Approaching The Meritage Resort and Spa for a crush-season getaway in Napa Valley, we were initially surprised. Vineyards heavy with fruit lined the route north from the San Francisco Bay, but as we neared the resort we passed through a neat, modern office park. Still, pulling beneath the two-story portico of the main building—with its stone-and-stucco, Tuscan-inspired façade—the bustle of the outside world quickly receded thanks to a warm welcome from valet and front-desk staff.
The Meritage opened in 2006 with 154 guestrooms and suites and completed a $40 million expansion in spring 2012, adding 165 more rooms. The resort offers extensive amenities and about 50,000 square feet of meeting space, including two grand ballrooms, boardrooms, all-weather outdoor reception areas and salons, which makes it popular with conference planners. During our visit two large corporate events were in residence, yet the resort’s layout and generous grounds prevented crowds or excessive noise. Most prominent on the property are eight acres of vineyards cascading over the hillside behind the guestrooms and the pool area. Perched above the vines is the iconic bronze statue The Grape Crusher, a tribute to Napa Valley vineyard workers.
Our King Patio room in the newer wing provided every comfort. A large flat-screen television sat on a substantial dresser/console opposite the king bed, while a seating area included a second wall-mounted screen. Double doors opened to a marble bath with a roomy glass-enclosed shower and a long double vanity—ample counter space for two. The double closet held a safe for valuables and laptops plus two thick robes. In the minibar refrigerator we found chilled bottled water and a complimentary bottle of Trinitas Cellars Chardonnay—an appreciated touch. Our patio, with a comfortable chaise longue, tables and armchairs overlooking a resort piazza, was the perfect spot to enjoy a glass before dinner. For guests who need to work, the room includes a large desk with convenient outlets, good lighting and high-speed Internet, though our stay focused on rest and relaxation.
After dinner at Siena, the resort’s restaurant featuring locally sourced ingredients, we wandered to the pool area to enjoy the warm night and starry skies beside one of three fire pits. One of the resort’s most appealing features is its collection of outdoor living rooms and piazzas—some centered on fireplaces, others on fountains. At any time of day or year, you can find a sunlit or shaded sofa or armchair, curl up with a book, chat with friends or use the complimentary WiFi.
The next morning I was eager to visit Spa Terra, the resort’s 9,000-square-foot spa touted as the world’s only fully subterranean spa. The facility includes 12 treatment rooms—four dedicated to couples—separate steam grottos and soaking pools for men and women, a relaxation room with a water wall, and custom tile work with Florentine-influenced finishes. You enter through a large wood-and-wrought-iron doorway beneath the vineyards planted in several varietals. It took 18 months to excavate and build the caves that house the elegant spa, the Trinitas Cellars tasting room and the Meritage’s Estate Cave, a barrel-ceilinged entertainment space that accommodates up to 200 guests.
After checking in, I was escorted to the dressing room, provided with a locker, slippers and robe, and told I could enjoy the spa facilities throughout the day. The changing and shower rooms are comfortable and curtained for privacy, and the vanity area is well stocked with toiletries and conveniences for freshening up after treatments. I slipped into the soaking pool (skipping the steam grotto on a day pushing toward 100°F) before meeting Trodi, my massage therapist, in the Relaxation Lounge.
Trodi quickly identified my sore spots and areas of tension, then began a 50-minute Terra Massage. She skillfully worked my chronically tight neck, shoulders and upper back until the effects of long hours at a computer and the previous day’s drive melted away. Later, back in the dimly lit Relaxation Lounge, the trickling water from the wall created a calming backdrop. While a constant low rumble from the ventilation system was noticeable, the spa’s subterranean location otherwise muffled outside sounds. The cave-like environment might be uncomfortable for those prone to claustrophobia, but for me it offered a cool refuge from the heat and a comforting, enveloping ambiance.
After the treatment, my husband and I sampled wines in the subterranean Trinitas Cellars tasting room and climbed briefly to the vineyards above. It was too hot that day to stroll the rows, though the property does offer trails that wind among the vines for cooler visits. Instead we spent the blistering afternoon in a shaded poolside cabana, taking dips in the cool water and enjoying attentive lounge-side beverage service.
That evening we used the resort shuttle to reach downtown Napa. It dropped us in the heart of town to browse shops and choose from many dining options. Without the hassles of parking or navigation, and without worrying about driving after wine-tasting, we relaxed and made the most of our location in wine country.
Whether you use The Meritage Resort as a base for exploring Napa Valley or choose to remain on the resort’s grounds to enjoy its spa and amenities, you can expect a welcoming, relaxing experience.
Spa Terra at The Meritage Resort
875 Bordeaux Way
Napa, CA 94558
tel 707 251 3000
spaterra.com