Parents Time Out- Napa
David and I love Napa. It was during one of our first trips together, picnicking in a random vineyard, sitting in the dirt and eating through a charcuterie board while tipsy on wine and each other where we first said “I love you.” Needless to say, Napa will always hold a special place in my heart.
Although this particular excursion was our first time traveling together without our Samuel, the trip wasn’t about us. It was for my Uncle Bobby or Zio, as we now call him now, to celebrate his 70th birthday.
Getting to Napa you have three airport choices all in pretty close proximity, Sonoma, San Francisco and Oakland. We have flown into San Francisco every time we have gone because there are so many flights in and out each day and it also gives you an opportunity to take some time to explore the bay city. There’s so much do to in San Francisco that you can do in just a few hours (after upon landing or before departing). Between Little Italy, China Town, The Wharf, and Alcatraz, you can easily book-end your wine-focused journey with a little non-alcoholic tourism.
We spent 4 nights and 5 days in Napa which is plenty of time to sample the fermented grapes, go on an adventure to a neighboring location and relax. Thursday night we stayed in and enjoyed our VRBO, getting ready for our first big day of wine tasting. Prior to Covid, you could walk into many wineries and get a tasting without a reservation, now that is almost impossible. Make sure to make reservation with the wineries you’re most eager to explore a couple months in advance (if possible). Most places take a deposit, but will also let you cancel within a reasonable window.
Friday we started our day at Oxbow Market, which is a great little marketplace with a wide-range of vendors (perfect for a large group where gaining consensus on a restaurant can be a challenge).Here you can sample locally sourced cheeses, freshly baked bread and other gourmet delicacies in a fun and vibrant environment. With a quick breakfast at Loveski that included some fantastic bagels at this critically recognized Jew-ish deli (my husband “recognizes it), we were sufficiently carbed-up for the day of drinking ahead. (*Their Heirloom Tomato and Smoke Salmon sandwiches are truly delicious). Our first stop of the day is a favorite of mine, Frog’s Leap. This gorgeous winery was started in 1981 and has grown to 200 acres of estate grown vineyards. The house looks like you’ve walked into Restoration Hardware and the “backyard” is a whimsical area of gardens and vineyards. If the weather is nice I would always suggest to have your tasting outside.
Our next stop of the day was Rombauer, which ended up being the hands-down group favorite of the trip. They are located in St. Helena just off the Silverado trail above a beautiful hill. They lost many trees in a fire a few years ago, but a positive byproduct of the disaster was that it created an incredible view into the full valley below from their tasting area. Besides the typical wine tasting, which is wonderful, they also host tours of their caves below which was such a great experience for us. They are well-known for their Chardonnay and equally recognized for their white varietal, they should be known for their friendly nature. Their employees are an absolute joy and were by far the friendliest and most fun staff we experienced over the course of our Napa excursion.
Last on our first full day of wine tasting was Caymus Vineyards. This winery opened in 1972 and is 100% owned and operated by the family who started it. Your first steps inside feel very modern but as you take a walk into the back patio you feel like you have been transported to a secret garden with tables tucked into corners for your own private tasting. We had 5 tastings here and all decided the Cabernet, which they are known for, was our favorite. Of course we ended up buying quite a few bottles of wine to have shipped home, which we enjoyed a month later for Thanksgiving.
I’ve been to Napa enough to know that three days in a row of wine tasting isn’t always the best idea (in fact, it’s never a good idea). So for our second day of the trip we decided to do a little road tripping to Armstrong Woods and Bodega Bay. The drive from Napa to Armstrong Woods takes about an hour and a half so we decided to start our day at one of my favorite spots Model Bakery. This is a well known spot that now has 3 locations in Napa valley, we chose the one in St. Helena for our stop. They have artisanal bread, delectable pastries and are well known for their English muffins. The vegetarian breakfast sandwich is always my go to choice. After this stop the drive up the valley goes very quickly from the Mediterranean look and feel of Napa to a breathtaking forest (the Red Woods). It’s spectacular. Taking a walk in nature might be one of the best cures for a hangover, and if that doesn’t do it, the variety of fresh seafood and clean ocean air in Bodega Bay can be the prescription you need. Between Spud Point Crab Company and Annello Family Crab and Seafood, you really can’t go wrong with the many casual dining selections available. Bodega Bay is night and day from Napa Valley in look and feel and like the redwoods provides a great alternative and a breathtaking break from wine consumption.
Day 3 we felt rested and ready for more wine and time to explore downtown Napa. We decided to head a little out of town to experience some of the other lovely areas in the Napa Valley.
Stop number 1 was Tank Garage Winery in Calistoga. It offers a unique experience, blending vintage automotive decor and wine. They have small batch tastings in their fun tasting room inspired by classic cars and motorcycles. It’s a great spot for something a little bit different in the Napa Valley with a very friendly and fun staff.
After our first stop we decided our next stop would be Giugni’s Deli for some lunch. From the moment you walk in the door you are greeted with the scent of fresh baked bread in this small storefront. This is an older deli that serves up delicious sandwiches and offers gourmet food selections, to either eat in their small dining area or to take away, this is a great spot to grab some food for a picnic somewhere.
After some food we were ready for another round of wine at Pegasus Winery. The views are beautiful and they have a passion for sustainable practices in their wine making. Make time to explore the vineyards and have a tasting, or glass, of their Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay, there’s something for everyone and you won’t be disappointed.
With two stops done we decided to go back into Napa where we could grab dinner and explore the downtown area. Downtown Napa has charming streets, historic architecture and lovely boutique stores, art galleries, restaurants and of course wine bars all nestled in. In this area you can take a walk down the Napa Riverfront taking in the sites and walking into a tasting room with some of the finest wines of the region without every leaving the city limits. That evening we decided on a quick dinner at Gott’s Roadside. This place has a laid back vibe that offers burgers, beer and wine inside or you can dine on one of their picnic tables on their patio.
Whether you’re a wine enthusiast, a foodie, or simply someone looking to get away Napa offers something for everyone. Make sure you have time to relax and explore, one of my favorite destinations, wine country.
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