I will be heading there for the first time in May. Any good recommendations for wineries, restaurants, and areas to stay and visit?
Thanks
Thanks
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Napa Valley trip
- Thread starter BrunoMars420
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I suggest spending some time in sonoma.
It’s been two years since last visit, but Sonoma is a little more laid back than Napa. IMHO.
It’s been two years since last visit, but Sonoma is a little more laid back than Napa. IMHO.
Assuming you’re taking your significant other.
Stayed at the Archer Napa. Great. Nice rooftop bar.
Wasn’t able to get a reservation at French Laundry but did a picnic by French Laundry in their garden across the street. Fantastic. Did Charlie Palmer steak - very good and some steakhouse/sports bar place that was popular.
Did wine tour with a driver. Stopped at three wineries and got to walk the grounds and production area. Worth ever dollar. I would not wine and drive out there.
There were a couple others on Bacon that lived out there and had great recs.
Bring cash. Enjoy!
Chateau Montelena in St. Helena - from the movie Bottle Shock - was very nice.
Castillo de Amorosa is something to see
Castillo de Amorosa is something to see
I’ve never been, but I recently ordered some Frog’s Leap and really enjoyed it. Hoping to feel better for my birthday this weekend to open up the Cab. The Petit Syrah was excellent.
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For you the best way would be F90 ( south) over to the interstate and then jump off on the old R22 exit and head south. It will be on the east side of the road there.
No point in driving over there if you don't stop in Bonneville and grab a full breakfast and beer.
No point in driving over there if you don't stop in Bonneville and grab a full breakfast and beer.
Some thoughts after 3 visits.
Check out tours and drivers.
Their are numerous great restaurants around but we always enjoys afternoon wine tastings with food so large dinners are rare.
A couple of our favorite wineries are in the area like Jordan and Ramey. Great tastings there. Avoid the shitty wineries like Silverado, Beringer, sterling, etc.
Chateau Montelena and Baldacci are solid visits.
Some really good food in the area.
Went to Sanoma Valley, tried Cafe Citti
Wonderful Italian diner. Try the Citti sauce, best tomato based sauce I've enjoyed. (believe it was a featured on Food network for something)
(looks like they're closed until Feb 5)
I 100% disagree on Sterling. First of all, of all the wineries in the area it has the best views of the area thanks to being perched high up a “mountain” and due to the pleasant gondola ride on the way up. Moreover it’s not just the views, while the standard bottlings available at your local Costco are mass produced wines for the average consumer, at the winery itself they have small batch varietals from specific plots of land that are given great care and rival some of the best in the area.
As a matter of fact I would say it’s one of the two wineries that everyone should visit on a first tour of the area along with Opus One. Although you only get to taste two wines at Opus One (their signature French blend and the Overture made from the leftover grapes that don’t make it into their signature blend), it is the most educational tour of any winery, brewery, distillery, cidery, or distillery I’ve been to.
Opus One and Sterling are therefore must Dos, everything else I wouldn’t bicker with. I would however, highly recommend Cakebread; both Stag’s Leap and Stags’ Leap which are almost next to each other with VERY similar names; Caymus; Chateau Montelena for the history and the wine; Domaine Carneros; Castello di Amorosa; Pine Ridge Vineyards; and Rutherford Hills for its 100 year old olive groves and mile long cave system for wine storage.
Sterling was a nice property but the wines they gave us for our tasting were pure swill with an aftertaste.
Every year Napa has a wine auction. People show up in their limos, helicopters, tuxedos and all sorts of formal attire.
Every year Sonoma has a wine auction. People show up on their tractors, dressed in overalls and all sorts of casual attire.
I much prefer Sonoma, but I will reluctantly admit that Napa is quite nice.
We have always enjoyed (link) Bistro Don Giovanni. Out in the vinyards with very good food. California 8.5, rest of the country 10.
No wine expert, but you probably got the bucket wine the rich people spit into
We had a good friend who was friends with Raymond Burr, Perry Mason. We would go to his winery, in Dry Creek Valley just outside of Healdsburg. I bought one of their t-shirts.
It said:
Sonoma Makes Great Wines
Napa Makes Auto Parts
It said:
Sonoma Makes Great Wines
Napa Makes Auto Parts
If there was ever a thread about movies you hate, this one would be on my list.
Was in Napa in 2001 post 9/11. No rec's but we did stop at V Sattui, a friend was a part owner. It was good, and we enjoyed chilling on the property.
Highly recommend this tour.
https://www.platypustours.com/wine-...Uam6moSxwLNYSvi1X_ZrZZSZawQImIdxoCwwgQAvD_BwE
https://www.platypustours.com/wine-...Uam6moSxwLNYSvi1X_ZrZZSZawQImIdxoCwwgQAvD_BwE
Looked at going out in April and it’s like taking a second mortgage to fly into San Fran or Sacramento
Wife’s family is from St Helena. I’m there like 40x a year. Ask me anything…
My personal favorites:
Model Bakery
Gotts
Brasswood
Farmstead
Mumm
So much good stuff.
All wine is good wine if enjoyed with friends and family.
My personal favorites:
Model Bakery
Gotts
Brasswood
Farmstead
Mumm
So much good stuff.
All wine is good wine if enjoyed with friends and family.
We just got round trip flights from SFO to Amsterdam and Brussels back to SFO for $1,300. No mortgage needed
We were the last wine tour before the pandemic halter everything — literally on the bus March 16th, 2020. We were on a Platypus Tour, which was highly reasonable compared to the wine train, etc.
