Calistoga Ranch

Napa Valley, United States [view map]

Style: Ravishing ranch retreat
Setting: Cosy Californian canyon

Rich, polished cedar woods, enchanting valley views, fine Californian wine, soothing outdoor spa pools – just listing the treats on offer at this pampering woodland retreat makes our eyes glaze over. Or maybe that’s the Merlot...

Need to know

Rooms: 46 lodges.
Rates: Low season, $575–$1,895; high season, $725–$3,500. Breakfast costs around $45 for two.
Check-out: Midday; later check-out can be arranged on request, subject to availability.
Facilities: Vineyard, bocce ball courts, bathhouse spa, gym, shops, library, free WiFi throughout. In-lodge amenities: LCD TV, DVD/CD player, iPod dock, indoor-outdoor fireplace, shower garden, minibar, custom-blended eucalyptus and bay laurel toiletries.
Poolside: Crisp white sun-loungers fringe the heated outdoor pool, where you can soak in both the warming waters and the stunning scenery – a dramatic backdrop of the vineyard, the oak groves and the majestic Mayacama mountains.
Children: Under-12s stay free. There’s a charge of $100 for an extra person and the lodge living rooms have pull-out sofa beds.
Hotel closed: Calistoga closes for refurbishment between 15 November and 8 December.
Also: Furry friends are welcome, for a one-off fee of $125. The ranch can provide dog beds and food/water bowls. Dogs must remain on leads at all times. No smoking throughout.

In the know

Our favourite rooms: All the lodges are freestanding copper-brown wooden bungalows that boast invigorating, back-to-nature outdoor rain-shower cubicles and indulgent outdoor fireplaces. We love the colossal One-Bedroom Lodges with Jacuzzis outside, where you can bubble away under the starlit oak canopy, sipping cocktails from your wet bar.
Packing tips: Bring a taste for tannins and a nose for a bouquet – the ranch not only has its own vineyard and label, but also has regular visits from vinters to give tastings. Guests who want to get their hands juicy can join in harvesting, pruning and crushing.
Also: Calistoga is a natural mineral spring, so its Bathhouse on the banks of Lake Lommel offers private therapeutic water treatments, including (appropriately enough), a skin-shimmering Cabernet Wine Bath.

Food & drink

Hotel restaurant: The bright, open-beam Lakehouse restaurant creates fresh Californian cuisine, all locally sourced and painstakingly engineered to complement the voluminous wine list.
Dress code: Laid-back and leisurely.
Top table: If you’re not lucky enough to wrangle a dinner in the heart-stoppingly romantic chandeliered wine cave, at least grab a table on the Lakehouse terrace so you can overlook the lake.
Last orders: The Lakehouse is open till all day until 10pm; the bar corks its bottles at the same time – after that there’s the free minibar to crack into.
Room service: 24 hours. After the kitchen closes, cold dishes are available through the night.
Hotel bar: The cosy patio bar is a relaxed alfresco pleasure – the best place to enjoy a cool, jazzy sunset with a glass of fine, fruity Meritage.

Smith card offer A bottle of Calistoga-label wine on arrival, plus either a box of handmade Woodhouse chocolates or a locally produced oil and vinegar set

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Smith concierge

If you’d prefer to talk to someone, or you’re having trouble booking online, ring our travel team on 0845 034 0700 (+44 20 8987 4312 from outside the UK). We guarantee you’ll get the best available rates, and we don’t charge a booking fee.