Hotel Luca & Cantinetta Piero Open in Yountville

YOUNTVILLE, Calif., Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Hotel Luca officially opened today in Yountville, California. The ideal setting for couples or small groups, the 20-room property features Cantinetta Piero restaurant, full-service Luca Spa and two residences.

The architect for Hotel Luca was Jeffrey Fink and Associates Architecture of Los Angeles. The hotel interior, created by Kathleen Fink of KMF Design located in Carmel, California, combines casual luxury with modern textures and tones. Premium home furnishings brand Restoration Hardware was enlisted to furnish throughout, lending a timeless design aesthetic to the interiors and surrounding gardens. Restoration Hardware's expert craftsmanship and classic style can be seen in the hotel's assortment of custom beds, chairs, tables, desks, lighting, patio decor and more.

Unique reclaimed materials were used throughout the construction of Hotel Luca including 200 year-old roof tile from Lucca, Italy, and 300 year-old floor tile from Florence, Italy. The hotel's exterior is of custom lime-plaster, an ancient technique used on some of Europe's earliest buildings. Locally quarried Napa Valley Syar stone frames the hotel's portico tower entrance. Rustic Jerusalem limestone can be seen throughout the property's lobby, spa, bathrooms and public spaces. Together with Kathleen Fink of KMF Design, New York glass artist Susan Joblon designed the glass patterns and color palettes used throughout Luca Spa, Cantinetta Piero and the hotel's guest rooms and pool area.

Guest room colors reflect the earth tones of the wine country and are sophisticated and pleasing, thoughtfully appointed with every modern amenity and convenience including flat-screen television, ceiling fans, music system and complimentary WiFi. Dark-toned Restoration Hardware furniture, upholstered with imported fabrics for ultimate comfort is complemented by fine art photography by local artist JE Knubis, images selected for inspiration and beauty. Every guest room features custom Restoration Hardware beds with imported Mascioni Italian linens, New Zealand wool carpeting, and generous bathrooms with radiant floor heat, double sinks, soaking tubs and separate showers. All of the guest rooms have balconies or patios with sitting areas, and some feature fireplaces. Accommodations include complimentary valet parking, highly personalized guest service and a delicious country breakfast daily.

General manager James DeLuca is excited to introduce Hotel Luca, Cantinetta Piero and Luca Spa to travelers and the local community. "We have assembled an outstanding hospitality team to provide guests with the highest level of service," states DeLuca.

Cantinetta Piero

Cantinetta Piero is inspired by the convivial attitude and open-air lifestyle of Tuscany. Under a lofty 15-foot high ceiling with massive beams and vaulted brick ceiling, seating areas include banquettes, tables, the pizza bar and, through large sliding glass doors, an outdoor courtyard dining area. The restaurant features an open kitchen customized by the Montague Company, with a Mugnaini Italian wood-burning pizza oven, an Italian hearth bread and bakery oven, and its own salume curing room.

The foods of Tuscany are at the heart of Cantinetta Piero menus. Christopher Vacca, chef de cuisine at Cantinetta Piero, oversees the kitchen and the menus he created in collaboration with Jason Balestrieri, the executive chef for both Cantinetta Piero and Cantinetta Luca (Carmel, CA). Vacca has worked with several of the country's most notable chefs including Mark Miller at Red Sage, Jean-Louis Palladin at the Watergate Hotel and with David Burke at Park Avenue Cafe. He has a firm understanding and love of Italian food, having been raised in a first-generation Italian family.

The menus focus on seasonal ingredients and regional products including seafood and shellfish from the nearby coast, game and meat from the inland and mountain regions, and produce from local farms. Diners will find items such as (partial list) eight varieties of salume, house-made pastas, (bucatini con due uova, pumpkin ravioli), ribolilita soup, bistecca alla fiorentina, cacciucco (fisherman's stew), Anantra (roasted duck breast, farroto, chantrelles, pomegranate) and a selection of ever-changing specialty pizzas all baked in an authentic Italian wood-fired oven.

Greeting arriving guests at Cantinetta Piero is general manager Michael Galyen, a familiar face to many residents of the Napa Valley. Former general manager of Bistro Don Giovanni and most recently assistant manager at Bottega, Galyen has more than 20 years of experience in fine-dining establishments.

The wine list at Cantinetta Piero focuses on the Napa Valley and the great wine regions of Italy. Vintages are on display in a ceiling-high, glass-fronted wine room.

Approachable, fun, lively, Cantinetta Piero offers modern Tuscan food from a Napa Valley point of view.

Luca Spa

Luca Spa embodies the Napa Valley and Tuscan philosophy of love of life and wellness of being. The spa provides a relaxing environment for professional, personalized, nourishing services for body and soul and features a signature lavender-saltwater soaking pool complete with water wall and fireplace. Guests can indulge in a variety of traditional therapies or more contemporary treatments including, citrus refresher massages, terra purification cleansing treatments, aqua pura hydrating facials, personalized wellness solutions and a selection of pampering couples treatments.

About Hotel Luca

Designed to be alive, flowing and spontaneous, Hotel Luca embraces the beautiful light of the Napa wine country. Surrounded by antique shops, art galleries and wine tasting rooms, the new Hotel Luca is located in the town of Yountville. From Hotel Luca's rooftops, 200-year-old tiles from the town of Lucca, Italy, peer down at open terraces and patios, arched windows and the casual luxury of tastefully appointed guest rooms featuring Restoration Hardware custom designs. With a villa-like stone tower, arched walkways and European lime plaster, Hotel Luca combines the best of contemporary design and old-world architectural passion.

In addition to its 20 guest rooms, Hotel Luca offers two fully-furnished residences for stays of thirty days or more. Featuring all the appointments and amenities of guest rooms, the residences are complete with fireplace, radiant floor heat bathroom, full kitchen and enclosed balcony. All the services of the hotel and restaurant are available including twice-daily housekeeping service.

Hotel Luca is located at 6774 Washington Street, Yountville; CA. Rates at Hotel Luca range from $295-$650 per night and include breakfast for two. Travelers interested in booking reservations or for further information may telephone 707-944-8080, or visit the hotel's web site www.hotellucanapa.com

About Mirabel Hotel & Restaurant Group

For more than 25 years, Mirabel Hotel & Restaurant Group owner David Fink, has been associated with some of Northern California's finest luxury resorts, hotels and restaurants. Fink's 'heart of a servant' philosophy and constant focus on guest satisfaction has ensured success of all properties under the company's direction.

Fink opened Bouchee, his first restaurant in Carmel, in 2002; it quickly became the region's premier choice for fine dining. (Mirabel sold Bouchee in 2009) In 2004, L'Auberge Carmel, a luxury inn and restaurant, member Relais & Chateaux, opened in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea, cementing Fink's reputation as a dedicated and innovative hotelier. It was also the beginning of Mirabel Hotel & Restaurant Group, the management company Fink and his wife Kathleen started with the dual purpose of managing a growing list of properties as well as exploring possibilities for new acquisitions. The Group's third restaurant, Cantinetta Luca (Carmel) opened in 2006, offering Italian food in a casual, modern setting, and consistently receiving critical accolades and awards.

Hotel Luca is the Group's newest venture. Inspired by Tuscany and created for Napa Valley, the team that created L'Auberge Carmel, restaurants Aubergine and Cantinetta Luca, have brought their vision to Hotel Luca.