First question on arrival: What does Bardessono mean? Answer: the Bardessono family farmstead, established back in the 1920’s, is located in what is now the middle of the town of Yountville. Bardessono family heirs, concerned about the impact a commercial development would have on Yountville’s small town character, picked the developer based on his previous environmentally conscious design.

My next thought: It’s a good thing they have a name that sounds like a nice place to stay. If I was to build a super luxurious 62-room LEED Platinum Certified romantic get-away in Napa Valley featuring a spa, a fantastic restaurant, and a rooftop pool with gorgeous views, and called it Cramer (not even The Cramer), would you stay there?

(Ring – Ring) “Hey, would you like to join me for a romantic get-away weekend at a luxurious hotel in Napa Valley this weekend?”

“Sounds interesting. Where would we stay?”

“Cramer”

“What?”

“Cramer.”

“errr…. Oh, I just remembered my aunt is sick. Have to keep her company. I’ll call you.” (Click)

Where was I? Oh yes, the extraordinary Bardessono. Like I said, it’s in Yountville and literally steps away from the likes of French Laundry, Bouchon, and a lot of other places that make foodies go ooh and ah. I am not a foodie, even though my work has allowed me to travel the world and dine in some of the finest restaurants. Don’t get me wrong, I love the art of a great chef, I am just saying that I don’t think about it that much. It’s not my thing, my passion, or even my hobby, which is why what I am about to do is way out of the ordinary. I am going to tell you what I ate.

I started off with the best heirloom tomato fresh mozzarella salad I have ever had. It is often too easy to say that the thing that you are eating at that moment is the best of whatever category that thing is, but in this case I am just stating the fact. The salad also had fresh basil from the hotel’s garden. Mmm. Good... really, really good.

Since I am not a foodie, I will probably get some of this wrong (my apologies to the chef), but if I remember correctly the waiter described my entrée’ as wild Monterey Salmon served over sweet corn pudding, chanterelle and trumpeter mushrooms, and pinot noir au jus. That may not have been it exactly, but mmm. Not just good. Damn good.

For dessert, a trio of homemade sorbets served over (get this) a bed of fresh granola and edible flowers. I don’t recall the particular sorbet flavors, but I think the chef tricked me and it was ice cream. Best sorbet I ever had. Out of this world.

Finally, a selection of three cheeses served with a fresh fig, blueberries and what I think was a dried plum. Topped that off with a double espresso, and I was ready to waddle off to my suite.

It is nice to know that this luxurious retreat is also LEED Platinum certified. You can read more about it online, but here are some salient points… an underground geothermal system heats and cools the guest rooms, the spa, and the domestic hot water supply. Almost no offsite energy is used. Hidden on the flat rooftops are 940 solar panels that provide significant amounts of the hotel’s electrical demand. Occupancy sensors in guest rooms automatically decrease energy consumption when guests are not in their rooms.

Woods used throughout the hotel are milled from salvaged trees. Non-toxic, non-allergenic materials were used in construction. Organic linens and cleaning supplies as well as recycling and composting programs are standard. Products in the restaurant and spa are sourced primarily from local organic or sustainable producers.

This is all fantastic news for the planet, and even rich people can feel less guilty about their routine over consumption when they stay here. I found only one serious drawback to the whole eco-friendly thing. No little plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles, or even hotel soaps that I could steal to take home. They have re-fillable dispensers in each room. What do they expect me to do, buy my own shampoo and soap? Outrageous. 

In summary… great place, great location, really nice people, fantastic food, large, super-comfortable rooms, and a calming zen-like atmosphere. Oh, I forgot… 1,665 square feet of indoor meeting space (with natural light), and 4,000 square feet of outdoor space (presumably with natural light). It’s all good.

Want a chance to see Bardessono for yourself? Enter our Napa Valley Getaway contest on Facebook before it ends on October 14th! Click here to enter now!