto and Castello di Amorosa. While the wines were fantastic at each of them – some other notables were: the tasting experience at Whitehall Lane (amazing charcuterie paired with each wine by their chef); the cave tour at Del Dotto (a chance to try wines by the barrel not yet released); the friendliness and lively tasting room at Miner Family; and exploring a castle at Castello di Amorosa.
It’s a good thing most tasting rooms close at 5pm because you don’t want to miss out on the amazing food scene in Napa. Places not to be missed are: Mustards Grill, R&D Kitchen, TORC, Grace’s Table, Farm, Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen and if you really want to break the bank, French Laundry.
Submitted by Dr. Diane Hayden