Napa Valley - Suggestions?

[00pumpkin]

My wife and I are looking to take a trip to Napa Valley in the spring (Early April) and I wanted to see if anyone here had suggestions on where to fly in, stay, tour, eat/drink, etc. I was thinking that 4 nights would be enough, do you agree?

Any pictures would be great as well.

[wantonebad]

Depends, you can certainly spend 4 days in Napa, there are tons of things to do, wineries are getting more and more restrictive about tasting reservations and the days of rolling up on a winery and walking right in to taste and tour are coming to an end. If there are wineries you have to see then contact them now to book your reservations. Some still allow foot traffic but better safe then sorry.

Also if there are restaurants you want to visit book as soon as they allow, they fill up quickly. I recommend that you check out the Napa travel guide website and others like it that you can find by doing a search and plan that way, itineraries are very important to me and I hate leaving things to chance in places where info is very important, Napa is one of those places.

http://napavalley.com/visitorsinfo/guidebooks.html

[gulfstream69xr7]

My wife and I were just there a few weeks ago.

We spent three days. Four would have been perfect.

Private message me and I can tell you anything you need to know.

If the below link doesn't work, Facebook me ( Paul Garvin ) and I have a couple hundred pictures posted in folders from Napa and San Fran.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...1&l=1856c682d8


My wife and I spent months contacting friends on the left coast and reading reviews before making winery reservations, dinner reservations, spa reservations and accommodations.

We already did the research and can give you some very good suggestions.

There are a couple of pics from our trip that I posted on the Gastronomic galore thread.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthre...=265503&page=2

[wantonebad]

Also just to add the more up to date info you get the better, so get on blogs and travel forums to ask the up to date questions. I haven't been there in a few years but I've been 5 times and in my experience the wineries with the best wine are not necessarily the wineries with the best tours/visitor experiences so you'll need to mix that up a bit. Try to keep an open mind about visiting places that don't have first level cab's or chard's they have other things to offer. Likewise if you visit wineries with first level offerings like Caymus, Montelana, BV or Shafer, not the best tours but the tastings are worth the schlep/expense!

[Baco Noir]

A really cool winery with great wines that is off the beaten track is Chappellet. They are family owned and do tastings by appointment only. You will need directions from them because there are no signs on the road and they are hard to find. They were founded in the 60's and have been organic since the start but just sought out and obtained their organic certification. They make fantastic whites and reds in more of a French style. We've been wine club members for >10 years and I can't recommend them highly enough.

[69mach351]

We are just getting ready to go back. We usually stay in SF and book wine tours to Napa and Sonoma so we can hit more wineries and not have to drive - after awhile it will get to you. They will also take care of all of the reservations. The wife rented out the dining room in the French Laundry for our upcoming trip. Very excited and a great wife to do that for my 30th. Sadly, we will be there a few weeks after you, so I can't tell you how it will be before you go, but it has been rated one of, if not the best place to eat in the world for years.

[towernick]

Went back in September and went to Plumpjack which was cool, Mondavi which is huge but worth going to because the grounds are simply beautiful and one more I can't rememeber. Napa is cool but slightly crowded; I would head over to Sonoma one day, it's far less touristy.

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by towernick

Went back in September and went to Plumpjack which was cool, Mondavi which is huge but worth going to because the grounds are simply beautiful and one more I can't rememeber. Napa is cool but slightly crowded; I would head over to Sonoma one day, it's far less touristy.

September is a tough time to go, lots of people want to be there for harvest. The first time I went was in 1999 just before the Mustard festival, Feb/March. No one was there and we had our run of the place, All of the wineries were pouring the 97 vintage which was a historical year and some of the best young wine I have ever tasted. Needless to say I've been chasing the dragon ever since, it's why my wife and I fell in love with that place!!

[Sub4Life]

I suggest the Kenwood Inn in Sonoma County

http://www.kenwoodinn.com/

[mws222]

We stayed at Bardessono (http://www.bardessono.com/) when the wife and I went, if you have any specific questions feel free to send me a PM.

[towernick]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

September is a tough time to go, lots of people want to be there for harvest. The first time I went was in 1999 just before the Mustard festival, Feb/March. No one was there and we had our run of the place, All of the wineries were pouring the 97 vintage which was a historical year and some of the best young wine I have ever tasted. Needless to say I've been chasing the dragon ever since, it's why my wife and I fell in love with that place!!

