A Taste and Tour of Wine Country: Napa Valley, CA

Thoughts from Someone That Lived and Visited There…

One request I receive often from family and friends is helping them design trips to various wine regions that I’ve experienced at some point in my life. Having lived in Napa, California for a couple of years during the start of my wine career, organizing trips to this region for people I care about it is one of my favorite things to do.

This month, I want to take you to some of my biased and favorite experiences through the Napa Valley.You can use them to design your own trip, or you can read through this Sip & Swirl edition by tasting through my recommendations.

Reader beware: a lot can change in this area in a relatively short amount of time. Restaurants change. Hotel vibes get altered. Wine brands get lost or created. It’s just a part of the tourism culture. But I hope these suggestions create a great trip for you, nonetheless! Click on the teal headings to take you to the actual webpages for what is listed within this blog post.

Cheers!

Know Before You Go

The Napa Valley is somewhat isolated from a quick-access airport. While I lived there, I used several airports: Sacramento (SMF), San Francisco (SFO), and Oakland (OAK). My favorite is hands-down Sacramento. It’s a little further away and will require a bit of a drive, including getting through the busy-during-rush-hour CA-12/Lincoln Highway, but it was also the one that felt the least claustrophobic and the easiest to get a rental car. Both San Francisco and Oakland are highly trafficked airports, and navigating the city highways into Napa Valley can be a bit more complicated than coming from Sacramento into Napa Valley.

Plus, if you take the route from Sacramento Airport to Napa Valley, you can always stop at one of my favorite food factories to tour: Jelly Belly! This famous jelly bean company is located in Fairfield, California, which you will conveniently pass going back and forth from the Sacramento Airport to the Napa Valley.

Staying in Napa Valley can be expensive. And for some, that is not a big deal. However, if you are looking for a budget-friendly hotel in the Valley, I liked staying at El Bonita. It was always comfortable when I stayed there, and it provided a central location to many places within the Napa Valley.

Finally, it may go without saying, but Napa Valley is filled with wineries, spas, and restaurants. The integration of wine is a cultural part of the area in many ways. If you know that you will be traveling all day from one winery to the next, make sure to book a driving service. The amount of driving that is included in a visit to the Valley is often underestimated. Always be safe, Wine Lovers.

More Information

If you are looking to plan your next trip to Napa Valley, I recommend going to the Visit Napa Valley website. This has some of the most current information on things to do in the area.

The Food

As with many places, since the pandemic, a lot has changed since I have last spent significant time in the Napa Valley. But a few restaurants that held my heart are still there.

It doesn’t matter which of the restaurants you choose to eat dinner: everything is good. Food and wine culture is the culture in the Napa Valley. While most people will provide you with those restaurants that provide the most exquisite culinary experience with an upscale flair… I’m going to share the places that I went to on repeat because they were that good.

Genova Delicatessen

Set near the heart of downtown Napa, Genova’s is truly special. This was one of my favorite places to get a sandwich on a workday. (Full disclosure, I frequently ordered the #8.) The sandwiches are filling, flavorful, and they are something great to grab-and-go as you make your way through the Valley. It doesn’t give you the views of the Valley, but it does give you a taste…

Pizzeria Tra Vigne

When I lived in Napa, Tra Vigne was a treat. It wasn’t a restaurant I could (afford to) go to regularly. But their sister restaurant, Pizzeria Tra Vigne, was affordable and one of the few places where you could get a good slice of pizza. Plus, this was (and is) a family-friendly restaurant. Today, Tra Vigne no longer exists, but Pizzeria Tra Vigne is still around. I always considered the pizzas “West Coast” in style and flavor: simply delicious, especially with a glass of your favorite wine.

Gott’s Roadside

Gott’s is something of a tourist’s attraction. It’s not unusual to find a wicked long line waiting for a good (albeit expensive) hamburger. Gott’s was initially called “Taylor’s Refresher,” and at the original location, you can still find this iconic sign. I recommend any of their burgers, but this is also the place where you can get an Ahi Tuna sandwich (which I don’t think I’ve ever seen anywhere else in my life). Don’t skimp on the milkshakes: they are worth it!

Brix

Back in the day, Brix used to offer these immaculate buffet brunches that were a total deal in the Valley. While I don’t catch those on their menu anymore, the atmosphere and taste of Brix is probably one of the few restaurants I’d try to add to my itinerary if I was returning. Maybe it’s nostalgia, maybe it was the food. But this restaurant always gave me the “Napa Valley feels” every time I visited.

