If you relish positive wines and wonderful delicacies then you’ll not be disillusioned on the award-winning, 5-star, Relais & Châteaux Vineyard Hotel, set within the rolling inexperienced hills of Berkshire’s lovely countryside.
Dining right here is actually a few of the finest I’ve tasted, completely paired with some significantly enchanting wines from their cellar which is stocked with over 30,000 wines from the brand new and outdated world, in addition to the award-winning property wines of proprietor Sir Peter Michael. With unbelievable delicacies, welcoming workers to greet you; a spa to chill out in and all kinds of luxurious rooms and suites to decide on between, a keep here’s a actual deal with for thoughts, physique, and soul.
Wherever you determine to remain, ebook through our luxurious journey concierge. We supply free upgrades, free breakfasts, and free perks at motels, together with Four Seasons, Aman, Belmond, Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, InterContinental, and extra. You additionally get your standard Marriott Bonvoy, Hyatt, Hilton, and different loyalty factors and standing advantages once you ebook with our concierge.
Location
Whilst not truly situated on a winery, the lodge is immediately linked with the proprietor’s winery, The Peter Michael Winery, which lies within the sun-kissed hills of Sonoma in northern California. The winery creates wines within the terroir-driven custom of Burgundy and Bordeaux, however beneath the gaze of the Californian sunshine and within the wealthy west-coast soil.
The Vineyard Hotel itself is nestled within the historic residence county of Berkshire in Southeast England, just a few miles from the M4, 5 miles from Newbury Racecourse, and about 8 miles from Highclere Castle. Central London could be reached in an hour’s drive. Newbury practice station lies only a 10-minute drive away, with direct trains from Paddington, which means that Londoners can depart their desk at 5 and be sipping one thing clean on the lodge terrace in round an hour. Adjacent to the lodge lies Deanwood Park Golf Course, whereas the North Wessex Downs AONB is correct on the lodge’s doorstep, promising fairly countryside walks to work up an urge for food earlier than dinner.
Style & Character
The complete lodge embodies the spirit of California, stepping inside seems like stepping right into a luxurious Californian Country Club and artwork gallery with a contact of futuristic fashionable within the neon-lit wine cellar, the centerpiece of the foyer, the place row upon row of wines lay temptingly illuminated behind a glass facade. Your eyes are met with artistic endeavors that adorn all of the partitions and delightful chandeliers that hold from above, in addition to sculptures and paintings all through that pay homage to the proprietor’s ardour: wine. Beyond the foyer, you’re met with a slice of warming Tuscan sunshine with terracotta ceramic tiles that lead you thru the lodge, previous the spa, and restaurant, and onwards to the myriad of rooms and suites. Rooms and suites are luxurious and sensual with luxurious wealthy materials and textures all through.
Service & Facilities
This Pride of Britain lodge boasts loads of amenities together with on-site parking, complimentary wifi, a health heart, and a spa with a round pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room/Hamman – excellent to revive you after the night time earlier than. Guests can take pleasure in a variety of therapies together with a heavenly head therapeutic massage, an Elemental Herbology facial, and a deluxe pedicure, that are all completely tailor-made to you.
While The Vineyard Hotel does settle for kids, it’s extra targeted on delivering connoisseur delicacies, positive wines, and a few indulgent grownup leisure.
Rooms
Guests can select between comfy Luxury Doubles, Atrium Suites, Deluxe Suites, Luxury Suites, and the Grand Suite. The room designs are clear and easy with beautiful luxurious touches and impressionist paintings on the partitions. We stayed in a refined 67 sqm. Luxury Suite on the primary flooring with elegantly textured wallpaper, wealthy textures, and luxurious linens all through. The suite missed the central courtyard and terrace from a number of Juliet balconies and featured a cloakroom; a big separate lounge space with a piece desk and TV; a bed room with a really comfy king-size mattress, dressing desk, giant wardrobe, TV, and armchair; and a spacious marble lavatory. Suite facilities embrace a Nespresso espresso machine, complimentary wifi, fluffy bathrobes and slippers, a collection of Elemental Herbology toiletries, protected, a hair dryer, and air con.
Food & Drink
This is the place The Vineyard Hotel actually units itself aside from the remainder in its three AA Rosette Restaurant. Their gorgeous, each in taste and look, connoisseur dishes, which use the best domestically sourced components, are expertly created by Executive Chef, Tom Scade. Tom blends old-world tastes with new-world approaches and strategies to create dishes that take your breath away. The menus replicate the lodge’s Californian heritage, with Tom mixing wines and olive oil from the Peter Michael Winery into lots of the dishes. Imagine tiny style explosions in your tongue completely paired with positive wines from across the globe, expertly chosen by the ever-friendly and educated, award-winning Head Sommelier, Romain Bourger.
The restaurant may be very luxurious but welcoming and relaxed. As you enter there’s a powerful domed ceiling surrounded by double-height home windows with seating on two ranges. The second you arrive within the restaurant, you’ll be able to immediately inform that is someplace you’ll be able to chill out, take your time, and savor your meals, wine, and most significantly good firm.
We loved a luxurious three-course dinner. To begin, we selected the Burrata with artichoke, hazelnut, and truffle which was simply one thing else, and the melt-in-the-mouth Berkshire trout with caviar, cucumber, and horseradish delicately garnished with rigorously positioned leaves and drops of caviar, fairly presumably the prettiest dish on the menu! For the principle, I selected the peerlessly cooked roast partridge which was served on the desk after which artistically drizzled with delectable truffle sauce alongside a gorgeous pumpkin crescent – the flavour mixtures on this dish had been mouth-watering. We additionally tried the extremely fashionable Hereford rib eye steak which was equally scrumptious too. To end we loved the gorgeous Yuzu namesake, see the images, created with salted caramel, sesame, sorbet, and a to-die-for wealthy and indulgent Tiramisu. All of those dishes had been accompanied by the Vineyard’s notorious wine tree expertise, the place the Head Sommelier matches wines to fit your tastes and your chosen dishes in addition to supplying you with one further blackened glass which accommodates a wine so that you can guess the colour, grape, and area, which was each surprisingly tough, however nice enjoyable too! It’s unsurprising that The Vineyard Hotel has been awarded the AA Wine Award England & Overall 2022-23.
The service within the restaurant was wonderful. All the dishes flowed easily, one after one other, an ideal eating expertise and the workers had been extremely attentive with out being in any respect intrusive. Whilst within the restaurant we had the prospect to satisfy the model new General Manager, Chris Smith, who was very welcoming, pleasant, and educated and is clearly able to take the lodge to the subsequent degree.
The following morning, we loved a scrumptious breakfast. There is a continental unfold on supply in addition to fashionable cooked favorites together with scrambled eggs and smoked salmon (which was unbelievable!) and pancakes, bacon, and maple syrup. Everything that you must nurse any sore heads from the night time earlier than.
For those who have dined right here earlier than, you’ll be happy to study that the seven-course tasting menus paired with fabulous wines are set to return within the close to future too, so watch this house.
Conclusion
The Vineyard Hotel is the right retreat for these epicureans amongst us, but in addition for these which might be merely culinary curious. With world-class delicacies and a extremely spectacular wine listing to match, it’s a vacation spot the place your ardour for wine could be each shared and indulged in a trendy setting that gives true enjoyment. We can’t wait to return!
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