Unveiling California Wine Country’s newest fine dining concept, The Meritage Resort and Spa is proud to officially open the doors of the latest addition to its acclaimed and award-winning culinary program, Ember Steak. Rustic and warm like its namesake, the restaurant introduces a contemporary steakhouse inspired by the power of dishes that ‘kindle’ connections between savants and everyday food lovers alike. This unique gastronomic experience, which culminates The Meritage Resort and Spa’s property-wide $25 million reimagination, is poised to be the crowning jewel of the resort’s robust food and beverage collection.
“Napa Valley is regarded globally as a leading culinary destination, however, we saw a gap in the market for an offering of this caliber and have answered that with the addition of this inviting outlet to our dining scene,” shared Joe Leinacker, Managing Director at The Meritage Resort and Spa. Ember Steak’s Executive Chef Cary Roy added, “In developing the restaurant, our goal was to create a new, elevated wine country dining experience that celebrates the finest cuts of meat and locally sourced ingredients, paired with an extensive selection of wines that reflect the essence of the region.”
Nestled alongside The Meritage Resort and Spa’s nine acres of active vineyards, Ember Steak is located within “The Village”, the resort’s assembly of onsite tasting rooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen classroom, lively coffee shop, and artisanal market. This popular and active part of the property frames The Village Lawn, known for its epic Blue Note summer concert series and seasonal ice rink, putting Ember Steak at the center of the action. The dining room, a moody, intimate, and sensory setting, boasts an exquisite collection of wines lining its bookcase-style walls, tempting to be uncorked and savored. The indoor space can seat up to 50 people, and is available for buy-outs or private events. For those seeking an outdoor experience, the heated patio offers seating for 38 guests. “We aimed for a ‘sophisticated cowboy aesthetic’ — masculine, dark, and a bit mysterious, but with polish,” said Charlotte Einar, Pacific Hospitality Group’s in-house designer. “The colors are inspired by the earth and sky of the West. Additionally, the space features a stunning artwork centerpiece of a steer that really sets the tone, commissioned by Laura Cazier, owner of Mill + Foundry. We worked on the scale to ensure it has a lot of presence. The longhorn is printed on reflective mylar that catches the light in a soft, subtle way. The wallcovering is metallic cork, and the art is hand-colored rope that ties into the ‘cowboy’ inspiration. Every finish, from the hammered metal frame on the barstools to the woven leather, was carefully selected to support the theme.”
A carefully curated menu designed to be an interactive and customizable culinary adventure, Ember Steak’s interchangeable entree elements can be mixed and matched, including meat and sushi: prime red cuts, seafood, poultry, sultry sauces, decadent accompaniments, and even vegan alternatives. Highlights include a heavenly combination of Ember Steak’s 45 oz Black Angus Tomahawk Ribeye with an Oscar accoutrement of Dungeness Crab and Late Harvest Béarnaise Sauce, or a Roasted Salmon Steak with a hot mustard glaze, which can be paired with a rich Chimichurri made from charred pepper citrus. Raw bar offerings feature oysters and several elevated sushi rolls, such as the signature Ember Roll combining lobster, shrimp, and wagyu. Keeping various steak dinner traditions intact, a memorable carnivore meal would not be complete without mouth-watering sides, such as imaginative table-side torched Potato Pavé and Bone Marrow complemented with interpretations of classics like Loaded Mac and Cheese and Chef Roy’s grandmother’s recipe for Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes.
At the steakhouse’s ember blue tiled bar with designer light fixtures, the 13-page wine book is an encyclopedia of premium pours from around the world, as well as California’s very own backyard. For the mixology aficionado, the perfectly balanced Meritage Martini is on track to be a destination bucket list item. A cucumber and dill-infused Absolut Elyx Vodka topped with Carpano Antica Blanco Dry Vermouth and housemade brine, this cocktail can only be described as a work of art and includes a stunning lobster, avocado, and caviar parfait canapé, resulting in perfection. Other libations include the signature Ember Steak inspired table side Smoked Negroni, the 6-week barrel-aged Black Manhattan, a Blackberry Sage Margarita made with Giffard Blackberry Liqueur, the Walnut Old Fashioned crafted with Jefferson’s Bourbon, Black Walnut Bitters and Toschi Nocello Walnut Liqueur, and the unforgettable Espresso Tequitini, shaken with Kahlua and Espolon Tequila.
Flight Before Feast: Introducing Sora
Designed as a complementary experience for those who want to sip and swirl before dining at Ember Steak, The Meritage Resort and Spa has also welcomed Sora Napa to The Village – yet another amazing tasting lounge option specifically dedicated to the art of bubbles, serving artisanal sparkling wines, champagnes, and fizzy cocktails through innovative flights. Named after the small waterbird native to Napa Valley, Sora can seat 28 guests and is adorned with fun pops of vibrant colors that reflect the bright flavor profiles guests will taste throughout their experience.
Visitors and locals looking for the ultimate new culinary offering available in wine country are sure to find it at The Meritage Resort and Spa. The opening of these two contemporary outlets, providing guests with a memorable steakhouse experience with a side of sparkle, mark the continuation of an era of gastronomic excellence at this iconic Napa Valley property. Ember Steak is open 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and open until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Sora Napa welcomes guests Wednesday through Sunday afternoons, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations for both are recommended and can be made at www.embersteak.com and www.meritageresort.com.
About The Meritage Resort and Spa
Among the sprawling vineyards and rolling golden hills of Napa Valley lies The Meritage Resort and Spa, the destination’s largest resort and the ultimate gateway to California Wine Country. Fully transformed thanks to a recent $25 million reimagination that debuted in April 2024, the AAA Four Diamond resort offers 322 transformed guest rooms alongside its existing luxurious 145 guest rooms and suites, boasting a total of 467 modern and spacious accommodations. The newly renovated accommodations include 157 Meritage rooms, which showcase elevated craftsmanship with touches inspired by a modern vineyard farmhouse aesthetic, in addition to 165 new Bordeaux rooms, which give a nod to the property’s original Mission-style architecture and design. Spanning 36 acres, The Meritage Resort and Spa is home to every experience and comfort Napa is renowned for, with guest amenities that include a chic renovated lobby and Commons Bar; a cool bowling lounge; a new premier steakhouse, Ember Steak; an eccentric sparkling wine tasting room, Sora Napa; an award-winning farm-to-table Italian-inspired restaurant, Olive & Hay; a grab-and-go cafe; a locally-sourced artisanal market and deli; an expanded adults-only vineyard-side pool; three on-site tasting rooms; 9 acres of active vineyards; and more. Nestled in the resort’s 22,000 sq-ft naturally-formed Estate Cave, Spa Terra is located 40 feet under Trinitas Cellars’ rows of vines, offering indulgent treatments that range from CBD-infused massages to vino-refined scrubs. A community social hub, the resort hosts iconic seasonal activities, hosting concerts and events on its Grand Lawn when the weather is warm and becoming California’s North Pole in the winter, complete with the biggest outdoor ice skating rink in Wine Country. To learn more and make reservations, go to www.meritageresort.com.
