This feels like the other day and like so far away at the same time, which means, as I write this and share that you should plan your trip to Sonoma County, I’m over here thinking to myself that I need to get something on the books, too! Well before I decked the halls, the Vintners Resort + Ferrari-Carano family invited me a Wine Country Wellness escape toward the end of harvest and it was such a great experience. Sonoma County (especially the coast) is my happy place, and it was so great to uncover a new layer of love and adoration for the region with this visit.

Staying at The Vintners Resort

Vintners Resort is located in Santa Rosa, which is the perfect location if you want to explore Sonoma County vineyards and other points of interest. It’s the only AAA Four-Diamond resort in the city and that award is well deserved. The property is charming, the service is outstanding and the amenities are enough to keep you satisfied if you never left the property. Not long ago the hotel underwent a $17 million renovation which unveiled new deluxe Vineyard View rooms and a modern and deluxe spa. I was so excited when I found out I would be staying in one of the new King rooms!

On-Site Amenities

In addition to the addition of the vineyard view resort rooms and the new Vi La Vita Spa, Vintners Resort is the home of delicious, award-winning eateries including John Ash & Co. Restaurant, River Vine Restaurant, and The Front Room Bar & Lounge.

John Ash + Co

John Ash & Co. was the first farm-to-table restaurant in Sonoma County, and one of the only locations in the area offering al fresco dining with a vineyard backdrop. It’s beautiful all of the time but in the evenings, the vineyard really glows. The Front Room Bar & Lounge, adjacent to John Ash & Co., is a popular gathering place for wine and cocktails. River Vine Restaurant is open daily for breakfast and lunch in a relaxing atmosphere. Every meal we enjoyed was absolutely fantastic. I am still raving about it – even the breakfast! The baked eggs were oh-so-delicious.

Vi La Vita Spa

Vi La Vita Spa a lavish yet approachable spa and we all need to treat ourselves. The spa offers a relaxation lounge, indoor Caldarium with a heated soaking pool, an outdoor pool, fitness room and my personal favorite place to chill – the steam sauna room. It’s perfect for a personal retreat, couples getaway or girls weekend with services like massages, polishes and scrubs, wraps, facials, skincare therapies, and hair removal.

Pro Tip: Copy me and get a body polish treatment. You’ll get a mini massage in the process. 

If you are planning a special weekend away or planning your company retreat, the spa can set up several types of experiences for you, whether it be a private lunch on a patio or a private guided yoga class. It was awesome to mix in a little bit of movement into such a relaxing visit. Even if you aren’t staying at the Vintners Resort, you can take advantage of the amenities. Check out their menu + specials.

Roses + Rosé and Dinner in the Vineyards

The team coordinated a floral arranging class called Roses & Rosé class, hosted by Leah Bertoli of Bertoli Bridal. It makes me so happy to arrange the bouquets I grab at the market, so it was fun to let my creativity run a little bit and enjoy the company of others at the workshop! I later found out that our arrangements would be the centerpieces for the dinner we were about to enjoy…in the vineyards!

Now, if you are planning a retreat for your team, a girl’s weekend, bachelorette, birthday – whatever – the Vintners Resort can help you set up the experience. Their connections to professionals in the region make every possibility, possible – this one included.

The Ferrari-Carano Connection

Vintners Resort is part of the Ferrari-Carano Vineyards family, with the winery and tasting room just a short 20-minute drive away to Dry Creek Valley. Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery was established in 1981, with the first wines bearing the Ferrari-Carano label released in 1986. In 2000, Ferrari-Carano acquired Vintners Resort, and grapes are grown on the resort property, too.

Ferrari-Carano is located off of Dry Creek Valley Road, and it’s the most beautiful drive. Before heading up to the winery, we took a walk through the Ferrari-Carano vineyards at Vintners Resort to learn about the sustainable practices of the winery. Ferrari-Carano is a Certified California Sustainable Vineyard, and their efforts toward upholding the title go far beyond the grapes on the vines. After breakfast and hotel check out, we headed to the winery, where we were welcomed with a  glass of rosé before enjoying a private tasting in the PreVail Room. It couldn’t have been a more fun experience to enjoy their wines! The butternut squash soup paired with the Reserve Chardonnay was my absolute favorite. Following the tasting, we took a tour of the beautiful grounds to see the magic in motion.

Pro Tip: There are several wineries on the Dry Creek Valley Road, so be sure to visit them as well and make a day out of it. 🙂

Visit Sonoma County Now!

You’ll hear me touting Sonoma County until the cows come home, but if you haven’t been lately or never been at all, you have to go visit. This region is the epitome of stronger together, and through the literal ashes, the restauranteurs, vintners, hoteliers and small business owners support one another and work to provide a memorable experience for those that visit. It’s a place you’ll leave feeling invigorated and appreciated.

Learn more about the Vintners Resort on their website and on Instagram. 

Learn more about Ferrari-Carano by visiting the website and on Instagram.

Be sure to tell them you’re a friend of The Kachet Life blog!

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Photos by me + Stephanie Hopkins Photography