The Meritage Resort and Spa

The wine country of northern California is a region that doesn’t need much selling — between the weather, the wine, and the convenience of being close to the Bay Area combine to place the region perennially atop travelers’ lists. And while there are some hidden gems, some funky experiments, and some ultra-chic boutiques, there’s also something to be said for the simple, straightforward appeal of a place like the Meritage Resort and Spa.

Located at the southern edge of the city of Napa, it’s among the most convenient options for an escape from San Francisco. And fresh off a multi-million-dollar renovation, its contemporary Tuscan-inspired interiors are looking better than ever. With over 300 rooms, and a house style that’s rather on the conservative end, it’s not about to be mistaken for the latest cutting-edge design hotel. But it’s accessibly elegant, enormously comfortable, and does its best to sum up the entire wine country experience under a single roof.

This means not just luxe digs with overstuffed furniture, flat screens and fireplaces, but a full-service spa, an abundance of meeting space, and a nice side line as a wedding venue. Wine, of course, is everywhere, from the complimentary bottle that awaits you in your room to the Commons wine bar, the Trinitas tasting room, and Crush Ultra Lounge, which adds cocktails and bowling lanes (!) to the mix. There’s also a restaurant, Siena, showcasing fresh Californian cuisine with a pronounced Italian influence. And from here you’ve got all the wineries of the Napa Valley more or less at your feet. For a quick, total immersion introduction to the wine country, you could hardly do better.