Highlights: CordeValle, A Rosewood Resort

•Luxurious setting creates a private and exclusive ambience

•The hotel feels far away from the hustle and bustle, yet is just 30 minutes south of Silicon Valley

•Eighty-five-acre on-site vineyard offers tours, wine tasting, and special wine and food pairing dinners

•Spacious guest rooms have a beautiful contemporary design

•Championship golf course designed by famed course architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr.

•Superior Mobil Four-Star spa facility with comprehensive treatment menu

Amenities: CordeValle, A Rosewood Resort

• 45 rooms. Check-in 3 pm, check-out Noon. Restaurant, bar. Fitness room. Outdoor pool, whirlpool. Golf. Tennis.

General Impressions: CordeValle, A Rosewood Resort

CordeValle is an exclusive resort set within a private golf course community. Located just 30 minutes south of California’s Silicon Valley and less than an hour from the Monterey Peninsula, the resort is conveniently located, yet removed from the fray.

The championship Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf course is the centerpiece of the resort, and all of the public and private spaces have been designed to maximize views of the lush links. CordeValle is sophisticated and chic in a laidback, California kind of way and appeals to an adult crowd. Since it offers limited amenities for families, it better appeals to couples, single travelers, and corporate groups.

CordeValle’s design is a contemporary interpretation of Mission-style architecture, and several odes to architect Frank Lloyd Wright are evident in the public spaces. Exposed beams, wrought-iron chandeliers, and sandstone wood-burning fireplaces add a rustic element, while contemporary artwork lends a sense of sophistication. The guestrooms, done in soft beige palettes with hardwood floors, are casually elegant and extremely comfortable.

The world-class spa gives the golf course a run for its money. Tennis courts, a fitness center, and a heated outdoor pool also are available.

CordeValle can be classified as a destination resort; guests need not leave the comfortable surroundings for something to do. An on-site winery, Clos LaChance, is worth visiting, but leisure time is better spent on the resort grounds enjoying first-rate amenities and beautiful surroundings.

(+) Unbeatable setting with highly rated golf course and spa
(-) Limited amenities for families

Guest Services: CordeValle, A Rosewood Resort

I found the service at CordeValle to be efficient and helpful, although on several occasions I felt the staff could have taken an extra step to make my experience exceptional. I was impressed that after I gave my name at the gatehouse, a sharp staff member at the front drive greeted me by name. I also was pleased with the prompt baggage assistance and check-in service. Generally, the staff was friendly, even though several members seemed young and less polished than I expected. I sometimes was unsure of where to go, how to order breakfast, etc. More direction from the staff would have saved me from asking questions on a daily basis.

(+) Friendly and welcoming staff
(-) Despite good intentions, the service fell a bit short of my expectations for a Four-Star hotel

Guest Rooms: CordeValle, A Rosewood Resort

CordeValle has 45 rooms located in bungalows, villas, and fairway homes. All of the rooms have golf course views, patios, fireplaces, flat-screen televisions, CD/DVD players, king-size beds with duvet covers and Frette linens, and large bathrooms equipped with whirlpool baths and separate showers. Bungalow rooms are 750 square feet and tucked into a hillside overlooking the 9th fairway, while the 1,100-square-foot villas are hillside and offer larger patios with enclosed areas boasting outdoor showers and whirlpool spas. The 3,100-square-foot fairway homes are the largest accommodations, with four bedrooms, a butler’s kitchen, and living and dining spaces.

The rooms are the definition of understated contemporary luxury. Hardwood floors and wooden headboards, overstuffed leather chairs, and a sandy beige color scheme lent a rugged elegance to my room. Fresh flowers and plentiful plants were a thoughtful touch, as was the welcome amenity of wine and crackers (the wine was from the area vineyard, Clos LaChance). The bathroom’s extensive tile work and natural stone were simple but beautiful. The room was clean and comfortable, and its amenities were well planned and executed, especially the stocked refrigerator and a pair of binoculars to take in views of the scenery.

My room’s spaciousness, high-quality fixtures, and warmth were exceptional. However, while my room was immaculate when I arrived, I was disappointed that the turndown service was not consistent throughout my visit. Clothes were not folded and hung, and empty toiletries were not replaced.

(+) Appealing modern design and comfortable, thoughtful amenities
(-) Inconsistent turndown service

Facilities & Activities: CordeValle, A Rosewood Resort

CordeValle’s amenities are plentiful and well maintained. The Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf course is the jewel of the resort. Private lessons are available, and a well-stocked pro shop has everything a golfer could possibly need.

Non-golfers will find plenty to satisfy them, too. The pool, accented with crisp white market umbrellas and chaise lounges, is a relaxing spot to soak up the sun and the gorgeous views. The tennis courts provide yet another recreation option.

If you’re in search of some “me” time, look no further than the hotel’s Mobil Four-Star spa. A comprehensive treatment menu focuses on relaxing therapies. Several treatments, such as the harvest facial and the grape-seed mud wrap, are influenced by the nearby winery.

I found the fitness center to be a bit small for a resort of this scope, but it was sufficient for my needs. Although the fitness center wasn’t staffed, this wasn’t a problem because I knew I could easily seek the assistance of a staff member from the nearby spa.

Wine enthusiasts will want to visit the on-site winery, Clos LaChance. This 85-acre vineyard offers tours and wine tastings. It also is a scenic spot for those who simply want to while away an afternoon.

(+) Top-notch golf course and spa part of numerous recreational opportunities

Dining & Lounge: CordeValle, A Rosewood Resort

CordeValle offers three dining locations in addition to in-room dining. Located in the clubhouse, the Dining Room is the most formal option, serving contemporary American fare at breakfast and dinner. While the bar does not have its own menu, guests are invited to order off the Dining Room’s menu. The Grill, which serves breakfast, lunch, and snacks, is CordeValle’s answer to the 19th hole and is located, fittingly, next to the pro shop.

I was delighted by my experience at the Bar, where I opted to have lunch. The staff managed to accommodate all of my wishes without being intrusive. All in all, I felt like a welcome visitor.

When I needed some privacy, I opted for room service, which was extraordinary. After I finished my single-course meal, the staff member timed the arrival of my dessert perfectly. He then graciously brought me a pot of coffee upon request. The well-orchestrated service transformed what could have been a standard in-room meal into a special treat.

My experience at breakfast the next morning wasn’t quite as grand. Since it was a weekday, breakfast was available only at the Grill. (On weekends, however, both the Grill and in the Dining Room serve breakfast.) The scenario was slightly confusing. I was not made aware that breakfast orders were taken at the counter upon arrival and was unsure what to do. However, once I discovered how to proceed, the staff delivered a delicious breakfast in a timely manner.

(+) Deliciously prepared food in three pleasing settings, in addition to exceptional room service
(-) Better directions needed about alternating breakfast locations

Business Services: CordeValle, A Rosewood Resort

Thirty minutes south of Silicon Valley’s San Jose, CordeValle is not a convenient choice for individual business travelers. The resort is, however, ideal for corporate events; it has three boardrooms, a multipurpose room, and a large ballroom. Individual rooms are equipped with high-speed Internet service, but there is no formal business center.

(+) Great location for corporate retreats and meetings
(-) Amenities for the single business traveler are limited to in-room Internet and telephone service