Wine News, June 2007
Heritage House, exceptional cuisine, exemplary wine list, exotic locale.

Just because Heritage House's executive chef, Nancy Kinchela, gets her hand dirty in her greenhouse and garden, doesn't mean guests at Mendocino's newly renovated Heritage House resort, perched on the county's famously rugged coast, will have to rough it. The only mud that visitors to this recently refurbished, five-star property–with accommodations spread over 20 cottages–might come into contact with will be those applied during personalized spa treaments inspired by the region's indigenous ingredients. New ownership (GHM Hotels, parent of Miami Beach's Setai hotel) has brought an infusion of capital, elevating every facet of the guest experience and sparing no expense. The natural bounty of Northern California informs all aspects of Heritage House—from the restorative spa to the exceptional wine cellar, from the crisp architecture to the tailor-made winery excursions. In the kitchen, Kinchela composes her seasonal menus with heirloom, pre-hybrid herbs and produce, wild-caught seafood, house-smoked organic meats and orchard-fresh fruits. Cellar master Alejandro Ortiz has written a wine list that looks and reads like a virtual book; its weightiest chapter is dedicated to Anderson Valley greats, such as Handley Cellars. Yet Old World bottlings, from Barolo to Bordeaux, also get their share of ink. Whether ordering a bottle in the panoramic dining room or pulling a cork while picnicking beside the Pacific, nature meets nurture here on a dramatic stage.

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