MAJESTIC BEAUTY

This past winter, my family and I traveled to Yosemite Natural Park where we experienced the breathtaking beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage Site while reveling in the luxury that is the spectacular Château du Sureau. While visiting these two very special places, we created memories sure to last our lifetimes.

Located just 16 miles from the entrance of Yosemite, this Relais & Châteaux hideaway makes an ideal base for exploring a national treasure. Since the mid-1800s, Yosemite’s epic scenery has beguiled both professional and amateur photographers. This November, Château du Sureau is saluting the visionary photographer Ansel Adams with an Ansel Adams Photography Weekend, where participants will follow in the footsteps of this legend learning his innovative techniques (now adapted for digital cameras) while visiting the iconic park scenes he made famous.

Château du Sureau feels like a piece of Provence has been transported to Oakhurst, California. Sited on 9 acres, the resort offers ten guestrooms in the château. No two rooms are alike, but all are resplendent with Empire-era furnishings, colorful tapestries, wood-burning fireplaces, canopy beds, and private balconies that offer sweeping views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

A private-gated entrance leads to the property’s most exclusive accommodation, Villa Sureau, which we were lucky enough to call home for the weekend. After ascending a sweeping outdoor marble staircase, we entered the 2,000-square-foot Parisian-style manor where we were delighted to discover dramatic 14-foot ceilings, glamorous four-poster canopied beds in the two bedrooms, and luxurious en suite marble bathrooms. The elegant sitting room was centered around a wood-burning fireplace and a baby grand Steinway piano—perfect to play on while enjoying a nightcap from the full bar in the stocked kitchen. The room’s floor-to-ceiling French doors opened to a serene balcony, near a wood-paneled library ideal for reading and board games. I felt like I had stepped into Downton Abbey, especially when learning the Villa has its own Mr. Carson (so to speak) as personal butler services are available.

A lovely stroll through the Villa’s private gardens led us to The Elderberry House, where newly appointed Culinary Director Chris Flint uses the finest seasonal and organic ingredients from nearby Central Valley farms. A seasoned culinarian, Chef Flint was formerly the Executive Chef at a famed One Michelin Star restaurant in Beverly Hills. He also spent ten years with the globally acclaimed fine dining group Make It Nice Hospitality where he was chef de cuisine at Eleven Madison Park, their flagship restaurant, and played an integral role in the expansion of the hospitality group’s No- Mad restaurants in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Chef Flint’s flavorful dishes are complemented by an extensive wine list. Curated by sommelier Erica Ruiz, the list features 800 labels representing wines from around the world, with an emphasis on California and French selections.

We began our five-course meal with the ahi tuna, paired with radish and sorrel, a truly fresh and exquisite combination, and “weeds” from the acclaimed Kern Family Farm with cured egg yolk, ricotta, and puffed amaranth. The deliciousness continued as we savored the steelhead trout paired with lemon thyme, snap peas, and roe and a black truffle tortellini delightfully accented with parmesan, asparagus, and pickled mushroom (a flavor I had never tried before). Our wine pairings were from Coquelicot, the owner’s organic vineyard, where wines are produced in the traditions of France. After dinner, we wandered back through the Villa’s gardens to our weekend retreat. A game of cards in front of the sitting room’s expansive fireplace was a cozy end to the night.

The next morning began with a three-course breakfast in the main property’s charming dining room. Baskets of warm croissants and hot strong coffee greeted us at our table before a breakfast of yogurt parfaits, fresh fruit, and omelets with local vegetables was served. We then ventured off to see the fabled “Firefall” at Horsetail Fall. Firefall occurs only in mid to late February when a confluence of natural events—clear skies and temperatures warm enough to melt the frozen Horsetail Fall—allows the sunset to backlight the waterfall. The resulting orange glow looks like fire cascading over the mountain’s edge.

Our adventure began when a guide from Discover Yosemite picked us up in the early afternoon. We first stopped at Wildcat Falls to relax by the river and eat lunch surrounded by ground that sparkled with gold flakes. Our next stop was Tunnel View, one of the most remarkable views of natural majestic glory in all the world. As it neared sunset, our guide dropped us off near the mountain. After walking about a mile to our destination, we jockeyed for a position amongst the throngs of other Firefall fans. With the sun going down and temperatures sinking as we stood on piles of snow, we wondered if it were worth waiting for a natural phenomenon that might not even occur. Not only did it live up to the hype, but the experience was so breathtakingly beautiful that we will treasure the memory for the rest of our lives.

Our third day was spent on the property enjoying all the Villa had to offer. After breakfast, my son and I enjoyed playing a game of chess in the main room before meeting up with the rest of our family who were busy playing their own game of life-size chess on the Villa’s private grounds. Amidst the walking trails on the Villa’s grounds was a bocce court, which brought out our competitive sides as we played round after round. After spending so much time outside in the winter chill, the Villa’s outdoor hot tub was the perfect place for our family to warm up.

Time will tell which of the weekend’s moments will earn the status of “favorite memory.” While I would have expected my children to choose the blazing Firefall, my money is now on them remembering our stay in the magical, storybook Villa. Book now and let the memory-making begin.

For more information and to learn about the upcoming Ansel Adams Photography Weekend November 3 to 4, 2023, visit chateausureau.com. To book your Yosemite tour, visit discoveryosemite.com.