Auberge du Soleil

The first modern boutique resort to open in Napa Valley—it turns 25 years old in 2010—is still one of the area’s best. From the outside, Auberge’s sandstone-colored villas, scattered among 33 acres of olive groves, evoke the terraced houses of the French Riviera; inside, the 52 rooms continue the theme with terracotta-tiled floors and rattan ceiling fans, fabrics in Mediterranean hues, wood-burning fireplaces, and French doors leading to private verandas. The treatments at the 7,000-square-foot spa all incorporate ingredients harvested from the local hillsides (an especially delicious option: the Meyer lemon–olive oil massage). And the hotel’s eponymous restaurant—where chef Michael Curry serves seasonal, regionally sourced dishes like bacon-wrapped veal with foie gras ravioli—still packs in the foodies, as it has for a quarter-century.

Room to Book: Of the standard Maison rooms, those with an upper valley view are the best; they’re on the top floor, with vistas over surrounding vineyards.

Doubles from $750, including breakfast. No guests under 16.