Napa Valley

Having lived on the east coast for the majority of my life, the two places in central California I had heard of were the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and the wineries in Napa Valley. Little did I know the history of Napa, which I learned from the sommeliers at many of my weekend wine tastings during my time living in Santa Cruz, and also from the movie “Bottle Shock.” This movie features Alan Rickman and Chris Pines and how the Judgment of Paris in 1976 put Napa on the map.

When I first moved to the area, I was frequently asked what type of wine was my favorite (meaning red or white). I always responded that I hadn’t had Napa wines, so I was not sure yet. After having many wine tastings here, I would now choose white wines, Chardonnay in particular. But in Napa, you can’t go wrong. Here is a map to familiarize yourself with the Napa Valley. I recommend if you are here to drive the entire distance from Napa to Calistoga as the entire valley is a beautiful site to see. I also suggest to go along the Silverado Trail which is parallel to Route 29 but on the east side. It is a more quaint road to drive along with magnificent view points.

Tips

Book wine tastings in advance. I felt comfortable doing 2 wine tastings in one day, allowing for 3-4 hours between each tasting with lunch in between.
Schedule your dinner reservations early as well. The most popular ones will fill up very fast!
Drinks lots and lots of water, and eat a large breakfast … :-D
Utilize their wine buckets to dump out wine that you do not care to finish. Save your taste buds (and the alcohol) for wine that you like. Your sommelier/wine server should be able to find other wines that fit your taste.

Wineries

The following are wineries that I experienced based off of recommendations from locals, my own research, and from my friends and family on the east coast who have visited Napa Valley.

Castello di Amorosa

Driving up the winding steep road lined with Cyprus trees and ending at a castle (with a moat!) will take you straight to the wineries in Tuscany, or to the Castello di Amorosa. This was my first wine tasting in Napa and it is still my favorite. From the beautiful stone cold castle to the animals outside it, the grandiose entrance, the most delicious Chardonnay I’ve ever had, and how they treated me was a lasting memory. I was told by multiple people (from the east and west coasts) to go to this vineyard. I am glad I did!

Stags’ Leap Wine Cellars

This winery had the best view of all of the vineyards in Napa that I visited. It overlooked one of their vineyards with more vineyards beyond a treeline. Behind the trees was a large mountain range with rocky jutt-outs making very dramatic scenery. Also, this winery had the most amazing Cabernet Sauvignon I’ve ever had, the 2019 Cask 23. It is a bit shocking to see the price of it, but it makes sense given its worldwide fame from the Judgment of Paris in 1976.

Beringer Vineyards

I thought I was a white wine drinker but Beringers’ 2018 Merlot is top notch and I would gladly drink this anyday. As I came here solo, the hosts were overly friendly and inclusive to me, which I greatly appreciated. The estate wine tour host took me and the rest of my tour-mates through the cool wine caves, which during the holidays were beautifully decorated.

Robert Mondavi Winery

The entrance to this vineyard is modern and artsy, and as you walk through to the tasting, you feel as though you are a part of the vineyard and are treated as such. The exceptional service I received here was unforgettable. Robert Mondavi wines are typically highly rated in the nation.

V. Sattui Winery

This is a castle in the middle of a garden with delicious wine and a cheese-filled gift shop… what more could you ask for? This winery was recommended by many locals in the area as the best spot in Napa Valley. I liked that they had many different options for wine tastings here so we did the sparkling wine tasting to do something divergent.

Chateau Montelena

The winery featured in the movie Bottle Shock was just as beautiful in-person. I recommend the estate tour as it takes you inside the chateau as well as having a tasting. As a solo traveler, I liked the regular tasting as I was served in a group and got to know the other people in my group, and it became more like a social event. I also enjoyed walking around the beautiful lake with red bridges, and met a few people here as well, one of which was a retired chemistry teacher who is now a photographer for fun.

Stags’ Leap Winery

The apostrophe is key here. I thought I was headed to Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, but I ended up at a gorgeous ivy-covered castle nestled back at the end of a private windy dirt road through the centuries-old vineyards. Here was a very intimate setting in the castle with a detailed tour and tasting. My favorite wine here was the dessert wine.

