MAR/APR 2012 THE MEN’S ISSUE $50.00 AERIAL VIEW / ARCHERY SUMMIT WINERY LOUNGE / THE ALLISON INN & SPA NAPA VINEYARDS / SOMERSTON ESTATE ARRIVE IN WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON WILLAMETTE VALLEY WINES NEXT UP: NAPA Since it was settled almost 200 years ago, Unlike Napa or Bordeaux, where some The highlight of your trip might well be the verdant agricultural land has been the exclusive winemakers remain doggedly epicenter of New World winemaking, the appeal of this spot—its Garden of Eden off-limits, staff at The Allison can get you in Napa Valley, the place that famously wrested aesthetic drew settlers along the Oregon to just about every top winery here—even red wine supremacy away from Bordeaux. Trail. Today its fertile soil is used for grapes, those closed to the public. Winemaker Maggie Check into the private Loire Maison at and the valley is second only to Burgundy Harrison makes three of Oregon’s most Auberge du Soleil. The Maison offers the for producing pinot noirs. There are about coveted and collectible pinots, mostly sold ultimate in privacy, with a dining alcove, wet 250 wineries here, but only one hotel choice: directly to her wine list customers, which bar and trellised terrace with a sunken hot The Allison Inn & Spa, a two-year-old you can try on your private tour. The other tub featuring sweeping views of Napa’s paradigm-changer that put the region on the top local wineries to visit today include Ar- vineyards ($5,125 a night). Enjoy a special map for the luxury-minded. The LEED Gold- chery Summit, which produces half a dozen wine treatment and pairing at the resort’s certified resort has 85 lavish rooms with pinots from small individual vineyards, famous spa, then head out for a very special fireplaces and eight suites, the best of which including Oregon’s most expensive wine. private tasting and tour at Somerston is the 1,575-square-foot Grand Suite ($1,100 Archery offers private tastings of its full line Estate, personally led by winemaker Craig a night). There are five acres of working of single-vineyard pinots in its salon. Domaine Becker. Begin with a snack of California vineyards on the 35-acre site, and a cellar Drouhin, a spin-off of the famous Burgun- cheeses, charcuterie, pistachios and berries with 700 labels, many local, of which more dian producer Maison Joseph Drouhin, and from local farms alongside a wine tasting, than 50 can be sampled by the glass. Upon Soter Vineyards both offer better private then embark on a tour of the gorgeous arrival, enjoy a treatment at The Allison’s tastings by appointment. Carve out time to 1,648-acre estate, with dramatic vistas luxury spa, then book the private Chef’s enjoy lunch at La Rambla, with its award- and in-depth information on viticultural Table for dinner. Add on a custom sommeli- winning wine list, and dinner at the famed techniques. The experience concludes with er-chosen wine pairing, and there’s no need Joel Palmer House, the Valley’s top restau- a three-course meal in the highest vineyard, to leave the property on your first day. rant, before returning to The Allison. paired with Somerston wines. Contact: The Allison Inn & Spa Managing Contact: Joel Palmer House Chef and Contact: Auberge du Soleil General Director Pierre Zreik, (503) 554-2525; Owner Christopher Czarnecki, Manager Bradley Reynolds, (707) 963-1211; [email protected]; (503) 864-2995; [email protected]; [email protected]; www.theallison.com www.joelpalmerhouse.com www.aubergedusoleil.com DOWNLOAD MORE EXCLUSIVE TRIP GUIDES FREE AT www.elitetraveler.com/14days 103 14 DAYS A TASTE OF NAPA SOJOURN IN SONOMA CHILE’S COLCHAGUA VALLEY This morning you will visit Quintessa, the Make the short but scenic drive over the Many excellent wineries can be found on the most highly regarded organic and biodynamic mountains to check into Hotel Les Mars, a “Ruta del Vino,” or wine route, in the Colchagua wine producer. Return to the hotel for lunch Relais & Châteaux property. Book the Grand Valley, the more rural of Chile’s prime at its acclaimed restaurant, featuring King, the largest of just 16 rooms, with a production areas. The concierge will make Mediterranean-inspired cuisine by award- double walk-in shower and hydrotherapy all of your reservations for today, including winning chef Robert Curry. Afterwards, visit tub (about $700 a night). Today’s highlight lunch at one of the top wineries, and arrange two more exclusive wineries, Fantesca, run is an intimate tasting in the private room at for a private car and driver. Most of the by Napa’s hottest winemaker of the moment, Jordan Vineyard & Winery, preceded by a wineries are true estates with polo fields and Heidi Barrett, and Continuum Estate, the walking tour of the estate. Stop