Top 20 Northern California Hotels: Readers’ Choice Awards 2021
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Why book? Set on 258 acres dotted with moss-covered California oaks and surrounded by rolling vineyards, this is Sonoma’s rare wine resort that perfectly channels its surroundings while offering all the assets of a luxury resort.
Set the scene: After exiting Highway 1 at the Dry Creek exit and walking along the Montage Way to the property, it’s clear this isn’t your typical California wine country resort. For starters, there is no facade or pretending to be in Tuscany or Bordeaux: there is no grand villa ambience, expansive lawns or European gardens. Instead, there is a refreshing ‘possession’ of the place and there is no doubt that you are in Sonoma. Every last bit speaks for it: the architecture is modern NorCal, the landscaping is heavy with oak and eucalyptus, rosemary and native shrubs; the color scheme comes from the surrounding sunny hills and vineyards (ocher, moss, wheat), and at the restaurant almost everything from Russian River wines to baby gem lettuce comes from a few miles away. While Napa has a handful of large-scale upscale resorts and Sonoma offers a number of great places to stay, Montage Healdsburg is a first for Sonoma in terms of luxury and size.
The backstory: This is the first property in Northern California for Orange County hotel and resort brand, Montage International. Montage has long-standing esteemed properties in charming locations like Laguna Beach, Deer Valley, and Palmetto Bluff. With its newest resorts, the Los Cabos property and this new location in Healdsburg, the brand is truly committed to understanding and championing location rather than just opening another luxury resort that could be anywhere. Where in the world.
The rooms: There are 130 rooms and suites located on 258 acres of vineyards and oak groves. The structures, sort of modern bungalows, are self-contained with one or two units per building, offering a lot of privacy and space. âBuilt to blend in with the landscapeâ is a bit of a buzzword these days and can mean little more than the choice of paint color, but in the case of Montage, the term has some bite. Recognizing that the surrounding landscape is fragile (as evidenced by the recent wildfires that ravaged neighboring parts of Sonoma and Napa), the earth-colored structures are elevated to disturb the terrain as little as possible and have been constructed in a manner to preserve 22,000 of the property’s pre-existing oak trees. Rooms have an almost NorCal modern, ryokan vibe – clean-lined with lots of light woods, sliding doors, and expansive cantilevered patios with private fireplaces. There are accent materials and beautiful organic shapes everywhere; a woven leather bench, sandstone bricks in the bathroom (which opens onto a huge outdoor shower); dried branches artfully hung on the wall.
Food and drink: The main restaurant, Hazel Hill, the Scout Field Bar and the lobby form a sort of complex with a huge patio creating an indoor / outdoor flow that takes advantage of the pleasant climate all year round. Almost anything you want to eat or drink can be and is grown or produced in Sonoma and Hazel Hill’s menu highlights the almost absurd bounty of this part of the state: Dungeness crab caught off the Sonoma coast, produce, cheese and meat from a few miles away, and a wine and beer list that doubles from neighboring vineyards and IPAs brewed on the road. The pool bar makes an average margarita, and the Healdsburg Country take out store is great for an early morning coffee (from the Sonoma Flying Goat roaster) and a pastry or squeezed juice; the store also offers a large selection of locally made treats to take away for later (honey, chocolate, soaps).
The spa: The spa, adjacent to the rimless outdoor pool and full-service salon, is sleek and modern with 11 treatment rooms and a solid menu that offers any type of massage, facial, or body treatment one could possibly want. to wish. Health and wellness is important in these areas (the hot springs and wellness town of Calistoga are approximately 20 miles away) and there is an established plunge pool of excellent practitioners – from massage therapists to yoga instructors. – that Montage is able to dive into.
The neighborhood / area: Healdsburg town center is approximately 4 miles south of the property. It’s a cute town and well worth browsing through its shops and cafes one afternoon. There are a few excellent restaurants in Healdsburg, the most notable being SingleThread and Valletta. The resort is a great base for exploring Sonoma’s many (like hundreds) of wineries. Russian River, Dry Creek and Alexander Valley wineries are all nearby. Montage has relationships with a number of them and can help plan tours, set up bespoke tastings, and provide private drivers.
The service: It’s California after all, and there is a friendliness and casualness to it. Everyone is professional, but it’s not a culture of âwaiting to be talked toâ. The staff will strike up a conversation, recommend a favorite winery, or offer advice on where to take one of the in-house e-bikes for a ride.
For families: The property itself is definitely family owned. There is children’s programming, plenty of outdoor space, and a separate family pool is coming up. That said, unless you live in the coolest part of San Francisco and want a dose of sunshine from Sonoma, this is a wine resort, which means you probably plan on doing at least a day’s work. tastings (something that does not cry out for family fun).
Eco-effort: The resort went out of its way to preserve as many of the original oak trees as possible during the planning and construction of the resort. Many structures are elevated to avoid disturbing the terrain, and drought tolerant and endemic or native plants are used in the landscaping. The range of in-room amenities is created in partnership with the vegan and own brand Gloss Moderne, and products from the herbal sweet brand BÄeo Essential Organics are provided for families traveling with children. As mentioned, the food and beverage program almost derives exclusivity from local suppliers. There is also on-site parking with solar panels on the roof which provides around 20% of the complex’s power.
Accessibility There are several ADA rooms available which vary in size and configuration (including a king room, one with two queens, and a large suite); the main paths around the property are wide and paved.
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