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Meadowood Napa Valley
St. Helena, California, United States · Independent · Apex Luxury
In 1979 Bill Harlan bought the Meadowood Suburban Club, a 1960s retreat in an oak valley off the Silverado Trail, and made it Napa's private resort: 85 rooms on 250 acres, host of Auction Napa Valley since 1981. Christopher Kostow's restaurant held three Michelin stars until the Glass Fire of September 2020 burned the kitchen and a run of cottages; lodging returned in stages through 2024, while the restaurant is still on its way back. Forbes gave the house Five Stars in 2026, and MICHELIN gave it Three Keys.
- 36 rooms
- Opened 1964
About Meadowood Napa Valley
- In 1979 Bill Harlan bought the Meadowood Suburban Club, a 1960s retreat off the Silverado Trail, and made it Napa's private resort on 250 acres.
- Meadowood has hosted Auction Napa Valley since 1981.
- The Glass Fire of September 2020 burned the restaurant kitchen and a run of cottages, and lodging returned in stages through 2024.
- Forbes gave the house Five Stars in 2026, and MICHELIN gave it Three Keys.
History
The private valley off the Silverado Trail north of St. Helena where Meadowood sits was shaped by the same geological forces that made Napa Valley one of the world's great winegrowing regions: the Mayacamas Mountains to the west and the Vaca Range to the east funneling the marine air through the valley in patterns that accumulate into something singular over a long growing season. The land that became Meadowood was first proposed as a resort development in 1961 by developer Freeman Nicholls, who owned a home nearby and saw the potential of the oak-and-pine valley as an exclusive recreational preserve. Construction proceeded over several years in the early 1960s, and by the summer of 1964 the Meadowood Suburban Club was already hosting events; the golf course opened on May 23, 1965. From the beginning the property operated as an exclusive private club with lodging, a model it retained through its first decade.
In 1979, Bill Harlan, a San Francisco real estate developer who would later found Harlan Estate winery, purchased the floundering club through Pacific Union Company and began transforming it from a country club into a fully realized resort. Harlan's investment and vision over the following decades converted Meadowood into the defining luxury property of Napa Valley — a 250-acre private estate with cottages, suites, and lodges woven through the oak-canopied hillsides, an extraordinary wine program, and The Restaurant at Meadowood, which under chef Christopher Kostow earned three Michelin stars and became one of a handful of restaurants in the country at that level of recognition. Meadowood also became home to Auction Napa Valley, one of the country's most important charity wine auctions, first hosted at the property in 1981. On September 27, 2020, the Glass Fire swept through the Napa Valley hillsides and struck Meadowood with devastating force.
The Restaurant at Meadowood, along with a significant portion of the guest cottages and landscaping, was destroyed. The fire was the most serious blow to the property in its sixty-year history. Meadowood began its recovery in stages: lodging and resort operations reopened in phases between 2021 and 2024; The Restaurant reimagined as a new space under Kostow's continued stewardship. Forbes Travel Guide recognized Meadowood with Five Stars in 2026, and MICHELIN awarded Three Keys in 2025 — the highest designation in the inaugural American hotel listing, a signal that this valley, this estate, and this kitchen are still very much among the country's first addresses.
The setting
Meadowood Napa Valley unfolds across a secluded 250-acre valley at the end of Meadowood Lane in St. Helena, sequestered behind wooded ridges yet centered in the valley's most prestigious wine corridor. Since 1979 the estate has gathered Napa's vintners — hosting the Napa Valley Vintners Auction and sustaining a private-club intimacy rare in modern luxury. St. Helena's Main Street, with Michelin-starred Press Restaurant and Beringer Vineyards, lies minutes beyond the wooded gates; Clif Family Winery is thirty-six minutes away. Shingled hillside cottages, three pool areas, and a Wine Center led by published educators create a retreat designed to immerse guests in the quiet confidence of St. Helena's wine-country world.
Restaurants and bars
- The Restaurant at Meadowood — Restaurant · Californian · Chef Christopher Kostow · Three MICHELIN Stars
- The Grill — Restaurant
Experiences
- Meadowood Wellness Retreat — A midweek 3-day wellness retreat designed for small groups, with movement, reflection and renewal.
- Tennis — Play, practice and compete with champion tennis pros on five manicured outdoor courts.
- The Wine Center at Meadowood classes — Educational classes at The Wine Center at Meadowood, headed by preeminent viticulture and wine experts.
- Private meditation and breathwork sessions — Private meditation and breathwork sessions with the dedicated wellness team.
- On-site hiking trails — Hiking on on-site trails that hug the hillsides of the perimeter, with expansive views of Napa Valley.
- Meadowood Spa — On-site spa for rejuvenation, available alongside meetings.
Amenities
- Croquet
- Tennis
- Golf
- Spa
- Pool
- Hiking trails
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Fine dining
- Pet-friendly
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star (2026)
- MICHELIN Three Keys (2026)
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