Napa Valley is the home of some of the best vines in the world. The valley itself has many growing regions, each producing vastly different wines. With more than 540 vineyards, you’ll never make it to all of them, so it’s best to choose a region and explore it in-depth.
DRINK//DO
//EAT//STAY
DRINK
St. Helena
Chappellet Vineyard
This family-owned, hilltop vineyard on Pritchard Hill was only the second built in Napa Valley after prohibition and has been turning out beautiful wine since 1967. Many of the family members are still involved in the daily goings-on of the winery and the family’s influence can be felt in everything from the building’s modern design to the wines and the bottle art.
Appointments required: YES
1581 Sage Canyon Road, chappellet.com, 707-286-4219
Trinchero
The Trinchero family came to Napa in 1948 with a dream, and it became a reality. The family’s influence is heavily felt throughout the vineyard and winery in design elements and the family’s amazing story. My favorite bottle from this stop was the Trinchero 2012 Mario’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.
Appointments required: YES
3070 North St. Helena Highway, 707-963-1160
Newton
Appointments required: YES
2555 Madrona Avenue, newtonvineyard.com, (707) 204-7423
Prisoner Wine Company at Franciscan Estates
Appointments required: NO
1178 Galleron Road, franciscan.com, (707) 967-3830
(PWC will be opening a tasting room in Napa summer 2018. Stay tuned to their website for details.)
Quintessa
Appointments required: YES
1601 Silverado Trail South, quintessa.com, (707) 967-1601
Orin Swift Cellars
Tasting Room Only
Appointments required: NO
1325 Main Street, (707) 967-9179
Oakville
Silver Oak
The quintessential Napa Cab … they only make one thing, so you better like it!
Appointments required: NO
NAPA: 915 Oakville Crossroad, silveroak.com, 707-944-8808
ALEXANDER VALLEY (new):
PlumpJack Winery
Appointments required: NO
620 Oakville Cross Road, plumpjackwinery.com, 707-945-1220
Miner Family Winery
Appointments required: NO
7850 Silverado Trail, minerwines.com, 707-944-9500
Yountville
Domaine Chandon
This tasting experience is not the most tailored or personal, but the space is beautiful. Visit for a quick tasting (or three) and sit a spell on their shaded lawn overlooking Yountville.
Appointments required: NO
1 California Drive, chandon.com
Stag’s Leap District
ODETTE ESTATE
This vineyard and tasting room leave nothing to be desired. The tasting room is not only modern and sleek, but has been awarded LEED Gold certification making it one of the most eco-friendly spaces in Napa. The wine itself is at the top of my list (I finally found a white—their Estate Chardonnay—that I spent my own money on). Since Odette is owned by the same group as PlumpJack and CADE Wines, you can taste these along with Adaptation Wines at the vineyard.
Appointments required: YES (ask for Katie C!)
5998 Silverado Trail, odetteestate.com, (707) 224-7533
Courtesy of Odette Estate
Rutherfod
Mumm
Enjoy a drawn-out tasting of their expressions in the modern and sleek tasting room.
Appointments required: NO
8445 Silverado Trail, mummnapa.com, (707) 967-7700
Cakebread Cellars
Appointments required: YES
8300 Saint Helena Highway, cakebread.com, 707-963-5222
Inglenook
Appointments required: YES
1991 Saint Helena Highway, inglenook.com, 707-968-1100
Atlas Peak
William Hill Estate
Some of the best views in the valley.
1761 Atlas Peak Road, williamhillestate.com, (707) 224-4477
Oak Knoll
O’Brien Estates
Be prepared to be here for a few hours. This isn’t a quick visit because everyone is so wildly friendly and thorough. If you’re lucky, the owner will recite you some of the poetry that inspired the wines he produced.
1200 Orchard Avenue, obrienestate.com, (707) 252-8463
Los Carneros
Domaine Carneros
Stop into this grand estate for a public tour and tasting (11am, 1pm, 3pm) or book a specialty tasting—think a private balcony for two complete with wine and caviar, a tasting for 2-12 with their Wine Educator, or a haute “chips & dip” tasting (caviar and wine). Expect crowds, make a reservation.
1240 Duhig Road, domainecarneros.com, (707) 257-0101
DO
Napa Valley Bike Tours
With various locations and tours offered, give them a call or visit their website so see which location and/or tour is best for your group. Rent bikes for the day and venture to some of the local vineyards or just explore the Napa Valley Vine Trail.
6500 Washington Street (Yountville), napavalleybiketours.com, (707) 251-8687
Napa Wine Train
Hitch a ride on this vintage train built in 1864 for a “three-hour, 36-mile round-trip journey from Downtown Napa to St. Helena and back. ” Relax, enjoy the views, and enjoy a flight of local wine and a three-course (really excellent) meal, or use it as hop-on-hop-off transportation to select vineyards and areas.
Reservations required.
800.427.4124, winetrain.com
EAT
Ciccio (Yountville)
The meal I enjoyed at Ciccio might be one of the best I’ve ever had … ever. Make a reservation well in advance for the chef’s tasting menu and go for the wine pairings. Let them create the experience for you; it’s sure to be incredible.
6770 Washington Street, ciccionapavalley.com, (707) 945-1000
Ad Hoc – AMERICAN
This Thomas Keller restaurant cannot be missed. They create a menu each day with seasonal ingredients. Everything is served family style and you can get unlimited plates of each item. Be sure to get a reservation far in advance.
6476 Washington Street (Yountville), thomaskeller.com, (707) 944-2487
Bistro Jeanty – FRENCH
This is a quaint spot perfect for a leisurely happy hour or a late-night dessert. The staff is friendly and the food is fantastic.
6510 Washington Street (Yountville), bistrojeanty.com, (707) 944-0103
Mustard’s Grill
Hyperlocal ingredients used to create comfort foods taken up a notch. Think upscale roadside diner with a price tag to match. Some ingredients are even grown in their garden right next door.
7399 St Helena Highway, mustardsgrill.com, (707) 944-2424
Oxbow Public Market
This market boasts various local stalls and vendors with items from olive oil to coffee and even whiskey. Stop in to stock up on cheese, meats, and other assorted snacks. (Do not expect to get “normal” food items here. This is a specialty shop.)
610 & 644 1st Street (Downtown Napa), oxbowpublicmarket.com, (707) 226-6529
Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch
738 Main Street (St. Helena), longmeadowranch.com, (707) 963-4555
Oentri
Right in the heart of Downtown Napa, this restaurant offers Southern Italian cuisine with a menu that changes daily depending on the available seasonal ingredients. The roomy, industrial space is made cozy with the glow of the pizza oven and the warmth of the staff.
1425 1st Street (Downtown Napa), oenotri.com, (707) 252-1022
STAY
Andaz Napa
Overlooking Oenotri, this property made Napa feel like home. I was glad to come home to my room here after long days of enjoyment and sink into the wildly comfortable bed. Expect complimentary wine tastings and other perks in the lobby of this modern-meets-nature hotel.
1450 1st Street (Downtown Napa), napa.andaz.hyatt.com, (707) 687-1234