The AAA Four Diamond Resort Reveals Details of $17 Million Expansion
SANTA ROSA, Calif. (September 26, 2018) — Following a two-year, $17 million expansion, Vintners Inn unveils 34 new Vineyard View rooms and suites, in addition to a brand new, 5,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Vi La Vita Spa. These updates complete the master renovation for the inn, which also included the breakfast and lunch hot spot River Vine Café (opened summer 2017).
CEO and Co-Owner Rhonda Carano began plans for the expansion project in the spring of 2016 alongside her late husband and business partner, Don Carano. “When Don and I acquired Vintners Inn in 2000, we knew it was just the beginning. Over the years, we have put our hearts and souls into making it an oasis of serenity and relaxation. I know Don would be overjoyed to see our dreams for this wine country paradise come to fruition.”
Vineyard View Rooms and Suites
Reminiscent of a Mediterranean village, the California Green Lodging-certified resort is sprawled across 98 acres of lush vineyards and artfully landscaped grounds with courtyards and fountains. Previously composed of three separate guestroom villas around a central courtyard, the inn now features five villas, each one positioned for tranquility and privacy. The new two-story terraced villas are designed in a V-court style, allowing every room to enjoy beautiful vineyard views, with new, lush landscaping surrounding each building.
The new Vineyard View rooms and suites include four room styles: Vineyard View Fireplace King, Vineyard View Junior Suite, Vineyard View Suite and the Vineyard Terrace Deluxe Suite. All of the rooms and suites offer views of the estate vineyards from either private patio or balcony spaces. The Vineyard View Deluxe Terrace Suite is the jewel of the new collection, offering 940-square-feet of space for guests to entertain and indulge, including an outside private patio with plush outdoor furnishings, lounge chairs and a private dining area with a wet bar.
“It is wonderful to finally complete Don and Rhonda’s master plan for Vintners Inn,” says Percy Brandon, General Manager of Vintners Inn. “The addition of the new guestrooms and Vi La Vita Spa will complete the ‘village’ spirit we’ve been building since the Caranos purchase the property in 2000. We continue to believe that exceeding guests’ expectations is what has made us a top Sonoma County destination. We are proud of what we offer and always graciously welcome back our guests time after time.”
Rhonda Carano has worked closely with MBA Architecture + Interior Design to create an elegant aesthetic inspired by old-world Italian charm and her very own new-world “Green Philosophy”. Designed to reflect the beauty of the grounds and vineyards just outside, all of the guest rooms at Vintners Inn feature sunlight-filled French doors; California king-size beds, plump down comforters and featherbeds, and high-end bath amenities. The hotel combines modern comforts – like fresh-baked cookies at turndown and a complimentary bottle of wine upon check-in – with eco-friendly amenities, including electric fireplaces, energy-efficient lighting and electric vehicle charging stations.
Vi La Vita Spa
The 5,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Vi La Vita Spa is a premium, full-service day spa and fitness room accessible to hotel guests and locals. In the heart of the spa, visitors will find an impressive space surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows that invites the natural light to emanate throughout, vaulted ceilings and a natural design inspired by the 200-year-old heritage oak tree that sits just outside the spa doors (which Vintners Inn staff spent over 20 years nurturing back to health).
“It has always been a dream of mine to bring a full-service spa to Vintners Inn,” said Rhonda Carano. “Vi La Vita, “live life”, symbolized by the mighty oak tree, sacred and powerful, alive and energizing, is considered the medicine tree of Mother Nature, bringing strength and purpose.”
“I am very excited to be part of the team that will make Vi La Vita Spa the place to be while seeking relaxation and invigoration,” said Brandon. “Many guests, travelers as well as our local friends are anxiously awaiting the opening of the Spa as the ultimate addition to the property.”
Every aspect of Vi La Vita Spa is designed to leave guests feeling refreshed and renewed, restoring their personal balance and well-being. Features include a wellness relaxation lounge and fire feature, an indoor caldarium with a warm pool and lounges and an outdoor pool and deck for enjoying the fresh air as you relax in the sun, intended for pre- and post-treatment relaxation. His and hers steam rooms, and private locker and dressing areas. Featuring five, well-appointed treatment rooms and allowing access to a secluded garden patio area with seating makes if perfect for bridal parties or other celebratory groups. The couple’s treatment room features a deluxe, private outdoor patio with a rain shower and lounging area. A brand-new fitness center lies adjacent to the spa, spilling into an outdoor patio with stationary bikes that overlook the grounds and the herbal labyrinth garden.
