Review: Stanly Ranch, Auberge, California

Why book? 

An antidote to wine retreats where you sip Cab all day, this wellness-focused Napa resort can curate fitness optimisation programs or send you out on a cycling adventure with a pro before you enjoy a wine-paired dinner at its stellar restaurant.

Set the scene 

A group of local cyclists has just pulled up to the juice bar at the Halehouse spa, fresh off hosting sporty young guests on a weekly ride. Thirtysomething tech and finance execs dressed in Vuori are doing yoga on a terrace overlooking vineyards. By late day, their Whoop devices show enough strain that they’re relaxing around the adults only-pool sipping Frosted Vines (a riff on frosé).

The backstory The Auberge Resorts Collection brand was born in Napa Valley when Bob Harmon, father of founder Mark Harmon, teamed up with French restaurateur Claude Rouas to open Auberge du Soleil. Stanly Ranch is the brand’s third property in Napa Valley and is set on a historic wine country ranch founded in 1856 by Judge Edward Stanly.

The rooms Guests can choose from 135 cottages, rooms, and suites, all with private terraces and outdoor showers. Most have separate living areas and outdoor fire pits. Designer Jen Clausen created a modern farmhouse vibe, using leather and oak furnishings and oatmeal and beige hues throughout the rooms. Standout amenities include Guatemalan heated robes, yoga mats, and Theragun massage tools.

Food and drink Bay Area food lovers make the trek to wine country just to dine on chef Garrison Price’s wine-paired, ingredient-focused, meals at the resort’s Avroko-designed restaurant, Bear. The chef uses fermentation and preservation processes to create complex flavours in dishes like sunchokes with caramelised yeast, fermented shiitake, and a dessert of sourdough ice cream with yeast caramel and powdered starter. After a glass of rose and a bit of sun at Basin Bar you could easily be forgiven for thinking you’ve been transported to Provence. This French countryside-inspired bar located next to the grand pool serves exactly the type of farm-fresh, light fare you crave when sitting poolside, like seared tuna-filled lettuce cups and scallop ceviche, plus low booze cocktails.

The spa The hotel’s restaurant dazzles, but the spa still steals the spotlight. Called the Halehouse, the seven-building, 2,700-square-foot wellness compound is overseen by Erin Hosler, who came from NYC’s cult spa, the Well. She’s curated a team of leading medical professionals, sports pros, and wellness gurus who customised programs that incorporate sleep, nutrition, physical therapy, chiropractic services, and more. Every imaginable class is on offer at the state-of-the-art fitness center and movement studios and weary muscles can be revived by hitting the Springhouse Circuit, which includes a salt room, cedar sauna, hyperbaric oxygen chamber, tepidarium, and cold plunge.

The neighbourhood

You feel tucked away on your own private wine estate in southern Napa Valley, but the tasting rooms, restaurants, and shops of downtown Napa and Sonoma are 10 and 20 minutes away, respectively.

The service

The concierge team has a, ‘your wish is our command’ philosophy and pride themselves on impressing guests behind their wildest dreams. A great example is the helicopter tasting they can arrange with Donum Estate. The helicopter lands directly in the Donum vineyards, with a wine tasting and chef-prepared snacks upon arrival. After the tasting, guests go on a private tour of the property’s extensive collection of contemporary art, alongside an optional lunch before flying back to the resort. Small gestures, like farm-fresh crudité with homemade miso cashew dip waiting in your room upon arrival, are equally impressive.

For families

There’s far more to do than sip and swirl wine, making this a great base for families and multigen travellers looking for a more holistic Napa experience. Family-friendly educational experiences include farm tours, hot air balloon rides, and falconry, plus there’s a dedicated family pool. And the hotel creates special programming around school holiday breaks such as family 3K fun runs, live music, and wildflower walks.

Eco effort

All landscaping throughout the entire property uses recycled water and the resort sources a majority of its food from local farms, including meats. The resort’s vineyards are all organically grown. Stanly Ranch partners with Charlie's Acres, an animal sanctuary for rescued animals to make compost. The hotel will take all of its coffee grounds from Gavel and vegetable scraps and give it to Charlie Acres to build compost which is turned into animal bedding.

Accessibility

Accessible areas include the entrance, guestrooms, restaurant, ballroom, spa, swimming pool, fitness centre, and parking. Accessible rooms have mobility features like doorways that provide 32 inches of clear width, assistive listening devices, TTY, and closed captioning or closed caption decoders for TVs.

Anything left to mention?

The hotel has a local cycling club that guests can join for group rides once a week.