I was so happy to see that the Wine Enthusiast named Calistoga as one of its 10 Best Wine Travel Destinations Worldwide for 2017. Calistoga was one of only two places in the United States included on this exclusive list – the other was Hood River, which is located on the Oregon and Washington border. This is yet another reason to invest in Calistoga real estate. Calistoga’s rise to fame has been a long time in the making, but clearly, this charming town is attracting attention from all over the world for many reasons, which explains why it’s the only town in Napa Valley where the average sale price is on the rise, and not in an insignificant way.
Best known for its hot springs, spas and luxury resorts, Calistoga is the northernmost town in the Napa Valley and home to approximately 5,000 residents. Calistoga’s AVA was established in 2010 within the larger Napa Valley AVA and is the northernmost AVA in the valley. Due to its location, it has the highest daytime temperatures and is home to a number of highly acclaimed wineries such as: Araujo, Aubert, Constant Diamond Mountain Winery, Checkerboard Vineyards, Chateau Montelena, Schramsberg and Switchback Ridge.
Napa Valley residents and visitors are so excited that Santa Rosa’s Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport continues to expand in size and number of carriers. This makes Calistoga the first port of entry into the valley for many people rather than the last. There have been record numbers of passengers, including locals, using the airport since the runway was expanded. This project alone was 10 years in the making.
Restaurants in Calistoga are diverse and delicious. Wine Enthusiast recommends one of my personal favorites: the Michelin-starred Solbar, serving some of the finest, most creative food and cocktails in the Valley amid the palm trees and fountains of the Solage resort. The resort itself is another top destination within Calistoga and includes a full-service spa and oversize swimming pool. Wine Enthusiast also suggests Calistoga Ranch as “equally posh, located in a secluded hillside nook that offers plenty of privacy and wandering hiking trails.”
Calistoga has long been a retreat for those seeking renewed health and rejuvenation. The town’s mineral-rich volcanic waters have been around since the 1800s. There are many destination and day spas and resorts in town where you can indulge in hot soaks, saunas, massages and the quintessential Calistoga experience: the mud bath. Emerging from the ground at a temperature between 140-150 degrees, the hot spring pool at Golden Haven offers minerals that always leave you with soft skin. Wine Enthusiast also highlighted Solage, Indian Springs, and Dr. Wilkinson’s Hot Springs Resort as other popular day-guest options.
This is an exciting time for Calistoga real estate. In a previous blog post, I discussed how investors are spending millions to develop Calistoga resorts. The Rosewood Hotel Group’s Calistoga Hills Resort set a national record by selling for nearly $80 million. The luxury hotelier Four Seasons is developing a new resort, which will include an 85-room hotel and spa, restaurant, a 10,000-case winery, a six-acre vineyard and 20 freestanding homes – deposits have been taken for 7 of the homes so far. Meantime, in 2014, Indian Springs Resort, located in the middle of town, more than tripled its number of rooms at the historic property and opened a restaurant.
If the news of Calistoga being a worldwide wine destination has you thinking of moving to this thriving area of Napa Valley, I hope you will consider contacting me at 707-738-4820 or via email at [email protected]. I would welcome the opportunity to share my insider information on extraordinary offerings like this prized hilltop vineyard estate, overlooking Mount Saint Helena. I’m looking forward to discussing your needs!
