Pritchard Hill has been called Napa's Rodeo Drive, and the description undersells it. The hill's cabernets are among the most coveted in California, its views stretch the full length of the valley floor, and its gates open rarely. Behind one of them sits a compound designed and built by the late Howard Backen — the architect who, more than any other, defined what modern Napa Valley looks like.
Backen's signature is restraint: reclaimed wood beams, quarried stone, walls of glass that disappear entirely. The main house, guest house, and cottages unfold across the hilltop as a series of indoor-outdoor rooms — courtyards anchored by stone fireplaces, a pool set against the Mayacamas, terraces that turn the valley into a living mural.
What sets this stay apart is access. Guests of the estate receive private culinary experiences from the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group — the team behind The French Laundry — alongside rare entry to Pritchard Hill's famously private wineries. It is the difference between visiting Napa Valley and being hosted by it.
The estate is offered for month-long stays, by private arrangement. For availability and the full estate portfolio, inquire through the journal.
At a Glance
- Architect
- Howard Backen
- Location
- Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley
- Setting
- Hilltop compound, 360° valley views
- Stay type
- Month-long private stays
- Signature
- Private culinary access, Thomas Keller Restaurant Group
Details confirmed with the estate at time of publication. Photography: courtesy of the estate.