The Meritage Resort and Spa has revealed its $25-million renovation, presenting 322 transformed guestrooms alongside its existing 147 guestrooms and suites, now boasting a total of 467 modern guest accommodations.
The renovation also encompasses a new lobby and expanded bar area, refreshed ballrooms, pre-function and meeting rooms, an updated bowling lounge, a reimagined café and grab-and-go outlet and added a steakhouse and champagne lounge. In the adjacent vineyard, a new chef’s vegetable and herb garden, a dining terrace for al fresco dining in the vines, and a brand-new coop for the resident chickens have also been added.
Inspired by the Mission-style architecture of a modern vineyard, the newly redesigned Meritage Resort & Spa invites guests to experience the Napa Valley resort situated on more than 36 sprawling acres, featuring nine acres of active vineyards.
Made possible by the Busch Family and Pacific Hospitality Group’s multimillion-dollar investment the design of rooms and corridors, ballrooms and meeting rooms was spearheaded by leading hospitality design firm HBA San Francisco, while Hatch Design reimagined the look of the lobby and bar and in-house designer Charlotte Einar was the creative lead of design for the other areas. Together, they all collaborated to give guests a cohesive, harmonious experience inspired by the land on which the property is set and the rolling golden hills that surround it.
“Recognizing the property’s heritage as an iconic community staple in Napa Valley over the last two decades, we are thrilled to usher in a new era of The Meritage with a fresh vision that preserves the soul of a resort that people know and love,” said Joe Leinacker, managing director, The Meritage Resort and Spa. “Our goal is to capture the spirit of the vines that so often attract people to the region while redesigning the overall resort experience to appeal to the discerning traveler with a passion for places that provide a well-balanced mix of natural beauty, restfulness, adventure and togetherness to draw them back time and again.”
The resort is currently home to multiple on-site tasting rooms, a locally sourced artisanal market and a food and wine center all housed in a village that frames the Grand Lawn. The campus also features six elevated dining options, a six-lane chic bowling lounge, two pools and wellness centers and the 22,000-sq.-ft. Spa Terra, nestled in an Estate Cave beneath the property’s own Trinitas vineyard. The resort has 80,000 of combined sq. ft. of venue space, ranging from an indoor ballroom to a hillside vineyard deck, as well as programming and a schedule of classes, concerts and events.
Designed to be elegant yet modern, the tone of the resort experience is first set when guests step into the new lobby. Outfitted with a classic grand piano and a towering double-sided fireplace centerpiece that is anchored to a beamed vaulted ceiling above, the living room-style entry features spacious seating surrounded by windows that flood the space with natural light. Nearby, guests pair their arrival with a welcome cocktail and bite at the now elevated and expanded chic new Commons Bar.
Beyond the lobby, a transformed adults-only pool and full-service casual dining amenity area await, complete with more lounge chair spaces and revamped private cabanas providing guests extra poolside pampering among the valley’s seasonal sunshine and vineyard views.
The resort’s flagship guestrooms have been reconceptualized into two distinct new products, both of which harness the destination’s warmth and natural beauty creating a timeless design. Encompassing a full transformation of the original property’s 322 rooms, the new guestrooms offer 157 Meritage rooms, which showcase elevated craftsmanship with touches inspired by a modern vineyard farmhouse aesthetic, while 165 new Bordeaux rooms give a nod to the property’s original Mission-style architecture and design.
Combining neutral tones, linen, leather accents and plush furnishing, the Meritage rooms blend elements of comfort with an approachable softness. The accommodations are outfitted with new broadloom carpeting showcasing a modern basket weave pattern, Frette Linen bedding, refined drapery and bespoke furnishings, from built-in millwork and wingback chairs to custom decorative lighting and sleek patio furniture for a complete floor-to-ceiling remodel. Upon sliding open each room’s barn-style bathroom door, guests will also find vanities with touchscreen lighted mirrors, designer sconces and fixtures, as well as stone countertops with a full-height, designer-tiled splash.
The Bordeaux guestrooms are influenced by the region’s agricultural history, bounty and grains, painting the spaces with a tonal color scheme, featuring finishes with an organic feel. Similar to their Meritage counterparts, the rooms are elevated with new carpeting, linens, stone-topped cabinetry, renovated bathrooms and furnishings, including new artwork, subtle geometric textured wall coverings and dark bronze and brushed brass touches to give depth and softness while maintaining a minimalistic, yet elegant and cozy design.