in at beloved excellent restaurants. The most famous of elite label of the Mondavi family. Recharge Oakville Grocery for a wood-fired pizza, then these is Lapostolle, owned by the Marnier in your private hot tub before the big night: head over to the La Follette winery for barrel family from France (of Grand Marnier fame). Dinner at French Laundry. Michelin-starred tastings with pinot noir specialist Greg La Return to the hotel for dinner at Estro and chef Thomas Keller offers two different Follette. Dinner tonight is at the renowned enjoy a culinary journey through Chile. nine-course tasting menus nightly. Cyrus in Healdsburg. Contact: The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago Contact: French Laundry General Manager Contact: Hotel Les Mars General Manager Concierge Nicolas Figueroa, 56-2-473-8545; Nicolas Fanucci, (707) 944-2380; Ramon Serrano, (707) 433-4211; rserrano@ [email protected]; www.frenchlaundry.com hotellesmars.com; www.hotellesmars.com www.ritzcarlton.com CHILEAN CHIC / LAPOSTOLLE FIRST YEAR BARRELS / ROBERT MONDAVI WINERY FINE CUISINE / FRENCH LAUNDRY SONOMA SUPERLUXE / HOTEL LES MARS NAPA FINALE FROM SONOMA TO SANTIAGO, CHILE VALPARAÍSO, VIÑA DEL MAR Wake up early for a hot air balloon ride Surrounded by vineyards, Santiago is the AND CASABLANCA VALLEY over wine country followed by a champagne San Francisco of South America—except Start the day with a tour to Valparaíso, breakfast with Napa Valley Balloons, Inc., everything is much closer. Leaving early Chile’s main coastal city. Explore the home the choice of visitors like Chelsea Clinton. Stop from the Santa Rosa airport near Healdsburg, of poet Pablo Neruda, then drive through for lunch at Bistro Jeanty, the locals’ favorite you’ll arrive in the late afternoon. Check into nearby Viña del Mar, the nation’s most famous authentic French bistro, with specialties a mountain-view suite on the Club Floor resort town. Continue up the coast to like pig’s feet and coq au vin. Then continue of the Ritz-Carlton, Santiago to enjoy a beautiful Zapallar and have lunch at seaside exploring Yountville, with its town center stunning panorama of the Andes ($598 a restaurant El Chiringuito. After lunch, full of shops, art galleries and restaurants. night). Ease into your visit at the hotel’s return to Santiago via the Casablanca Valley, The final highlight of your Napa Valley visit exquisite wine bar, 100°. You are now on which sits between the city and the coast, will be the private “Four Decades” tasting Latin time, when dinner starts anywhere stopping for private tours at the region’s and dinner at the Robert Mondavi Winery, from 9 to 11 p.m., so relax before visiting two best producers, Matetic and Casas del Napa’s most famous. Private and available Etniko, an amazing Pan-Asian restaurant Bosque. Back at the hotel, visit the dramatic only by reservation, this is the ultimate wine specializing in ultra-fresh seafood. rooftop spa, continuing the day’s theme with country experience. Contact: The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago a wine bath. Dinner tonight is at the unique Contact: Robert Mondavi’s Kirsten Carpenter, General Manager Chris Sariego, 56-2-470-8510; Zully in the Concha y Toro neighborhood. 104 (707) 968-2054; [email protected]; [email protected]; Contact: Zully Owner Joseph Westrate, www.robertmondavi.com www.ritzcarlton.com 56-2-696-1378; www.zully.cl MOVING ON TO MENDOZA UCO VALLEY HOMEWARD BOUND The flight across the snowcapped Andes Your Blue Parallel guide will meet you at the If you didn’t get a chance to check out is short, but one of the most dramatic on hotel again today to escort you to Atamisque Algodon Wine Estates’ boutique winery yes- earth, and the awaiting colonial city of Winery in the Uco Valley area, where you’ll terday, staff will arrange a private tour for Mendoza is the heart and soul of Argentina’s enjoy a horseback ride followed by a private you today. You can also squeeze in 18 holes wine country. Check into the Park Hyatt tour and tasting. The property’s chef will of golf or a game of tennis. It’s also worth it Mendoza and take a stroll, exploring the prepare a gourmet picnic lunch before you to pay a visit to San Rafael’s downtown, with a main shopping street of Sarmiento and the set out for the Piattelli Vineyards for yet surprisingly large number of shops, restau- Central Market. After lunch at Azafrán, get another tasting. The day’s highlight will be a rants and cafés, similar in feel and character a thorough indoctrination into Argentinean visit to Monteviejo, producer of the notable to Mendoza, just a bit smaller. Then head wines at the Vines of Mendoza Tasting Lindaflor malbec. Back at the hotel, try your out towards Mendoza or San Rafael for your Room.