Has autumn ever been as highly anticipated and as warmly welcomed as it has this year? With the arrival of cooler temperatures and gradual return of safe travel, a wine country getaway has never held such great appeal – especially now, with the much-anticipated debut of the all-new Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley, which opens today.
“We could not be more excited to welcome guests to Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley,” says General Manager Mehdi Eftekari, who arrived from Manhattan three years ago to oversee the creation of the first Four Seasons within a working winery. “It’s been a long time coming, giving us the luxury of time to build a team of truly talented people and put together thoughtful programming that marries the best of the Napa lifestyle with Four Seasons excellence.”
Located in the charming town of Calistoga, with just 85 rooms and suites, Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley is both intimate and at one with the surrounding countryside, boasting plenty of open air spaces surrounded by panoramic mountain and vineyard views. Highlighted by the Elusa Winery at its heart, the Resort encompasses a destination restaurant and bar, locally inspired indoor-outdoor spa experiences, two pools plus lots of room to enjoy the fresh air, and a collection of creative event spaces for meetings, weddings and other social events.
“Fall is my favourite time of year in Napa,” continues Eftekari. “After the busy harvest season, it’s time to relax and have fun, beginning with the Napa Valley Film Festival from November 9 to 14, followed by the local Calistoga Food & Wine event on November 20. Then it’s the unofficial cabernet or ‘cosy’ season here in Napa.”
Elusa Winery and Vineyard
For the first time, a fully immersive wine country experience is now offered within the context of a Four Seasons resort. In partnership with Thomas Rivers Brown – a Calistoga resident who has received national acclaim since beginning his winemaking career a quarter century ago – Elusa Winery and its 4.7-acre (1.9-hectare) organic vineyard celebrates the unique terroir of the Calistoga American Viticultural Area. With mere steps from grape to glass, guests of Four Seasons can look forward to sipping the signature Elusa wines in the Tasting Room, at TRUSS, or delivered by the bottle to one’s own guest room, suite or Private Retreat.
Guests are invited to explore the winemaking process from harvest and sorting to blending and ageing, with hands-on demonstrations, opportunities to meet the winemakers, and of course, wine tastings that include a variety of wines from the Napa region.
Signature Dining at TRUSS
The new home of celebrated Chef Erik Anderson, the Resort’s signature TRUSS Restaurant + Bar is destination dining at its best, where modern dining meets genuine service in a lush vineyard setting.
The space encompasses two complementary experiences. Now open for lively, all-day dining is the TRUSS Living Room, where guests can share snacks and small plates such as the artful Napa Valley crudites, or perhaps enjoy the namesake Living Room pizza, made tavern-style with sausage and pickled Nardello peppers, or Chef’s signature pressed chicken, served with seasonal butternut squash, fresno peppers, popped black rice and herbs. The elevated yet approachable main Restaurant will open in the weeks to come, offering an exceptional a la carte lunch and dinner menu with first-rate service and an unparalleled wine selection.
Let’s not forget breakfast: starters include the must-try grapefruit brûlée, while mains delight with touches such as caramelised apples atop caneles waffles, and even the ubiquitous avocado toast gets special treatment with the addition of crunchy furikake and black truffle.
In addition to private dining in the Cork Room, TRUSS also features a demonstration kitchen for private and group classes in mixology, wine pairings or gaucho-style cooking on its Argentinian wood burning grill.
Romance in Wine Country
At just 90 minutes from San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento, even those arriving by air will soon be driving through scenic mountains and vineyards on the way to the charming town of Calistoga and a warm welcome at Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley. Whether a quick weekend getaway or a much-needed longer vacation, couples will find rustic-chic accommodations, romantic dining and lazy days by a pool reserved for adult guests.
In an area long known for its hot springs, a mud treatment is a must at Spa Talisa at Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley. Several outdoor decks offer tranquil relaxation and locally-inspired misting experiences, while the spa treatment menu designed by Spa Director Natalie Posner offers a series of bespoke massages including the Perfect Pair couples massage, and for babymooners, the gentle Great Expectations massage for moms-to-be. The signature Brave Spirit Body Ritual, at 100 minutes, is in turn invigorating and restorative, while the Splendid Glow facial is a journey of deep cleansing, resurfacing and energisation using plant-based products.
Active couples will find a fully-equipped fitness centre including outdoor deck for spin classes, and complimentary bicycles will have guests out and exploring with tailor-made itineraries and in-the-know local recommendations. Calistoga and the surrounding area, in addition to many opportunities for wine lovers to taste and shop, is also home to numerous art galleries, artisan shops, farmers markets, and restaurants and cafes. Founded in 1886, Calistoga has retained its wine country charm by careful preservation, including limiting traffic and banning fast food restaurants.
Prefer to be alone? Put the do not disturb sign on, light the fire and order in from an extensive 24-hour in-room dining menu featuring selections from TRUSS ranging from nibbles to full meals, plus wines, beers and barista-made coffees.