Mustards Grill

When I made my first pilgrimage to Napa Valley, Mustards Grill was the first fancy restaurant I went to on my own. I felt like I was living in a whole new world while in my young 20’s. Over the year’s I’ve revisited Mustard’s Grill and have always appreciated their vibe as well as the splashy yellow writing on their sign that I often passed on my way to work (while I worked out there). There’s quite a bit of variety at Mustard’s and I would say this is a great place to visit if you want a good introduction to Napa Valley cuisine.

The Wineries

The heart of Napa is the winery culture. There are SO many to choose from. My advice is to always plan out the places you’d like to visit before you go. It’s impossible to hit all of the wineries throughout the Valley, some of them have specific visitation rules, and many will include some sort of tasting fee that can get pricey if you are visiting. The wineries I’m listing here are the wineries I enjoyed taking guests to while I lived there. It doesn’t necessarily represent my favorite wines from the Valley, but these are the places that provided me with the most unique experiences.

Chateau Montelena – If you like History and Gardens

One of the more iconic and historic estates in Napa Valley, Chateau Montelena is located on the northern end of the Valley in Calistoga. Personally, I visited Chateau Montelena frequently just to enjoy Jade Lake. It’s absolutely breathtaking. Also, I had relatively lovely tasting room experiences when I went here. If you are a fan of the book/movie, “Bottle Shock,” then this is the tasting room you will want to make time for.

Frog’s Leap – If you like Agriculture and Architecture

If you need a reference point back to the traditional roots of winemaking, Frog’s Leap is one of my favorite wineries to visit. The vineyard that surrounds the tasting room makes you feel immersed in agriculture. My favorite time of year to visit was during the Fall or Winter with the colored vines or emerging mustard plants. I spent a few wine tastings here, sitting on their outdoor patio or enjoying the comfortable and cozy indoor atmosphere.

Robert Mondavi Winery – If You like Wine Education

Hands down, the best winery tour I have ever had was at Robert Mondavi Winery. The tour guide, the story, and the experience was truly engaging. Even after living in the Valley for over a year, I was completely captivated by this experience. Worth visiting if you find yourself wanting to learn more about the Valley and about how wines are produced. Note At the time of this posting, the winery was under construction, but they do offer another taste location.

Inglenook – If you like History and Elegance

The Inglenook estate is one of the most historical in the Valley. This was definitely one of my favorite wineries to visit and look around from their fountain. You’ll find yourself looking out over a sea of vineyards. It’s just very picturesque. Today, the winery is owned by the Coppola family and they have revised a lot of the tradition that established Inglenook.

Sterling Vineyards – If You Like to Tour at Your Own Pace and Vineyard Views

The fun part about Sterling Vineyards is the gondola ride from the parking lot up to the tasting room / winemaking facility. Then, you get to embark on a walking tour around the facilities. You can move at your own pace, and if you are visiting with guests, this is a great opportunity to view and chat. There are a lot of great photo opportunities. Plus, you can stop in the tasting room before you leave and sit down to enjoy a glass of wine.

Mumm Napa – If you like Bubbly and Vineyard Views

By far, one of my favorite tasting rooms to visit was Mumm Napa. I always enjoyed getting a small plate of treats to go along with my bubblies. We’d sit at a table and just soak in the Napa Valley views. If you like getting waited on and taking your time during a tasting, this is for you.

Sutter Home – If you like Fun and Sweet Wine (…or just want a break from the seriousness of wine!)

The one thing I love, love, love about visiting Sutter Home Winery was how welcoming they made everyone feel. Sutter Home is not known for their high end Napa Cabernets; their wines are more approachable, fun, and often, well, sweet. Unlike many tasting rooms in the Valley, this one will not make you feel out of touch with your wine tasting prowess. They also have an appealing tasting room, filled with wine paraphernalia for everyone to enjoy!

Castello di Amorosa – If you like to be Wow’d

To me, Castello di Amorosa is somewhat like the “Disney World” of Napa Valley. The views and the castle are designed to make you feel like you are within an Italian castle. Compared to other wineries and tasting rooms, however, this did feel a little over-the-top and a little “much.” But, many people I took here did enjoy it as there were wine selections for everyone: from tour to tasting.

The Extras

Old Faithful Geyser

All the times I took people here, we always ended up laughing and enjoying the moment. Legend has it that if the geyser is off, an earthquake is on the way! Yikes. Nonetheless, if you are looking for something to do near Calistoga (perhaps, after some afternoon shopping through Calistoga’s local stores), then this could be a fun adventure!

