The Madrona
Discover the magical world of The Madrona, a historic hotel and restaurant spanning eight scenic acres in Healdsburg, California. The reinvention of this wine country–rooted retreat is the brainchild of designer Jay Jeffers, his brother Kyle, and hospitality industry veteran Cory Schisler. Here we speak to Cory about the catalyst for purchasing this landmark hotel, the design point of view that Jay brings in, and how seriously this team takes the responsibility of the preservation of this land.
© Daniel Seung Lee
INTRODUCE US TO THE MADRONA. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE HOTEL?
“The Madrona is simply magical.”
The grounds, the architecture, the design, the food – it's all so unique to wine country given its cosmopolitan vibe and style. We have 24 rooms, a full service restaurant helmed by our Michelin–starred chef Jesse Mallgren, and eight acres of grounds for guests to wander.
© Daniel Seung Lee
TAKE US BACK TO THE BEGINNING. WHAT WAS THE FIRST INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS PROPERTY?
It was a total accident how this all came to be. Jay and I went to visit the property during the hieght of the pandemic just to get out of the house. We had no intention to buy it
“Everything just started coming together–so after nine months of planning, we finally held the keys to remake this old grand dame into something special.”
© Matthew Millman Interios
DESIGNER JAY JEFFERS LED THE VISION FOR THE HOTEL’S DESIGN AND DÉCOR. CAN YOU SHARE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS VISION AND PROCESS WITH US?
The property was built during the aesthetic movement which was all about beauty for beatuy's sake. Jay dove pretty deep into that movement, incorporating animal print motifs and whimsical pieces into the old victorian architecture beginnings and incorporating the old with the new so seamlessly.
“It almost feels like the property has been filled with eclectic pieces from a Bohemian family's travels around the world.”
DINING IS A MAJOR FEATURE OF THE HOTEL, WITH CHEF JESSE MALLGREN AT THE HELM. HOW HAS HE DISTINGUISHED THE MADRONA'S F&B OFFERINGS? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH ON THE MENU?
Before our chapter of The Madrona, Jesse was doing these amazing tasting menu experiences, but we really wanted to make the concept more approachable – something a local would hop into a couple times a week, while still allowing him the freedom to do some over–the–top things. He's got half an acre of regenerative gardens to draw inspiration from. One of the best dishes that perfectly captures Jesse's spirit is our Chicken Paillard; a classic dish that he does in a unique way, incorporating traditional Thai flavors that work so perfectly with each other.
© Matthew Millman Interios
CAN YOU SHARE A BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR CHEF'S TABLE SERIES? WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION, AND WHAT CAN GUESTS EXPECT?
I wanted to give Jesse a chance to do some really interesting dinners that let him go off menu and flex his culinary muscle in a decadent way.
“This dinner series is inspired by his travels around the globe (from Zanzibar to Japan), so each month it will be multiple courses of dishes and flavors that will surprise and delight.”
FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW, CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT THE AREA OF HEALDSBURG AND WHAT SETS IT APART AMONG THE SURROUNDING TOWNS IN CALIFORNIA'S WINE COUNTRY?
There is always this common comparison between Napa and Sonoma and I feel like Healdsburg is where the two meet in the middle. It has all of the amazing young, adventurous winemakers and off the beaten path destinations that Sonoma is known for, but also takes some of the style of Napa when it comes to delivering on luxury experiences. The town itself is bustling right now with new restaurants, new residents. It's a really exciting time to be in Healdsburg.
© Daniel Seung Lee
CELEBRATING SUSTAINABILITY AND ECO-FRIENDLY CHOICES HAVE BECOME DE RIGUEUR IN THE LUXURY HOSPITALITY MARKET. HOW DOES THE MADRONA ADDRESS THIS?
“I always look at sustainability as doing what is right, rather than a marketing gimmick.”
We have subtle yet impactiful initiatives that drive our stewardship of the land; from eliminating single use plastics to regenerative farming practices to reusing antiques from the previous hotel for a lower carbon footprint.
SONOMA VALLEY IS HOME TO MANY THRIVING, CREATIVE COMMUNITIES. HOW DOES THE MADRONA INTEGRATE WITHIN THESE LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN ADDITION TO THEIR OUT OF TOWN GUESTS?
I think on any given night you see this play out in the halls of The Madrona. You have this interesting mix of locals and visitors that creates this house party like energy.
“Having ongoing events and activations at the estate that appeal to our diverse community is a huge focus.”
© Daniel Seung Lee
WINE TASTING IS A NATURAL INTEREST FOR GUESTS IN THE AREA, BUT WHAT OTHER EXPERIENCES CAN GUESTS OF THE MADRONA EXPECT TO ENJOY?
It's been fun to see so many guests extending their stays so they can just have a full day on property by the pool or laying on a blanket for an afternoon nap under the old growth oak trees.
“The estate really lends itself to guests wandering around, finding their favorite nook to enjoy the simplicity of just being.”
ARE THERE ANY SURPRISE AND DELIGHT MOMENTS AT THE MADRONA? WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE AREA FOR GUESTS TO EXPERIENCE?
They're all over the place–from hidden art pieces to unexpected bits of humor in our branding. We don't take ourselves too seriously. I love it when guests grab a cocktail and the bar and just set out on foot through our storied hallways to discover all of these unique vignettes.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE MADRONA?
This will be our first full year of operations, so we're starting to play with new programming like the Chef's Table series. Later this year, you'll see more culinary experiences that go beyond the standard winemaker dinners into cocktail pairings, hyper seasonal offerings, and unique activities.
© Daniel Seung Lee