One may not associate “old money” with Silicon Valley, but Saratoga, Calif., has quite the tale to tell in that regard.
Located about 15 miles west of San Jose and 50 miles south of San Francisco, Saratoga got its name in the early 1860s and soon became the spot where “old money” families set up their resplendent Victorian estates in the midst of bucolic forested foothills and the fruit orchards that used to define the region. Fast forward about 150 years and it’s still a big-money zip code, but now it’s the young Silicon Valley elite’s nouveau spreads one spies from hillsides studded with premier vineyards.
On a recent trip to Saratoga as part of the centennial anniversary gala of its storied Hakone Estate and Gardens, I got the chance to experience this rare jewel through the prism of a meetings lens, and came away with the impression that groups will definitely eat and drink in a taste of the good life in this most distinctive destination.
Villa Montalvo Arts Center
The first stop, Villa Montalvo Arts Center, established in 1912 by U.S. Sen. James Phelan, is a sprawling 175-acre estate that caters to everything from small groups to those pushing 2,000 attendees. Exotic plant species, including numerous towering bunya-bunya pines, are the first wonders to meet the eyes as one drives into this magnificent expanse that has served as the hub of the area’s arts community—the oldest artists’ residences west of Mississippi, I was told—since its beginnings. Other wonders include its massive 16th century Spanish doors, intricate stained-glass windows and a museum-like atmosphere in the main villa with original furnishings and old school “technology.” Group options include vintage cottages for small retreats up to 14, a Great Lawn, various gardens, the indoor Carriage House Theatre seating up to 300 and the outdoor Lilian Fountaine Garden Theatre, the setting for its summer concert series that can seat up to 1,100.
Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards
Next up was perhaps the biggest surprise of the tour: a family-owned and operated equestrian center and award-winning winery. Established by the Garrod family in 1893 after purchasing lands from the Mount Eden Orchard and Vineyard Company, its descendants replanted the aging orchards in 1972 with grapes more in tune with its Santa Cruz Mountains microclimate. The venue offers horseback riding excursions through the adjacent Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Preserves, offering panoramic views of Silicon Valley. Small groups will enjoy wine tastings in its unspoiled Fruit House and the adjacent, informal picnic area that frequently features live entertainment.
The Mountain Winery
The premier venue for larger groups that crave both history and A-list concert performances, The Mountain Winery offers a magnum of both. Opened by pioneering California wine legend Paul Masson in 1905, the former Paul Masson Mountain Winery is on the National Register of Historic Places and has staged concerts from legends such as Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles and The Beach Boys since 1958. With the 2,500-seat amphitheater concert operation run by AEG Live since 2011, recent acts have included Robert Plant, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and even Justin Bieber, attracting excursions and retreats from top Silicon Valley tech companies and local music fans, and boasting truly panoramic views of the Valley surrounded by vineyards. The venue offers several meeting and event spaces with in-house catering and a variety of wine- and food-focused teambuilding opportunities operated by its corporate event planning team, which plans up to 200 corporate events per year.
Hakone Gardens
Another National Register of Historic Places as well as National Trust for Historic Preservation site, Hakone is one of the oldest Japanese estates and gardens in the Western Hemisphere, having just celebrated its centennial with a fete featuring local luminaries that included members of the family that worked and lived on the estate. The immaculate 18-acre venue is often used for corporate retreats and off-site business meetings, along with small conferences and seminars. Besides strolling its gardens and enjoying the koi pond and waterfalls, visitors can partake in docent-led tours and traditional tea ceremonies. Its main hall was built to resemble a Japanese tea merchant store, includes numerous historical artifacts, and, amazingly, was constructed using no nails, a testament to exquisite Japanese craftsmanship.
The Inn at Saratoga
Groups wanting to overnight in the Village of Saratoga proper can stay at the 47-room Inn at Saratoga, located downtown and across from many fine restaurants and boutiques. The property offers the 800-square-foot, audiovisual-equipped Oak Conference Room, which can be used for boardroom or U-shaped configurations for up to 35 people.
Saratoga Meetings
408.867.0753
