The Hospitable Nature of Napa Valley

Napa Valley is more than just wine. It is a lifestyle. Yes, that lifestyle is centered on wine, but it’s more than that. It’s a way of living on the land, of celebrating the bounty that land has to offer. It’s about taking the time to appreciate the wines and foods that quite literally are the fruits of the labors of members of the local community. It’s about welcoming others to join you in this celebration.

Around the same time that Robert Mondavi, Bill Harlan, and the Napa Valley Vintners association were planning the premiere Auction Napa Valley as a way to show the world that Napa Valley was on par with the finest winemaking regions anywhere, men named Robert Harmon and Claude Rouas were making plans of their own. While Harmon and Rouas’ dream of opening an establishment in Rutherford that embodied the Napa Valley lifestyle may not have been as grand scale as the dreams of Mondavi and Harlan, it was significant nonetheless. Without tourism, the wine industry of Napa Valley couldn’t sustain itself. Without hotels and restaurants to accommodate those visitors, there would be no tourism. So while the body of Napa Valley may be wine, it’s the hospitality industry that provides its lifeblood.

Harmon and Rouas instinctively knew that. So, in 1981, they opened Auberge du Soleil. Initially established as a restaurant, its French name “inn of the sun” foretold its future as a hotel.

Around that time, wines from the region were capturing awards around the globe. In fact, at the Paris Wine Tasting in 1976, a Napa Valley Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena and a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars won first place over some of the most famous French labels in a blind tasting. It was then that many affluent and savvy travelers began to take notice of the area. Where today some 4.7 million people visit Napa Valley annually, in the late 70s to early 80s the region was not equipped with the same high profile and luxurious hotels envisioned by Harmon and Rouas. Luckily, the auberge of Auberge du Soleil opened in 1985, becoming the first luxury hotel in Napa Valley.

Today, Auberge du Soleil is part of the Auberge Resorts portfolio, which is run by Robert Harmon’s son Mark, who is the acting CEO. He grew up immersed in the hospitable culture that pervades Napa Valley and had a front-row look at the region’s evolution. “Napa Valley always had a reputation as a destination for travelers, but over the years, it grew into an international destination as one of the premier wine-producing regions in the world,” he says. “We were very fortunate to be one of the few properties that helped define what Napa Valley is all about.”

Auberge Resorts was conceptualized to consolidate the various facets of the family’s hotel brands in 1996, but before that Auberge du Soleil helped define the landscape of Napa Valley’s hospitality industry by developing a serene property set amongst the natural splendor of the valley. Situated on a tree-lined hilltop, Auberge du Soleil enchants guests with its alluring views of the valley below and its European-influenced rooms and suites. By focusing on the intrinsic topography of the area, Auberge is a captivating resort that entices guests to enjoy the best that Napa Valley has to offer. Not only that, Auberge du Soleil is a member of Relais & Châteaux, the global hospitality association of intimate, elegant, and independently owned hotels and acclaimed restaurants. And they are in good company. Local members of this elite association include Meadowood Napa Valley—whose owner, Bill Harlan, is the cover subject of this issue of Haute Living San Francisco—as well as Chef Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry, and one of the newest establishments in Sonoma Valley, Les Mars Hotel.

On a grassy garden path at Auberge du Soleil, the I. Wolk Sculpture Gallery invites guests to tour 110 figurative and abstract works by California artists. First established in Napa Valley in 1990, I. Wolk Gallery dedicates itself to showcasing a range of emerging and established artists, and its outpost on the Auberge du Soleil property reinforces the resort’s dedication to the cultural environment of the region. What’s more is Auberge’s commitment to providing its guests, as well as local patrons, with a superior dining experience. The Michelin-rated Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil and the Bistro & Bar boasts one of the most extensive wine lists in the valley.

“I spent a lot of time thinking about what makes a small resort successful,” says Mark. “From a physical point of view, we wanted to open properties in resort areas, and we wanted our properties to reflect the area lifestyle.” That mentality led him to expand the family business and develop properties throughout the U.S. and Mexico that would combine local culture with intimate, personalized service.

