Communication through food is an integral part of the group experience at Meadowood in Napa Valley.
Located in the bucolic California town of St. Helena, the luxury resort’s claim to fame is the Michelin 3 Star rated The Restaurant at Meadowood, yet the group venues and catering services available are incredible as well.
“When you’re in a location as beautiful as this, why do you need to eat breakfast in a meeting room?” asks Patrick Davila, director of wine and cuisine, with a gesture toward the rows of vines and mountains in the distance.
Davila and Chef Alejandro Ayala both hail from Mexico, and are a dynamic duo, effervescing enthusiasm for food and guests. Davila plays with ideas, coming up with innovative menus, while Chef Ayala plays with food, making Davila’s ideas into reality.
They spend a lot of time talking with planners before an event, learning about group philosophies, and the catering program has captured a lot of new business since the construction of a dedicated kitchen two years ago.
The culinary team often works with Kollar Chocolates, a local company that offers an assortment of delicious group amenities and event products, from wine pairings to custom-branded company candies. Together they recently began crafting seasonal chocolate boxes, utilizing ingredients grown on the property to create a sweet “tour of Meadowood.”
With 85 guest cottages and 250 acres of property, Meadowood offers a selection of meeting spaces for small to medium-size groups, plus elegant outdoor spaces like the croquet lawn and wooded glens that can be tented and accommodate thousands of people. Meadowood also offers off-site catering at more than 50 local partner vineyards and wineries.