Golden Haven Spa

Mud baths are somewhat of a unique experience in Napa Valley. If you’re ready to take the dip, I’d recommend Golden Haven Spa. The mud bath was such an odd, but relaxing, experience. If you aren’t up for a mud bath quite yet, check out the other spa offerings. It’s in a quieter section of Calistoga and can be quite a relaxing experience.

Calistoga Spa and Hot Springs

Honestly, I used to go here just to enjoy the geothermal pools! If you are looking for that all-out relaxing break, the town of Calistoga offers various spas and spa centers that are quite unique to the Valley. I enjoyed Calistoga Spa and Hot Springs specifically to tack on some extra time in the geothermal pools after a scheduled spa treatment.

Can’t Make a Trip? Taste & Tour Napa at Home!

Maybe it’s not the right time to venture to Napa Valley. That’s okay! You can still create an at-home tasting that provides an essence of the taste of Napa. Here are some of my favorite Napa Valley selections that you, too, can enjoy!

Napa Valley Sparkling Wines

Mumm Napa Brut Reserve

While I also enjoy a good bottle of the Mumm Napa Brut Rosé, the Brut Reserve is a more white-wine-style traditional sparkling wine that is also enjoyable.

Schramsberg Brut Rosé

The Schramsberg sparkling wine brand is another classic Napa Valley wine house. Enjoy this Brut Rosé to remind you that Spring is just around the corner.

Enjoy Sparkling Wines With: You know what’s coming here… find some salty potato chips (or your favorite salty snack) and enjoy alongside these classic Napa Valley sparkling wines. If you want to be more “Napa” about it, I suggest freshly baked, homemade chips. 😊

Napa Valley White Wines

Honig Sauvignon Blanc

This wine is a perfect introduction to remind you that the Valley is not just made for red wines. Honig’s Sauvignon Blanc is one of my favorites: delightfully aromatic, bursting with fresh fruit on the nose. The wine is crisp and dry.

Provenance Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley

One of my favorite, classic styles of Sauvignon Blanc produced from Napa Valley Fruit. Fruity, but balanced with a delicate hint of candied essence on the nose. This wine is a great reminder that where great Cabernet Sauvignon wines are made, so are Sauvignon Blanc wines.

Chateau Montelena Chardonnay

This is the Chardonnay wine that put Napa Valley on the wine industry’s radar. The lovely thing about Chateau Montelena Chardonnay is the opulent amount of fruit that you get in the nose and palate. It’s a great reminder on how aromatic Chardonnay can be. The complexity of this wine is truly enjoyable.

Sutter Home Moscato

I don’t think a visit to the Valley is complete without a stop at Sutter Home. Everyone in the tasting room is welcoming and without acting pretentious. If you find yourself enjoying sweeter wines, shop through the Sutter Home portfolio. Their Moscato is just one of many options that capture the heart of sweet wine lovers everywhere.

Enjoy White Wines With Napa Valley Inspired Cuisine: Roasted, Steamed, or Grilled Artichokes; Roasted or Grilled Fish with Risotto; Fish Tacos; Onion Rings; “West Coast” Pizza, which usually includes obscure vegetable toppings that taste good on a pizza (but you wouldn’t have thought of that combo if you are from the East Coast)

Napa Valley Red Wines

Frog’s Leap Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

The part about Frog’s Leap that is so enticing is that their style of red wines really skirts the spectrum between an Old World and New World style. While their Merlots and Zinfandels have always been a favorite in this household, the Cabernet Sauvignon captures the essence of Napa Valley with the fingerprint of Frog’s Leap style.

Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a lovely example that illustrates how a Cabernet is not always 100% Cabernet. Inglenook’s site is historical in Napa Valley. The wines have a long history of representing the region. This wine will be on the pricier side and likely big and bold.

Robert Mondavi Estates Red Blend, Oakville

This wine should be slightly different than the Rutherford examples, as it hails from the Oakville AVA. Furthermore, the Robert Mondavi style tends to be more fruit forward and more oak forward than the above comparisons. The vineyards at Robert Mondavi are iconic and were some of the original to put Napa Valley on the map.

Enjoy Red Wines With Napa Valley Inspired Cuisine: Pork BBQ; A Fancy and Fun Hamburger; BBQ Ribs; Bring on the Meats: Lamb, Steak, Duck