“Every finite detail of Vi La Vita Spa – from the style and intimacy of our spa treatments, to our custom-mixed scents and carefully selected color palettes – is designed with the intention to provide our guests with an unrivaled relaxation experience,” said Alison Abbott, Spa and Retail Director at Vi La Vita Spa.
Abbott, the newly appointed spa and retail director, comes from such prestigious properties as the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay and the Coldwater Creek Spa in Santa Rosa. Although she has received numerous awards for her achievements and leadership in the industry, Abbott says, “The best compliments come the moment a guest walks out the door from their day at the spa, when they take just a minute to exhale and smile, knowing that they’ve just had an extraordinary, unique and memorable experience.”
At Vi La Vita Spa, dedicated and experienced massage therapists and beauty experts use high-quality, professional products to indulge, pamper and transform. Locally sourced and botanically-based skin care lines, Aromatherapy Associates, HydroPeptide and Epicurean products for men are featured at the spa. The boutique at Vi La Vita Spa allows guests to further their experience with top-shelf products in skin care and body. Guests may accessorize with unique apparel, handcrafted jewelry and artisan goods and other bath and beauty products.
“The flow of architecture through the spa, caldarium, outdoor pool area and boutique lead guests through several stages of indulgence,” said Abbott. “These ancillary beautification areas are pertinent to the overall holistic experience for our guests.”
Custom and creative spa treatments include massage therapies, body polishes and scrubs, body wraps, skincare therapies, pampered spa packages, signature treatments, hair removal, and more. Highlights include:
- “Age-Reversing Superfruit Body Peel & Wrap,” where pomegranate, Goji, Acai and Bilberry deliver age-reversing antioxidants, while and ultra-buffing bamboo scrub polishes and perfects the body. Guests experience a luxurious scalp massage while wrapped in a warm cocoon that allows these multitasking superfruits to work their rejuvenating magic, finishing with a nutrient-rich skin hydrator that leaves the skin smoother than ever.
- “La Dolce Vita Couples Wine & Roses Signature Treatment,” where the guests’ shared treatment begins with a gentle, full body exfoliation, revealing the skin’s natural smoothness. The romance continues with an hour massage as the guests drift into deep relaxation together, then unwind on a private patio with a glass of wine and a specially paired culinary delight.
- “Anti-Aging Collagen Restorative Facial,” a signature facial that delivers clinically-proven age-fighting treatment for fine lines and wrinkles, while supporting the cellular structure of the skin. Targeted massage re-energizes and rejuvenates, as a hydrogel technology mask that boosts collagen production and increases hydration is applied, visibly improving firmness and elasticity for beautifully nourished, younger-looking skin.
- “Pure Indulgence for Two,” where couples can savor wine and a specially prepared culinary delight in their private spa suite and patio. The treatment begins with an outdoor shower, followed by a signature formulated grape seed scrub and a massage with warm essential oils to soothe the body and mind.
- “Vintners Inn Signature Massage,” a head-to-toe signature deep sleep massage uses carefully applied pressure to induce a state of relaxation, leaving you prepared for a sound night’s sleep. Melts away the stress of life and relieves muscular tension with this integrative massage session for the full body with focus work on chronic tension areas, leaving one deeply relaxed.
The adjacent, state-of-the-art fitness center provides Techno Gym equipment for a fully-rounded health and wellness experience, complete with treadmills, elliptical trainer and fitness bicycles.
As part of Vi La Vita Spa’s healing and wellness offerings, guests will soon be able to register for weekly, instructor-led “Vineyard Vinyasa” classes, followed by a glass of local, Sonoma County wine.
The Spa Menu offers a variety of light, seasonal gourmet entrées and elixirs for the health-minded guest from Vintners Inn’s John Ash & Co. restaurant, as well as beverage options including champagne, mimosas, craft beer, wine and specialty cocktails.
In 2015, Vintners Inn underwent a $1 million interior renovation that included refurbished guest rooms, a brand-new lobby and more. “As Sonoma County continues to evolve, we want to continue to be an integral part of our city’s growth history,” said Rhonda Carano. “We want our guests to feel the comfort of home with the modern extravagance of Vintners Inn and Vi La Vita Spa’s best hospitality amenities. We invite guests to relax and renew with us.”
About Vintners Inn
Vintners Inn is a California Green Certified, 78-room boutique hotel spanning a 92-acre property in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley appellation. Reminiscent of a European village replete with culinary gardens, sparkling fountains and vineyard views, this lush enclave offers a serene escape that is conveniently located in the best of wine country. With award-winning on-site dining, a brand new luxury spa and health club, a full-service conference and events center, and an array of amenities from Bocce ball to a vineyard trail, it’s an ideal location for a romantic getaway, wellness retreat, business trip or dream wine country wedding.
