An unexpected take on the typical wine country get-away, this wellness retreat is all about outdoor adventure, restorative and advanced body work, and culinary ingenuity that pushes the boundaries of farm-grown ingredients. 

At the southern edge of Napa Valley, the grape vines roll on and on. This is the setting for Stanly Ranch, a new retreat built upon a historic western ranch founded in 1856 by Judge Edward Stanly. But while vineyards rule this area, Stanly Ranch breaks from the usual wine-and-dine resort routine. Here, it’s all about outdoor adventure, wellness, and culinary inventiveness. You might start your morning with a challenging bike ride or a curated workout, recoup with a cutting-edge spa session, and wind down by devouring the crazy-creative, crazy-good dishes at the restaurant Bear. Yes, the food is farm-to-table, but what they do with those farmed veggies (and flowers!) defies expectation. 

This all plays into the bigger theme of luxurious well-being, defined by activity, pampering, beauty (the Napa Valley landscape is breathless), and joy, which is also where the wine comes in.  At Halehouse, their wellness center, guests strive to reach peak performance through customized programs. You’ll find state-of-the-art fitness studios, movement classes, and resources for enhancing sleep and nutrition, all designed by a team of wellness pros. A program called the Springhouse Circuit is created for optimal recovery through cold plunge, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, and salt and steam rooms. Guests can also join the weekly cycling club that winds through the property’s 712 acres of vineyards and hiking trails.

Of course, there are times when a more low-key experience is calling your name, in which case you can hit the adults-only pool or book a couple of treatments at the spa.  Go for the Halehouse Facial using Botnia skincare’s cold-pressed, raw organic botanicals from Sausalito. It begins with a cleanse, followed by exfoliating enzymes or AHAs, pore extractions, and a mask, all according to your skin’s specific needs. For deep physical relaxation, Craniosacral Therapy gently releases tension around the central nervous system for pain relief and immunity support. For anyone who craves serious targeted muscle work, the Deep Release Therapeutic Session delivers. It’s a deep-tissue massage that includes sustained trigger point and myofascial work.

There are 135 cottages, rooms, and suites, and each with private terraces and outdoor showers. Many have fire pits because that night sky is not to be missed. The aesthetic is modern farmhouse, which fits perfectly into the setting, full of wood and leather furnishings. The floor-to-ceiling windows frame outrageous views. 

When it comes to dining, Stanly Ranch experiments beautifully with locally sourced ingredients. At Bear, Executive Chef Anthony Stagnaro is big into fermenting and preserving to build exciting and bold flavors. A few spotlights: bison tartare with fermented chili, vegetables served raw and preserved alongside a cashew-miso dip, sourdough bread with nasturtium leaves and flowers, and sourdough ice cream with yeast caramel and powdered starter. And yes, that dessert is divine. Anyone who wants to dive deeper into the food scene can take a pasta-making class where you’ll pick herbs and flowers with the Farm Director, then learn how to make noodles from scratch. 

And, as this is Napa, there is wine obviously. Each evening, guests are invited to Uncorked Hour, a guided wine tasting that highlights local vintages. It’s easygoing and relaxed, and guests come away with knowledge about the process of wine making, and more than likely, some new favorite bottles. 

The land is the source of many good things here—the freshest ingredients for those masterpiece meals, healthy grapevines, verdant scenes, wildlife—so it goes without saying that treating it with utmost care is paramount. The resort uses recycled water for all landscaping, which is designed to be low-impact with native plants, the vineyards are organically farmed, and a partnership with Charlie’s Acres animal sanctuary turns kitchen scraps and coffee grounds into compost. You can feel the respect—and taste it.