The first addition to the Auberge collection was Esperanza, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Harmon stumbled upon the property when a developer, interested in building a small luxury hotel in Cabo, telephoned him. The decision to partner on this resort, which was built from the ground up, was a no-brainer for Harmon. “It is a spectacular piece of property on the cove—dramatic, easy access from California, and I thought we couldn’t do any better than this.” Building on the character and natural elements of the sandy Mayan Riviera, Esperanza is mixed with a great sense of proportion and local flavor.

Other properties under the Auberge umbrella followed suit, attracting even more patrons to the splendors of Mark’s native Napa Valley. Solage Calistoga Resort was built to provide Napa Valley with “a little bit more of a fun, contemporary, family-oriented environment,” says Mark. The property’s separate children’s pool and play area, as well as its pet-friendly policy, allow a broader demographic of tourists to enjoy the treasures of the community. And certainly the utilization of eco practices throughout proves Auberge’s dedication to the preservation of this abundant area.

Another keystone Auberge resort is Calistoga Ranch, encompassing 157 acres of land. The main attraction at this secluded lodge is the on-site vineyard. Under the direction of noted Napa Valley vintners and winemakers Nils and Kirk Venge, the vineyard is a place for locals and visitors alike to relish in the opulence of this world-class region.

The vintner membership programs at both Solage Calistoga Resort and Calistoga Ranch are further proof of Auberge’s commitment to Napa Valley. By inviting local vintner members to showcase their wines on the menus of their restaurants, Mark has opened up the community, as well as its visitors, to the spirit of the wine industry. “It’s a way that people can connect directly to the vintners and get to know them on a personal basis, which is really one of the great things about the membership program,” says Mark. Currently there are roughly 30 vintner members at each property, and such well-known vineyards as Robert Mondavi Winery, Saddleback Cellars, Twomey Cellars, and Harris Estate Vineyards are participants. The involvement of Robert Mondavi Winery is certainly a testament to the symbiotic relationship between Napa’s wineries and resorts, leading all the way back to the 80s when both Auction Napa Valley and the Auberge du Soleil property made their debuts.

Both Robert Harmon and Claude Rouas originally envisioned a place where people could retreat and experience the grandeur of Napa Valley. Says Mark, “Because our properties are quite small, we can do that. What we have specialized in is creating a great romantic getaway.” Fortunately Mark’s father and his partner realized this vision at a time when the true beauty and allure of Napa Valley was gaining momentum and achieving worldwide recognition. From there it was the bricks and mortar, in addition to the pillars of intimacy and great service, that made the Auberge Resorts brand so successful. Under the leadership of Mark, Auberge Resorts has benefited from various recognitions, including some of the highest accolades from noteworthy individuals and influential voices within the hospitality industry. And yet, however great these salutes might seem, Auberge is still a family business run on the principles of respect, value, and embracing culture. Harmon’s father is still active in the company as chairman (Claude Rouas is still acting vice chairman), and his brother, Tim Harmon is CEO of Solage Hotels & Resorts, a new brand development from the Auberge team. Tim is also the CEO of Moana Restaurant Group, a companion company with roughly 20 restaurants across the western United States and Hawaii. Like Auberge, Moana operates under the same values of providing high-quality food, service, and dining experiences, as well as embracing the local flavors of the area.

Today Auberge Resorts comprises a collection of first-class hotels, resorts, and private clubs, including Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley; Esperanza, Cabo San Lucas; Calistoga Ranch, Napa Valley; The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina; and Encantado, Santa Fe; with several others in development. With the anticipation of these developing properties we can all be assured that Auberge Resorts will continue creating luxurious resorts and hotels that stay true to the elements of their natural surroundings. Says Mark, “I pinch myself—it’s so fun coming up with new concepts to create something extraordinary.”