Rutherford Hill Winery

I recommend doing the cave tour at Rutherford Hill Winery. I only did the tasting and had a hankering to see more! I had delicious Cabernet Sauvignons here which were rich in flavor and thick. Just a heads up, this winery is tucked away behind the Silverado Trail, and then you will drive along a long winding path to get to the main building.

Grgich Hills Estate

Mike Grgich was the winemaker for Chateau Montelena during the Judgment of Paris in 1976. He started his own vineyard called Grgich Hills Estate. We really enjoyed the rose wine but they are known for their cabernet. Here had my favorite “more affordable” cabernet sauvignon.

Where to Eat

When planning where to eat, find lunch places located in between your tastings, and dinner spots near your hotel, if that wasn’t obvious and helps to narrow it down!

Lunch

Gott’s Roadside Grill

What looks like a 1950s roadside attraction actually makes for a delicious lunch with a relaxed backyard atmosphere. During the winter the leaves were a bright yellow and I loved the contrasting colors in the outdoor scenery. I thoroughly enjoyed the mahi mahi tacos and highly recommend it. The burger also looked very enticing.

Tra Vigne

This pizza place has been known to serve many famous people including George Clooney! Tra Vigne has exceptional service and delicious wood-fired pizza.

Dinner

Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch

On my road trip from Washington state to Santa Cruz, my friend Amanda and I quickly researched where the best spot for dinner was in Napa, and we landed on Farmstead for affordability, beauty, good food and drinks, and atmosphere. We were able to soak it all in here. Little did I know, one of my patients in Santa Cruz recommended Farmstead as her favorite restaurant in Napa Valley. So Amanda and I made a great choice after all! We both got the salmon dish which was to die for.

Angele Restaurant & Bar

A local in Napa recommended Angele downtown for a great view as well as great food. She said to get there right when it opens at 5pm and for a spot out on the patio that overlooks the Napa River. I absolutely loved the housemade fettuccine, and my friend Amelia loved the risotto.

Celadon

In downtown Napa, this dinner spot has all entrees full of flavor and of course with a long wine list. As my hotel manager said “you will be treated like royalty here.” I certainly was! I was recommended to get the chicken and gnocchi dish, the soup of the day, and the white chocolate gelato with raspberry. The service here is exceptional and I felt like the staff was the most down-to-earth so I came back multiple times even just for a drink to hang out with them!

Zuzu Napa

This happening Spanish tapas restaurant is squished in between a row of many other eating options across from the park in downtown Napa. This place is known for its paella, and it is for sure the best I’ve ever tasted. It is very savory and satisfying, and you will want to finish every bite! The paellas are for 2 people (larger portion), but the other dishes are more tapas-friendly. We ordered 3 dishes total (paella included) and felt like that was the perfect amount.

Where to Stay

Cedar Gables Inn

As most of my travels/itineraries are made last-minute, I luckily took delight in a last-minute cancellation at Cedar Gables Inn. Built in 1892, this quaint bed and breakfast takes you back in time with winding staircases, statues, and their dining room breakfast service. Relatively priced for Napa, I had a lovely stay here and highly recommend it as it is a close walk to downtown Napa near the river. The breakfast here was my favorite so far in Napa.

R Inn Napa

This modern chic hotel was the closest to downtown Napa out of the places I stayed here; just one block away from the main street areas. Modern aesthetics were a theme throughout the hotel: modern art was scattered throughout the buildings, the guest rooms were clean and well-thought out, and the continental breakfast was efficient but wholesome. We loved this place!

Hotel Napa Valley

The Hotel Napa Valley was another last-minute getaway spot. This boutique luxury bed and breakfast was even more charming in-person. This was the most expensive of the hotels I stayed in, and it felt just so!

*We ate at Farmstead Restaurant during my road trip to my second hand therapy placement. Before Napa Valley we explored Redwoods’ Avenue of the Giants. After Napa Valley was our final destination to the small surf town Santa Cruz, California!