We were just there in November.
Tamber Bay is a really cool stop and they have horses at the vineyard. It’s in the North section of the Valley.
You can’t beat the Stag’s Leap tasting with the food pairing. They are the other vineyard from Bottle Shock. You will love the Cask 23.
The Hall tasting is also excellent.
For a little food hack, there are two places next to French Laundry that are really nice as well. In the morning stop and grab a croissant at Bouchon bakery. Top notch croissant
You can also eat at the Bouchon Bistro. It’s a Thomas Keller place.
Tamber Bay is a really cool stop and they have horses at the vineyard. It’s in the North section of the Valley.
You can’t beat the Stag’s Leap tasting with the food pairing. They are the other vineyard from Bottle Shock. You will love the Cask 23.
The Hall tasting is also excellent.
For a little food hack, there are two places next to French Laundry that are really nice as well. In the morning stop and grab a croissant at Bouchon bakery. Top notch croissant
You can also eat at the Bouchon Bistro. It’s a Thomas Keller place.
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I would argue Sterling has the best view in all the valley. Definitely worth a gondola ride to take in the view.
This last trip we spend our first couple nights in Santa Rosa. The Vinters resort. Top notch place right on a vineyard. Excellent restaurant onsite too. This place is a lot cheaper than in the Vallley.
For a Mountain View, we did the Smith Madron tasting. This was just about like having wine in a dudes shop but they have a top 20 riesling in the world. They have a sitting area that looks out over the entire valley
For a Mountain View, we did the Smith Madron tasting. This was just about like having wine in a dudes shop but they have a top 20 riesling in the world. They have a sitting area that looks out over the entire valley
I would start any winery tours at Beringer. Not the greatest wine but they have what I consider the most educational tour. Unless you're already a wine expert. If you're going with your special lady, look for the candlelit winery tour... can't remember the name but you can find it with that info.
Not Napa but it brought to mind our stay in Stellenbosch at the Delaire Graff winery during our South Africa trip. This isn't my picture but it's exactly the view we had... probably from our room.
Our members dinner at Stag’s Leap in the celler
Yes. Call me a cheap ass but $500+ for anything decent from DSM is dumb.
Basically destroyed the varietal for a decade plus because the writer thought Merlot was the funniest sounding grape.
Try www.grok.com
No ads, no manipulative search returns, provides reference links.
Prompt:
“I’m visiting Napa Valley, CA for the first time in May. Any good recommendations for wineries, restaurants, and areas to stay and visit?”
**Wineries to Visit:**
- **Domaine Carneros**: Known for its sparkling wines and beautiful French-chateau style architecture, it's a must-visit for a classy tasting experience. It's particularly noted for its beautiful grounds and excellent service.[](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g580460-Activities-Napa_Valley_California.html)
- **Stags' Leap Winery**: A historic winery with a rich past and one of Napa's smallest AVAs, offering some of the region's top wines. It's perfect for those interested in both history and wine.[](https://www.veranda.com/travel/g29113825/best-wineries-in-napa-valley/)
- **Mayacamas**: Offers a unique, old-world style of wine aging, with tastings available in downtown Napa. Their Cabernet Sauvignon is highly regarded.[](https://www.veranda.com/travel/g29113825/best-wineries-in-napa-valley/)
- **Far Niente**: Famous for its classic tasting experiences and beautiful autumn setting, making it ideal for a visit during your May trip.[](https://www.veranda.com/travel/g29113825/best-wineries-in-napa-valley/)
**Restaurants to Enjoy:**
- **Napa Valley's Michelin-star restaurants**: The region is famous for its high-quality dining experiences, which include farm-to-table offerings. Check out the latest Michelin guide for current stars, as the scene evolves.[](https://www.visitnapavalley.com/restaurants/)
- **Oxbow Public Market** in Downtown Napa: A great place for a more casual dining experience with a variety of food options from different vendors.[](https://misstourist.com/where-to-stay-in-napa-valley-california-usa/)
**Areas to Stay:**
- **Downtown Napa**: This is a fantastic starting point for your exploration of Napa Valley, with plenty of attractions, wineries, and the convenience of urban amenities. Hotels like The Napa Inn and Andaz Napa by Hyatt are recommended for their proximity to key spots like Oxbow Public Market.[](https://misstourist.com/where-to-stay-in-napa-valley-california-usa/)
- **Yountville**: Known for its charm and proximity to some of the best wineries, it's perfect for those looking for a more rural vibe and culinary excellence.[](https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/where-to-stay-in-napa-usa/)
- **Calistoga**: If relaxation is on your agenda, Calistoga is renowned for its natural hot springs and spas, making it a great place to unwind after days of wine tasting.[](https://misstourist.com/where-to-stay-in-napa-valley-california-usa/)
**Areas to Visit:**
- **St. Helena**: Offers a mix of excellent wineries, shopping, and green spaces, making it ideal for a family visit or for those interested in a bit of everything Napa has to offer.[](https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/where-to-stay-in-napa-usa/)
- **American Canyon**: For those on a budget, this area provides more affordable accommodation options while still offering access to Napa's attractions.[](https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/where-to-stay-in-napa-usa/)
When planning your visit, remember that many wineries require reservations for tastings, so book in advance. Also, consider the time of year; May is lovely with moderate temperatures, making it ideal for outdoor activities like vineyard tours or picnics, although note that picnicking at most winery estates is limited. Enjoy exploring Napa Valley!
Dude, I sometimes have to pay $700+ to fly from Atlanta to Key West... 1 hour, 40 mins
