A Week in Napa

Photo Credit | Rex Gelert

If you're my friend on Facebook or you follow me on Twitter you know that I spent a lot of time at The Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa this week. Tuesday I jogged through the vineyards to Napa's Grape Crusher Statue and jumped in the pool (two things that despite how many times I've been to the resort I had never done). After getting changed I attended "Taste of Siena" which was highlighting some new dishes from Chef Mike Collins, the new executive chef.

Wednesday we had a meeting with the management of the hotel to discuss some of my media successes and ideas for the future, especially as they get ready to open a 131,000 square foot expansion in Spring of 2012 (more on that later). After the meeting I drove back to the office, but first stopped at Symposium Restaurant in Davis for some very tasty Greek inspired pizza.

On Thursday I headed back to Napa to help Oyster.com (travel site affiliated with the Travel Channel) with a photo shoot. They couldn't have picked a better day to come. The sun was out and the resort looked amazing as always. The Entertainment Cave was set up for an evening banquet, the grape vines on the hillsides were beautiful, the boardroom was set for an executive meeting and so much more. After the photographer left I had an afternoon tour of the expansion that will add an 8,500 square foot ballroom, outdoor event space, 165 luxury guestrooms (all with patios or balconies), a fitness center that looks out onto the vineyard and olive trees and the Crush Ultra-Lounge, featuring six bowling lanes, a restaurant/bar and a cafe.

Meritage Resort Expansion Time Lapse from Meritage Resort on Vimeo.

Next up on my itinerary - room service and my first ever massage. Spa Terra, located in the 22,000 square foot Estate Cave (also home to the Entertainment Cave and Trinitas Cellars Tasting Room), has been recognized as not just one of the top spas in the Napa Valley, but worldwide. The locker room has a jacuzzi and sauna, the relaxation room was the perfect spot to unwind before my massage and my 50-minute Terra Massage was so soothing. One of my co-workers later commented "that's why you look so relaxed" after I told them what I had done earlier in the day.

Thursday evening, after I had another great dinner at Siena, I headed to Downtown Napa to meet up with a few of my co-workers at the monthly Culinary Crawl.  I met them at Gotts near Oxbow Public Market and then we headed to John Anthony, a local wine bar. KTVU was doing a story about the event and the re-birth of Downtown Napa, so after a glass of wine we went in search of the live truck and were even able to help the reporter by giving her a bottle of water when she was thirsty.

The week finished on yet another high note when Joan Rivers came to Napa's Uptown Theatre and The Meritage. I've been working with her production crew for the last few weeks to make it happen and all went flawlessly. They shot a scene for her reality show in her suite, ate some great food and then were off to the show (after I got a picture with Joan of course). The show was great, I laughed a lot, even though it did use a few words I try to avoid using myself (Napa Patch review).

Today it is back to reality, I cleaned the house, mopped the floors and the laundry is going.

The Meritage Resort and Spa and the Napa Tourism Improvement District are clients of AugustineIdeas. My guest room, spa treatment and meals were provided by The Meritage Resort and Spa. Tickets to the Joan Rivers show at Uptown Theater were provided by Joan Rivers and/or her production company. All opinions expressed are my own.