With City Editor Jill Decker exploring the new Solange spa in Calistoga, it seemed a good time to investigate what other spas in the valley are up to in the holiday season.

My son was skeptical when I told him I was going to the Spa at Villagio to experience a caviar pedicure.

“Do you mean you are going to smell like dead fish?” he asked. “That’s great. Then you’ll go to the game and I’ll look up in the stands and know my mother is there because she’s the one sitting all by herself because she smells like dead fish.”

Despite his warnings, I went anyway. And I experienced not only the caviar pedicure, but the caviar manicure and the caviar facial. Research, you know.

Each year at this time the Spa at Villagio in Yountville comes up with some kind of seasonal delight; in the past treatments have included peppermint, chocolate and cranberries. This year, despite all the flurry of activity going on with the construction of the new spa, set to open in January, they’d come up with what could be the ultimate rub, caviar.

According to the Villagio press release, “Dating back to prehistoric times, caviar has been a part of the Middle Eastern and Eastern Europe diet for the majority of man’s history. Today, an upscale cocktail party is not complete without a canapé with caviar. As James Beard has said, ‘The roe of the Russian mother sturgeon has probably been present at more important international affairs than have all the Russian dignitaries of history combined.’”

The 50-minute Caviar Facial ($120) involved 17 steps using products from Pevonia’s Lione Myoxy Caviar Line like Timeless Balm Cleanser, Enzyme Power Mask, and Timeless Repair Lotion followed by a Myoxy-Caviar Mask, which molded into a green mask that, when removed, resembled something from ancient history — fortunately not the case with the person experiencing the mask, who emerges looking considerably improved.

 Seasons Caviar Manicure ($75) and Seasons Caviar Pedicure ($85) use Pevonia’s Youth-Renew Caviar Hand and Foot products like an exfoliating scrub of caviar, pineapple and papaya enzymes, jojoba beads, lemon verbena and chamomile or a silky caviar foot peel. The treatments also include a cozy, warm paraffin wax-filled glove or boot wrap and end with a luscious cream that contains caviar, shea butter, marine collagen.

As part of the Spa At Villagio’s wellness program, the Tuscan-themed spa also offers the use of a 40-foot private outdoor lap pool, a eucalyptus steam room and a dry sauna. Spa-goers are also pampered with herbal teas, purified water infused with cucumber and cucumber-scented chilled towels. During the day, you can also order lunch from the spa menu and dine pool-side.

I returned home that afternoon to be greeted by my son with “Well, did you do it? You look normal.”

Furthermore, I did not smell like fish, he agreed, and did not have to sit by myself at the football game.

For more information about treatments at the Spa at Villagio, call the spa at 948-5050 or visit the Inn’s Web site at www.villagio.com.

Merry Mixers at Meritage

Victoria Boscarino, director of the Spa Terra at the Meritage Resort in southern Napa (just below the Grape Crusher statue) advises that gift certificates are a great idea for both women and men, who are increasingly equally open to a pampering treatment. Spa Terra at Meritage has a range of treatments, she said, including Amor per due  (love for two) couples’ treatments, as well as facials, relaxation baths, massages and scrubs, all in their unique setting “as you already know we are the one and only spa in a 20,000 square foot cave in the wine country that includes the spa, a very large event cave, and the Estate Bar,” she said. Right now, the holiday special is the Merry Mixer, which includes a Facial Cocktail, a Peppermint Mocha Body Polish and an Eggnog Body Butter Wrap, “two hours of  decadence with a glass of bubbly for $235.”

 Boscarino also suggests extending the merriment indulgence with a three-course dinner at Siena Restaurant, a  $299 per person package, available through January.

For information about Spa Terra call 251-3000 or visit www.spaterra.com or  www.themeritageresort.com

Green luxury

Before the Spa Gaia opened last year in American Canyon’s new eco-friendly hotel, the owners made trips to Asia to research Pacific-Fusion spa treatments from Bali and China as well as Ayurvedic treatments based on each client’s “dosha,” a lifestyle and health profile created thousands of years ago in India. Visitors enter the spa past a waterfall fountain created by Kristy Chen, an artist as well as founder of the spa. Energy for the spa comes from a solar system on the roof of the hotel.

In addition to its range of luxury “green” treatments, plans for Spa Gaia include yoga classes in the new Wellness Center, instructive herbal and tea classes, Chinese medicine classes, creative arts classes and a healing arts teaching school under the management of Kate Riley, spa director.

More information about Spa Gaia can be found on the company’s Web site: www.spaga ia.com.