Sonoma County’s newest haute spot, Montage Healdsburg is situated on 258 acres of rolling vineyards with sprawling oak trees. It seamlessly blends in with its surrounding landscape and “fancy treehouses” are scattered throughout.
Upon arrival, valet immediately greeted us and we were led into an airy lobby with a gorgeous view of Montage Healdsburg’s vineyard that was designed by Winemaker Jesse Katz of Aperture Estate. I learned that the hotel soon plans to use grapes from the property to make estate wines – quite exciting!
The main restaurant, Hazel Hill, Scout Field Bar, and the lobby form a complex with an enormous patio creating an indoor/outdoor flow. The ambiance is lovely and I could see it being the perfect venue for a social event.
Since we couldn’t get enough of the gorgeous views, we decided to dine at the resort’s restaurant, Hazel Hill, which overlooks the resort’s vineyard. As it was a beautiful and sunny day, I settled for a Chickadee cocktail that includes new Alchemy fleurette gin, Lillet rosé, grapefruit, lime, lemon, verbena, and Fever Tree tonic. It was absolutely delightful and refreshing! Our kind waiter brought out some nibbles to accompany the cocktail – marcona almonds and artichokes. To follow, I had the Hazel Hill Burger with morbier, caramelized onions, horseradish aioli. The burger came with fries, but I asked our waiter if they could make them truffle fries and they were happy to do so.
The restaurant’s Chef Jason Pringle’s focus for the cuisine is “terroir-to-table”, which combines California charisma with French gastronomy. Beverage Manager and Sommelier, Petra Polakovicova curated a wine list for Hazel Hill that covers nearly every sub-AVA of Sonoma County and offers a range of price points. You’ll find the usual well known brands, but also small producers.
After our meal, we made our way to the most luxurious accommodation onsite, the Guest House perched high on a knoll. It sprawls across 4,600 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including three bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, and hot tub with enviable views of the Alexander Valley and Mount St. Helena. I was especially drawn to the luxurious and spacious bathroom with a freestanding bath tub and floor-to-ceiling windows.
As for amenities, yoga classes are offered on the lawns and there’s a zero-edge infinity-edge pool. Treat yourself to a service at the 11,500 square-foot full-service spa. I learned that Montage Healdsburg partnered with Sonoma County Bee Company (SCBC), a local apiary management firm, to run its five-hive bee program developed to produce wax for the spa and honey for the restaurants.
Overall, Montage Healdsburg is a sophisticated escape that’s ideal for the most discerning of travelers. It’s an excellent home base for exploring Sonoma’s wine scene and the hotel is happy to help guests plan visits, set up bespoke tastings, and provide private drivers. If you need to recharge your batteries, it’s the perfect place to do so as well!
