Destination of the Week: Vinarosa Resort & Spa
Photo courtesy of Vinarosa Resort & Spa
This week, we spotlight Vinarosa, Sonoma County’s first luxury resort on a working vineyard, set across a 92-acre estate of vines, olive orchards, and culinary gardens. To explore what makes this immersive wine-country retreat so distinctive, we spoke with Michael Collins, General Manager, about the sustainability ethos, heartfelt hospitality, and vineyard-driven experiences shaping every stay.
Vinarosa is Sonoma County’s first luxury resort on a working vineyard. How does being immersed in a 92-acre estate shape the guest experience in ways traditional wine-country stays can’t?
Many wine country hotels are located near vineyards - Vinarosa is located on a working vineyard. Being on a 92-acre working estate redefines the true vineyard experience. Guests stroll through our vineyard paths at golden hour, see our team harvesting olive trees that will produce the oil used in their spa treatment later that day, experience a picnic in the vineyards that feature fresh ingredients from the property’s culinary gardens, or tap into their creativity with our Paint & Sip sessions surrounded by the vineyards. There’s an authenticity and groundedness you simply can’t replicate unless you’re truly connected to the land. Guests aren’t observing wine country from afar, they’re living within it.
Sustainability is a core part of your mission, and Vinarosa recently earned the Environmentalist Level in the California Green Lodging Program. How do your on-property initiatives like vineyard walking paths, gardens, and olive orchards bring that philosophy to life for guests?
Sustainability isn’t a marketing line for us - it’s something you feel the moment you step on property. Our vineyard walking paths encourage guests to slow down and connect with the land in its natural state, from the cover crops that protect soil health to the owl boxes used for natural pest management. Our culinary gardens reduce our footprint while supplying the kitchen with peak-season produce, and our estate olive orchards produce the extra-virgin olive oil guests enjoy in both our dining room and our spa.
Earning the Environmentalist Level is an honor, but what matters most is that every guest can see the philosophy in action - regenerative practices, water stewardship, habitat restoration, and supporting local growers and artisans. It’s a full-circle approach to caring for this place we’re lucky to steward.
Your long-tenured team is celebrated for heartfelt hospitality. What does “meaningful service” look like at Vinarosa, and how do you cultivate those personal connections with guests?
Meaningful service starts with truly seeing our guests - what they love, what they need, what will make their stay memorable. That might mean remembering a returning guest’s favorite wine, creating a personalized vineyard picnic for a family celebrating a milestone, or simply slowing down to have a genuine conversation.
Our team has been here for years, some for decades, and that continuity creates a sense of family. Guests feel it immediately. We empower our staff to be themselves, to share their knowledge of the area, and to create unscripted, heartfelt moments that stay with people long after they leave.
Culinary excellence is central to the Vinarosa vision. How does the resort’s connection to the land influence your dining experiences, from garden-grown produce to vineyard-inspired menus?
Our gardens inform the menu daily - our chefs are constantly walking the beds to see what’s ready to harvest, from heirloom vegetables to edible flowers. The vineyard also plays a starring role: we incorporate our estate olive oil, feature dishes inspired by the seasonal work happening in the vines, and create pairings that highlight the character of the grapes grown right here on property.
Guests tell us the food tastes different at Vinarosa - and I believe it’s because the ingredients don’t just come from Sonoma County, they come from this soil. It creates a sense of place you can taste.
As Vinarosa aims to be Sonoma’s premier destination resort, what upcoming enhancements, programs, or signature moments are you most excited for guests to discover this season?
This season is all about deepening the experiences that make Vinarosa special. We’re introducing expanded vineyard-forward wellness programming - including guided sound baths among the vines and seasonal yoga experiences that follow the agricultural calendar. Our culinary team is also launching new garden-to-table workshops and intimate chef’s dinners that highlight estate ingredients in creative ways.
On the property side, we’re enhancing our outdoor gathering spaces to create more opportunities for fire-pit evenings, stargazing, and private celebrations surrounded by the vines. What excites me most is that every enhancement is rooted in the same vision: authentic wine country hospitality shaped by the land, the seasons, and the people who care for this estate.
