October, 2019
Just one hour north of San Francisco you will find one of the top Wine Country destinations in the world. Welcome to Napa Valley, where you can indulge in all things wine and food. We chose to fly into San Francisco, but would likely choose Sacramento the next time. We were fortunate to stay on points at a Marriott located in Fairfield, California just outside of Napa, which was perfect for us and allowed more money to be spent on wine tasting & tours, and of course, dinners! We tend to opt for cost-effective accommodations (or free with points) and splurge on experiences and memories while traveling. We headed to Napa Valley in October, 2019, which was coordinated with the annual grape harvest. This is actually one of the busiest warm months to visit the area.
Napa Valley is home to more than 500 wineries spread across six quaint towns including Napa, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena and Calistoga. I swear you could take multiple trips to this small slice of heaven and see, taste and experience something new each time. Beautiful vineyards rolling over the golden hills of the Sunshine state, five-star farm-to-table restaurants with the most epic wine lists (bigger than the menus!) and family-owned boutique wineries to larger, older and more popular ones. It truly is a utopia, cheers Napa!
Where to Taste
Robert Mondavi – According to Mondavi – “Wine to me is passion. It’s family and friends. It’s warmth of heart and generosity of spirit.” This winery has graceful arches among the sprawling mission-style buildings. Offering tours & tastings, tasting rooms and lunch and dinner experiences, there is something for everyone’s budget. Being Cabernet Sauvignon fans, we booked the Kalon Terroir Tasting which is one hour in length. During this tasting you have an opportunity to enjoy three vintage Cabernet Sauvignons Reserves and one in limited-time production. These wines are paired with seasonal bites created by Chef Jeff Moshet. Lemoire – Party of 2 – your exclusive tasting awaits you!
Beringer Vineyards – Welcome to Napa’s oldest continuously operating winery, built on 140 years of winemaking tradition. Making good wine is a skill, but making fine wine is an art! This is an expansive property with a 17-room Rhine House mansion, a re-creation of the family home located on the Rhine River in Germany. We had hoped to book the Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Tasting, but there was a wedding that day, so that tasting was unavailable. This vineyard offers only five, yes five, weddings a year. We were able to get a sneak peak of the bridal party getting pictures done – what a dream come true – getting married at a winery with a live band. So, instead we booked the one hour Taste of Beringer Tour which included a brief tour of the property, a guide to the sensory garden to understand what herbs and spices are incorporated into the wine and a wine and food pairing in the historic Rhine house. Seasonal culinary treats were paired with a flight of reserve wines embodying the traditional seductive flavour that Napa Valley wines are known for. We opted to extend our stay at this winery, ordering a glass of our favourite vintage from the tour and making our way to the gardens to enjoy the live music which is offered on Saturdays. An absolutely perfect way to spend a sunny fall afternoon in Napa.
Stags’ Leap Winery – Here you will find the original Stags’ Leap Winery located in the heart of the Stags Leap District. Not to be confused with Stag’s Leap Cellars, which it often can be. Driving down a long, private tree-lined road lies the 240 acre estate which is framed by the dramatic palisades to the east. The 19th century stone winery and Victorian Manor House is surrounded by vineyards divided into 23 blocks, where each grape is matched perfectly to its ideal soil type. It certainly explains why they have a reputation for elegant wines. My first exposure to a bottle of Stags’ Leap was in 2015 at a French Bistro in Washington, DC and four years later I was touring this winery. Dreams do come true. Keep in mind there is no option for drop-ins and tastings are by appointment only. This was my favourite winery in Napa, likely because of the peaceful tranquil setting and off the beaten path location – completely our style.
We booked the Estate Tour and Tasting which is 90 minutes in length, offering the history of the estate with fascinating stories of how this winery came to be. I thoroughly enjoyed strolling the property, learning of how it rotated between a winery, a fashionable country resort, a speakeasy during Prohibition for bootleggers and gangsters and now to the winery it is today. The tour ends with a tasting in the Manor House where you have an opportunity to sip their elegant vintages combing finesse with intensity. A truly unique and memorable experience.
Where to Eat
Wherever you end up, you won’t leave hungry or disappointed. There are endless five-star fine dining restaurants and prestigious Michelin-rated options to choose from.
Oakville Grocery – A traditional country store with a twist, this is a happening little spot. They offer patio dining and a range of food choices including sandwiches, salads, and pizza along with wine and beer on tap. A perfect spot to grab lunch, tour the store and indulge in the outdoor patio. D and I shared the turkey pesto artisan sandwich with a salad along and some sparkling water. We decided to save the wine until our first tour & tasting later that afternoon. Beside this little store, you will find a historic wine museum which is full of Napa history and free to tour through before exploring the region.
Auberge du Soleil – With 13 consecutive Michelin stars, this culinary legacy is in an unmatched setting. You can opt dinner at the restaurant on the outdoor terrace or within the comfort of the inside dining room. The outdoor terrace and dining experience is one of the most sought after in Napa. You can also enjoy the adjacent Bistro & Bar while sipping a cocktail or dining on the al fresco menu, while enjoying the panoramic views of neighbouring vineyards and stunning sunsets. D and I opted for a sunset cocktail, prosecco for me and beer for him sharing the local halibut and avocado ceviche. They are known for their delectable Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. You really cannot beat this view. Next trip this will be on our list for dinner, not just a cocktail.
Cole’s Chop House – You will find this venue located in the heart of downtown Napa. A traditional chop house where steaks are at the heart of the menu. Make a reservation requesting a table downstairs to take in more of a lively atmosphere or upstairs for something more intimate. This was D’s 50th birthday dinner, so expense was not a concern. We still talk about this dinner today as it truly was one our most memorable flavour experiences. We chose the Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon (2014) from Mount Veeder. This wine was one velvety, rich luscious stream of palate seduction. Lifting it to our noses and upon first sip you are surprised by a dominant Cabernet with some Malbec with hints of blueberry, vanilla, cassis, chocolate caramel and oak spices. I can only describe this wine as classic and quintessential. To start, I had the Warm Spinach Salad and D the classic house Caesar. Although a Steakhouse, I had the New Zealand full rack lamb and D enjoyed the Cole’s Famous 21 Day dry-aged New York steak. These two mains complimented the bottle of red further enhancing the taste while slightly changing the flavours on the palate once paired together. What sides did we share? Grilled asparagus without the hollandaise sauce – that’s just never been a sauce I enjoy! Only one side as we were saving room for dessert. As soon as D saw the 40 year old Tawny Taylor Fladgate Port – it was an instant decision for 3 ozs each. It was his birthday after all and since we hadn’t seen a 40 year old bottle in person before, D requested the serving to be poured from the bottle at the table! Paired with the Port was the Pecan Pie for both of us – warm pecan pie combined with flavours of nutmeg, roasted coffee and honey intensified the nuttiness from both the pie and Port. The rich, intense and voluptuous texture of this Port was an impeccable gastronomic shower contrasted against the pie.
Press – Another chophouse located in St. Helena with a massive fireplace and patio, where the ambiance is farmhouse chic. We had the perfect table looking at the fireplace and had the Sommelier pair our courses. The service was outstanding and the meal was culinary ecstasy. To start, we shared the bacon (which they are known for); 4 different styles of bacon presented uniquely on a custom metal rack. Each course was paired with a glass of wine which unfortunately I don’t recall, but do remember them all being delicious. For our main we shared the Chateaubriand special with sides of truffle risotto and lobster mac and cheese! As we opted for pre-dinner cocktails and the ceviche at Auberge du Soleil first, we did not have room for dessert that night!
