At Montage Healdsburg, amid a hilly patchwork of grapevines, rosemary bushes, scrub oaks and eucalyptus, my day starts with a swim in the resort’s immense pool. Positioned 20 feet above the terrain, it seems to float above the surrounding vineyards. It’s dark when I start my strokes, but by the time I finish, a veil of amber light begins to illuminate the landscape. The sun’s rays spill into the rows of fat grapes, fusing with snippets of fog for a swirling effect. I hop out of the water to drink it all in, suddenly reminded of the night before, the way I swirled the resort’s own house-made wine in my glass, sniffing and (gratefully) quaffing it.

It’s too early for wine, so I do the next best thing: I head into the vineyard for Yoga Among the Vines. Hewed within robust Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards, an intimate nook unfurls as a secret alfresco yoga studio.

A teacher busily rolls out yoga mats. I choose a spot edged by vines which emit the grapes’ musky perfume. As I recline waiting for the practice, I gaze at the clouds dancing above and peer at colorful birds flitting about as if they were the class leaders. For the next hour, as bees buzz and a breeze tickles my neck, I twist and stretch myself into a hypnotic space of bliss and relaxation. And that’s all before breakfast. It’s just the beginning of my spa day.

On 250 bucolic acres in Sonoma County, with 15 acres of vineyards, LEED-certified Montage Healdsburg invites oenophiles, romantics and wellness lovers to tuck into its unpretentiously elegant enclave for wine country repose. Just spitting distance (we’re thinking wine tasting spittoon) from prodigiously understated and genuinely cool Healdsburg, the resort features bungalow-style rooms that face the vineyards, the forest or the mountains — each built from natural local elements. Melding with the terrain, they look both organic and futuristic simultaneously and are earthily luxurious. The all-day restaurant, Hazel Hill, both gastronomic and health-conscious, has NoCal flair, serving artfully salubrious dishes meant to complement wine from Sonoma — particularly Surveyor, Montage Healdsburg’s own estate-bottled wine label.

I could simply complete my “spa” day after a breakfast of avocado toast followed by a “cleansing” in my suite’s outdoor shower (or a jog around the on-site vineyards), but thankfully I head to the actual Spa Montage Healdsburg for the next phase of my ode to well-being. The sanctum, poised above the vines, comprises the state-of-the-art fitness center and two pools (the one where I swam as well as an inviting family pool). Encompassing 11,500 square feet, the retreat embodies the wine land vibe in its ability to evoke opulent simplicity. Serene treatment rooms and peaceful common areas support the spa’s mission to offer both expert global treatments and rituals inspired by sense of place. Because I am here as the mother of the groom for a wedding in a few days, I take advantage of the fact Spa Montage Healdsburg features expert and advanced facial treatments from Switzerland’s Valmont, one of the most revered skincare lines in the world.

When your goal is to look 10 years younger (or just your absolute best), a Valmont facial seals the deal. I chose The Masterpiece Ritual, an incredibly indulgent, utterly effective, divinely transformative facial which lasts around two hours. Designed by Valmont exclusively for Spa Montage Healdsburg, it comprises six masks (including a complete collagen treatment for the face, neck, décolleté and the eyes), utilizes oxygen suction, salicylic and glycolic acid peels, and Oxylight therapy. Insanely effective, this Valmont facial stands out as one of the world’s most expensive facials at $985 — worth every penny.

While you might not need (or want) this over-the-top (but wholly Instagram-worthy) facial, the spa offers a slew of other treatments and modalities that promise a pivot. Offered in harvest season, A Vineyard to Spa Experience makes use of grape skins and seeds from the resort’s own vineyard. Fusing stellar mineral salts and grapefruit- and pepper-infused essential oils, the antioxidant-rich treatment, an exfoliating body polish, brightens and firms the complexion. For hydration, opt for the Harvest Honey Ginger Infusion Ritual, which takes advantage of honey’s humectant properties and immune-boosting healing power. The Sonoma Blend Massage embraces local farmers’ largesse with cold-decanted olive oil from Healdsburg-based Comstock Wines’ own olives.

Couples? Revel in Montage Healdsburg’s peerless wine country setting with the Journey of the Senses magic carpet ride to rapturous euphoria. Fragrances inspired by wine tasting play a role during the hedonistic two-hour spa time à deux. You’ll be pampered with whiffs of cedar, lavender and vetiver; receive a body polish tinged with French lavender, vanilla and sweet orange; and massaged with floral-filled poultices. A shea butter wrap and rose porfyr stone shoulder rub caps the service just before you’re served a wine pairing with chocolate.

Whether a D.I.Y. spa day at healing NoCal chic Montage Healdsburg (as I began my morning) or time spent all day in the lavish actual Spa Montage, this destination excels at prepping wellness seekers for any life event — big or small.

SPA MONTAGE HEALDSBURG
Montage Healdsburg
100 Montage Way
Healdsburg, CA 95448
tel 707 979 9000
montage.com