Promontory Wine & Meadowood Napa Valley

wine barrels at Promentory (c) 2020 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Many oenophiles know about Promontory Wine. What most may not know is the relationship between Promontory and Meadowood Napa Valley. Part of the enduring vision of William Harlan, Meadowood's founder, both Promontory and the Napa Valley Reserve continue under the guidance of the second generation of the Harlan family.

vineyard road (c) 2020 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

The winery and its vineyards sit on a vast expanse of wild terrain in central Napa Valley. Promontory is NOT one of the many wineries you'll see driving along the Silverado Trail or taking the wine train. It's most definitely not a place you can just drop into for a wine tasting. Visits are limited and by appointment only. The best way to experience Promontory is to book a stay at Meadowood Napa Valley through your Virtuoso travel advisor. We'll arrange with the team at Meadowood to schedule your appointment at Promontory and arrange a day of wine experiences customized around your own tastes and interests.

Promontory 2008 (c) 2020 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Our group tasted from two bottles of Promontory wine, including this twelve year old 2008 Cabernet. It is something exceptionally special!

copyright (c) 2020 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

how to turn El Niño into cash

A very inventive hotel promotion just came across my desk. As you may know, there's a huge El Niño brewing in the Pacific, and we're getting LOTS of much needed rain here in Northern California.

Meadowood Napa Valley has created a way for you to turn that rain into cash. Book a stay at Meadowood right now, and should it rain at any point during a stay until March 31st, they will offer you a $150 credit per night to put towards a spa treatment in their brand new, just opened spa.

One of my very favorite resorts in the Napa Valley, Meadowood is a member of Virtuoso, meaning you'll also get these added-value perks when you book through your Virtuoso travel consultant:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• A $50 credit towards daily breakfast in The Grill or via room service for up to 2 in-room guests
• $100 Spa credit
• A beautiful box of 9 handmade chocolate truffles made by a chocolatier in Yountville
• Early check-in/late check-out subject to availability

Interested in a romantic weekend at Meadowood? Give me a call, and hopefully you and your beloved will be singing in the rain!

copyright (c) 2016 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Meadowood Napa Valley | visit in the winter

While winter rages across most of the country, Northern California has gotten beautiful for the moment. I'm just back from walking my dog in the park this morning, and the weather was gorgeous. I started with just a light fleece jacket and ended up the walk in just shirtsleeves. Of course, the weather in Northern California is very changeable with beautiful, sunny days followed by a period of rain.

Meadowood Napa Valley has taken this into account with the Meadowood Rain Check. Rain or shine, Meadowood Napa Valley is a beautiful and luxurious resort located in the heart of the beautiful Wine Country. It is just outside the picturesque town of St. Helena with its wine shops and restaurants.

While we believe Meadowood is lovely on a rainy day, we understand that showers sometimes interrupt carefully laid plans. So, if it rains during your stay on the estate during the months of January through April 14, 2011, we'll treat you to a sunny day by issuing you a Meadowood Rain Check for a complimentary night's lodging when you stay again before July 31, 2011.

Even if it does rain, you can still snuggle up in front of the fire in a Treeline Room with fireplace. Meadowood is a member of Virtuoso and offers the following amenities on paid evenings when booked through a Virtuoso luxury travel consultant.

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• $50 daily credit towards breakfast in The Grill or via room service
• a bottle of Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon
• $100 spa credit, once per stay

Meadowood Napa Valley (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2011 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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Visit Napa Valley | iPhone app

A free Visit Napa Valley iPhone app has been announced. According to the publisher's description, the app uses an interactive GPS map to help you visit Napa Valley - with directions to the top vineyards, updates on culinary and wine tasting events, exclusive offers, and over 100 places to stay. You can download the app here.

Where to stay in Napa Valley? Let me shorten the list from 100 to three Virtuoso properties in the wine country north of San Francisco.

Meadowood Napa Valley is a beautiful resort with 85 cottages, suites, and lodges set on a wooded hillside just outside of St. Helena, a small town with great wine shops and restaurants. Virtuoso guests receive a $50 daily breakfast credit, $100 spa credit, bottle of Napa cabernet sauvignon, and an upgrade if available on arrival.

The Carneros Inn is a contemporary resort intended to create the impression of living in a working vineyard. The 83 guest cottages resemble the simple wooden buildings provided to vineyard workers (on the outside), but you'll step inside to your own supremely private and luxurious suite. Virtuoso guests receive a $40 daily breakfast credit, $50 spa credit, VIP wine tasting passes, and an upgrade if available on arrival.

Calistoga Ranch has 47 cedar-shingled guest lodges located on a 157-acre site outside the town of Calistoga. The resort features a great Spa and a private restaurant, the Lakehouse, open exclusively to owners and resort guests. 2011 amenities include Daily full breakfast, bottle of wine and seasonal gift, sparking wine served with dinner (or on second night in room), and upgrade if available on arrival.

If you've never heard of Virtuoso, it's the best way to get outstanding values at nearly 900 five-star hotels and resorts in the Napa Valley and around the world — free daily breakfasts, room upgrades, and more. You pay the same and just get more when you make your reservation through a Virtuoso travel consultant.


Napa Valley (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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Meadowood | Napa Valley luxury

Settled on a private estate just outside of St. Helena, California, Meadowood Napa Valley offers a casual yet elegant setting for the perfect romantic getaway. With 85 cottages, each suite offers a living room and separate bedroom. Nestled on a beautiful hillside of live oak trees, come to Meadowood just to relax in the beautiful northern California weather, or indulge yourself in active pleasures such as hiking, tennis, golf, or croquet.

After dark, enjoy the incredible cuisine of Chef Christopher Kostow of The Restaurant at Meadowood. I recently enjoyed a five course tasting meal at Meadowood, each course being paired with a selected wine: an amuse bouche of Cold Smoked Toro, Chilled Carrot Soup, Monkfish Roasted in Vadouvan (pictured), Slow Cooked Beef Tenderloin (that literally melted in the mouth), and a Valrohna Chocolate dessert.

When you venture beyond the resort, the famous vineyards of Napa Valley are located just minutes from Meadowood. Enjoy biking or driving through the scenic countryside and exploring the shops of St. Helena. If fine wine is your passion, a Virtuoso luxury travel consultant can design a customized wine tour for you, even getting you into vineyards not normally open to the public.

For the best values in luxury travel, book Meadowood through your Virtuoso travel consultant. In addition to specially discounted rates, Virtuoso guests enjoy an upgrade when available upon arrival, daily full Breakfast for two, a bottle of Napa Valley cabernet, and a full Lunch for two once during your stay.


Meadowood Napa Valley (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2008 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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