Bardessono green luxury lauded at opening

By JENNIFER HUFFMAN
Register Staff Writer

From rooftops fitted with solar panels to flooring made of salvaged and locally grown walnut, Napa Valley’s newest luxury inn and spa aims to provide a greener lodging experience from top to bottom.

Calling itself the “greenest luxury hotel in America,” Bardessono in Yountville opened on Monday.

The hotel is at the site of a former family vineyard on Yount Street, where members of the Bardessono family joined forces with a hotel developer and manager to create the 62-room, five-acre property. 

Eco-friendly practices define the project, including the low-profile flat solar panels, water conservation, recycled construction materials, organic linens and cleaning products, onsite composting and minimal solid waste generation.

Wandering through the property, a series of courtyards give the inn a compact, intimate feel. Between each cluster of rooms are numerous waterways with wooden bridges. Stone towers, some with water pouring from them, accent intersections.

Locally quarried Tuffa stone, salvaged and re-cut from the Bardessono family’s original homestead, finishes off the hotel’s entryway as well as reception and dining areas.

The buildings are set back from the main road, providing an unobtrusive, tucked away impression.

Susan Wiechers of Yountville visited Bardessono during a community open house on Monday.

“I think it’s beautiful,” she said.“It was a great little vineyard, but if something has to replace it, this is great. And having the family still involved will make this something the locals will enjoy too.”

“Gorgeous,” said Virginia Crowe of Yountville.

“I liked the two-way fireplaces with two TVs,” she said. Each hotel room is also a spa suite, with room for treatment bed, indoor and outdoor shower with a steam function.

Stewart Lindauer of Yountville, a retired architect, said the Bardessono design was “ageless.”

“I think it will blend in very well over time, and age beautifully,” he said.

“Spectacular,” said Carol Frommelt, of Napa, as she admired the second-story pool deck with panoramic views of Yountville and the valley. “I’m impressed. It looks like no expense spared.” 

“And the view from up here is gorgeous,” said her friend Gail Randol as she looked at the verdant Vaca Mountain range.

Local contractor Tim Cooney took in the project.

“This is my first visit,” he said, adding “it’s fantastic.”

A green builder himself, Cooney was particularly interested in the mix of materials used at Bardessono, including metal, stone and wood. 

The development expects to become Platinum LEED certified — the highest form of green development accreditation in the United States.

In a section of raised garden beds, Bardessono’s culinary gardener Noel Lopreore carefully weeded baby winter greens. The onsite organic garden and a half acre off the property will supply the kitchen, bar and spa, she said.

“We’ll get the unique opportunity to grow whatever we need — things you can’t always find at a market,” said Lopreore. Besides the spa and restaurant, guests are welcome to visit the gardens.

Lopreore said the Bardessono culinary gardens will feature unusual, hard-to-find greens. The tony hotel spa is pondering the idea of giving guests with green thumbs a pack of seeds to take home with them.

“It’s OK to snack,” she said.

In addition to the 62 rooms, Bardessono features a 92-seat restaurant and bar, which is open to the public. Also onsite are meeting rooms and a spa. Construction on 25 units of affordable housing on the back portion of the property should begin soon.

In 2007, the project was estimated to cost $46 million, but an updated figure has not been provided.

Nightly room rates at Bardessono begin at $600.

Register business editor Mike Treleven contributed to this story.

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