Cristina Salas-Porras
Tastemaker/Source Specialist
When Cristina Salas-Porras was introduced to the project, Bardessono was only five months from completion. This was a short time by most standards, but just enough by Cristina’s, for her to play a major role in the final critical design details. An artisan in her own right, Cristina brought with her an untainted sense of generosity and insight. She has an authentic commitment to the importance of aesthetics and her spirit of hospitality inhabits the experience at Bardessono. Within a few minutes of meeting her Sherburne knew he was determined to have Cristina a part of the Bardessono team.
Prior to her work with Sherburne, Cristina worked with Alice Waters for nine years, facilitating her role beyond the iconic Berkeley restaurant, Chez Panisse, as Water’s influence and the sustainability movement gained international momentum. Cristina has a highly developed sense of organization, design, and the acumen to carry off events of enormous proportion. She is teeming with resources and a natural ability to locate talent. She also happens to be fluent in Japanese played a role in the opening of the Park Hyatt in Tokyo, known for its high service standards.
As Bardessono was moving toward completion, it became easier to see the true character of the architecture. With Cristina’s fresh eyes, explains Sherburne, “she was able to see the architectural beauty.” “Through this beauty, she saw the importance of simplifying the interior design, and the tendency toward excessive branding.” The remaining design decisions were put under review, with Cristina acting as guide to a more restrained approach consistent with the vision for the hotel. In the process, she found a new graphics and branding firm, Tamotsu Yagi Design, to bolster this new direction.
Cristina has discerning tastes, allowing her to create experiences for guests that Phil Sherburne considers central to the hotel. Her affinity for gardens, good art, wine and passionate people helps her understand how to connect guests with these special resources at the Bardessono and within the Napa Valley.
