Napa Valley

Napa Valley, California is Disneyland for the food and wine enthusiast. The huge number of vineyards and good restaurants means there is always something new to discover. Napa is the perfect destination for a long weekend for couples or groups.

Dream

When visiting Napa Valley, we like to stay in the quaint, perfectly manicured town of Yountville. This idyllic place contains a cluster of good hotels, restaurants, cafes, and tasting rooms, all within walking distance of each other. On our last trip to Napa, we stayed at Hotel Yountville. This high-class hotel resort has 80 rooms which are cozy but luxurious. The second-floor rooms have vaulted ceilings, so they feel even grander. The hotel pool is a relaxing but lively scene with a poolside bar and a great place to retreat after a day of wine tasting.

Another good hotel to try is North Block, located at the opposite end of town, very close to the French Laundry and its expansive vegetable garden. The hotel has only twenty guest rooms and has a modern, trendy vibe despite its old-fashioned Spanish-style architecture. This hotel also has an attractive outdoor pool area and is adjacent to the stylish Redd Wood restaurant, one of our local favorites.

Alila Napa Valley, St. Helena: This fabulous hotel opened in 2017 with 68 luxurious rooms and suites; 62 housed in three modern buildings and six in the hundred-year-old, completely restored Georgian-style farmhouse. Accommodations are beautifully designed and decorated, with a pallet of neutral grey tones and natural surfaces, including oak floors, hand-carved marble sinks, and private outdoor balconies with timer-controlled gas fire pits. The hotel is directly adjacent to the historic Beringer Vineyards, hence the vineyard views are unparalleled. There is a stunning pool area, a state-of-the-art fitness center and spa, and the award-winning Acacia House Restaurant.

Dine

Breakfast:

Auberge du Soliel: Terrace view is a great way to start the morning.
Bouchon: Great cakes & pretty good coffee.

Lunch:

Gott’s Roadside: Worth the wait! And it will be a long wait.
Vineyard picnic: Stop at any of the local delis, pack a lunch and enjoy it at one of the area’s beautiful vineyards.

Dinner

Long Meadow Ranch Farmstead: Great ambiance; live entertainment some nights.
Ad Hoc: French Laundry’s sister restaurant with one fixed three-course meal served each day plus a vegetarian option.
Bottega: The outdoor patio is a great spot to have a comforting Italian meal.
French Laundry: We’ve never eaten there and reservations are hard to obtain. We hear there is a good chance to get in when you put your name on the waiting list. But it’s going to be a very expensive night in a very formal atmosphere.

Coffeeholics: Try The Model Bakery serving Stumptown coffee in a caboose. And on the north side of Yountville, try the new Southside serving specialty coffee from Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters, and a selection of beer & wine produced in the Napa Valley.

Do

If you’re heading to Napa, then you will obviously be looking to visit some vineyards. We usually hire a driver for at least one day of tastings, so we can relax and be ferried from vineyard to vineyard without the need for a designated driver. We hear that Uber Wine is another great option, but haven’t tried it. With so many vineyards to choose from, it’s good to have a few recommendations. Here are our top vineyard choices, not only for the wine itself but for their amazing scenery.

Round Pond: Fantastic full bodied cabernet in a glorious winery building. There is also an olive oil tasting room across the street.
Hall: They have two locations; the location near Auberge is harder to reserve, so book well in advance.
Quintessa: This Silverado Trail estate holds privately hosted tastings in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The vineyard blocks are set amongst the hills surrounding beautiful Dragon’s Lake.
Cliff Lede: More full bodied reds in a vineyard established by a rock music enthusiast, with each vineyard block named after some of his favorite rock songs and albums.
Mumm: Home of the ubiquitous sparkling wine, this winery has a large tasting room facility with beautiful views out across the fields of vines.
Odette: World-class cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay in the chic, modern tasting room.
Kenzo: Located in Wild Horse Valley, on the slopes of Mt. George the route to this vineyard has some of the most stunning views of the Valley. The tasting room offers varietals for both the red and white wine lover.

Napa Valley Bike Tours is another great way to go wine tasting. Cyclists typically visit three to four vineyards for tastings. Lunch is provided in a vineyard setting. We’ve done this a couple of times and you’ll get a mix of some really good wines with others that are only so, so. But it’s a great alternative way to tour around Napa and experience wine country.

If you’re staying in Yountville, there are quite a few tasting rooms within walking distance. Our favorite is Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley. They provide wine tasting in an art gallery setting and an outdoor wine garden, and they assemble a tasting based on your preferences. It's currently closed due to massive renovations but scheduled to open late 2018.

When you're wined out, many of the hotels offer bikes and there is a dedicated paved bike trail in Yountville. You can also walk or run on the trail.

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