Yeah, it was crowded, but we really lucked out with the weather, it was sunny and in the 80s, which probably didn't help with the crowds either. I didn't mind the crowds so much once we were at the wineries, just the one road through Napa was choked with cars.

[68camaro]

For quick meal you should try Gott's Roadside for great gourmet hamburger eaten outside on picnic benches.

Also, we regretted not dining at the French Laundry. Although crazy expensive it's a once in a lifetime dining experience that we will hit next time in Nappa.

Traffic was bad on weekend but better on weekdays. We focused on smaller wineries that we had tried or heard about and had wonderful time.

I doubt you can go wrong with any of your choices.

Chuck

[Mickey®]

Following this! Will be in Cali for 9 days in the Spring...From La Jolla to San Fran.

[00pumpkin]

I’m really looking forward to this trip. Especially after looking at some of the places mentioned above.

All great suggestions. Please keep them coming!

[AK40DJ50]

French Laundry is an experience but my wife and I also really like Terra Restaurant in St. Helena - fantastic food. All the wineries are great to visit but we enjoyed Chandon (they make very good sparkling wines). It is a beautiful spot and has a nice restaurant named étoile.

[vsproto]

Plenty of time. Stay in yountville. The three sisters inn group has a B and B. mason something

[Baco Noir]

If you want to pick up supplies for a nice picnic at one of the wineries, stop in the Oakville Grocery for hand made sandwiches, salamis, cheeses, good crackers, olives, etc.

www.oakvillegrocery.com

[renfield33]

make sure you get a driver

go to at least one winery with a wine cave

[Tri-Tip]

I was there last year, and we had a local driver to dinner a few evenings.

She highly recommended against the French Laundry, as well as the wine train. Said French Laundry was just not worth the price (not her opinion, but what she gets from her clients as they leave), and the wine train is a total tourist trap.

i can recommend Brix for dinner as well as Rutherford Grill.

[perpetualman88]

Try the French Laundry its amazing.

Also there is a private club/ boutique hotel Meadowood. I would highly suggest staying at one of their private cottages located all over the grounds

[Boothroyd]

I am not local to CA, but I know a lot about Yountville having stayed there last holiday season, after my wife planned our trip (hospitality industry). Best food in CA, bar none, and gateway to wine country. I echo earlier posts that Yountville is the place to be in that area. $$$$, but worth it. PM if you would like more info, Dustin.

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by gulfstream69xr7

My wife and I were just there a few weeks ago . . .

Just checked the links & pics . . .

Paul . . . we can go out for weeks together . . . food looks really delicious . . . got a great taste !

HAGWe

[NutNut]

Check out the Rutherford Grill

[mws222]

Originally Posted by Yellowdog

If you want to pick up supplies for a nice picnic at one of the wineries, stop in the Oakville Grocery for hand made sandwiches, salamis, cheeses, good crackers, olives, etc.

www.oakvillegrocery.com

:thumbup: had some great things from there!

[00pumpkin]

What’s the best/most affordable way to get around Napa?

Rent a car, taxi, driver?

[perpetualman88]

rent a car. Some of the wineries are pretty far apart.

If you can afford it and plan on drinking a decent amount spring and get a driver for a day and use a rental the rest of the time.

[Baco Noir]

Originally Posted by 00pumpkin

What’s the best/most affordable way to get around Napa?

Rent a car, taxi, driver?

Most affordable - renting a car. Caveat - limit yourself to just "tasting" at 2-4 wineries during the day, pouring out the excess from the majority of the tasting pours, and plan in a good picnic lunch during the day.

If you want to hit a more than 4-5 in a day without a designated driver, then get a van/limo with a driver.

We usually rent a house since we like to cook and then buy a few bottles of the ones we really enjoy to have with dinner that night - which is where the real drinking occurs!

[Dr. Robert]

Go to Sonoma, a much better vibe.

[masterserg]

LOVED the Castello di Amorosa. It was one of the highlights of our trip! Fun tour, great tasting experience and great wine! The castle itself is awesome!

[00pumpkin]

Originally Posted by Yellowdog

Most affordable - renting a car. Caveat - limit yourself to just "tasting" at 2-4 wineries during the day, pouring out the excess from the majority of the tasting pours, and plan in a good picnic lunch during the day.

If you want to hit a more than 4-5 in a day without a designated driver, then get a van/limo with a driver.

We usually rent a house since we like to cook and then buy a few bottles of the ones we really enjoy to have with dinner that night - which is where the real drinking occurs!

Very true on the drinking part.

Ive heard the taxi's out there are crazy expensive.