Insider's Guide to Napa Valley
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My first trip to Napa Valley was in the late 1960’s, during my senior year at U.C. Berkeley. I had just turned 21, and here was this amazing place only an hour’s drive away with rolling blond hills and the sunny climate of Provence, where you could spend a leisurely afternoon sipping for free at Inglenook, Beringer, and Mondavi.
Four decades and a dozen visits later, I still find myself drawn here. Maybe it’s the pastoral beauty of the Silverado Trail, which twists its way past acres of vineyards and those unchanging blond hills. Or the small-town charm of St. Helena’s Main Street, and its one-of-a-kind shops. Or the fact that the farm-to-table movement has never waned, and continues to influence the next generation of Napa chefs. This makes it one of the most dynamic food destinations in the country. Here, a peek into my little black book.
Where to Stay
Restaurateur Claude Rouas brought Provençal style to Napa in 1981 with Auberge du Soleil, his tiny French bistro on the hills above Rutherford. I remember every bite of my first lunch there a month after it opened—the homemade pâté, the salade niçoise, the tarte au citron. A few years on, 52 sun-splashed guest rooms were added. Today, the hotel is no less stylish, drawing a mix of Hollywood types and couples getting away from it all, and its newest addition, Maison Saint-Tropez, offers eight romantic, earth-toned suites (hand-carved oak headboards; outdoor tubs). Not to be outdone, Auberge’s sister property, Calistoga Ranch—a woodsy, 157-acre retreat set in a canyon off the Silverado Trail—just had a refresh. Enhancements include a separate pool catering to families (unlike Auberge, Calistoga allows kids under 16), five creekside spa pavilions, and green touches such as LED lighting. In the 48 cedar lodges, there are now iPads in the rooms and sculptures in the outdoor showers. A few miles north, Solage Calistoga, also part of the Auberge collection, stays true to its setting (the town’s hot springs are legendary) with a 20,000-square-foot spa. Book the signature “mudslide,” which includes a scrub and mineral-water soak in a claw-foot tub; afterward, you can zone out in a zero-gravity chair. Thanks to a recent makeover, the 89 studios have a softer feel (silver-toned carpets instead of concrete floors), and everyone is raving about chef Brandon Sharp’s six-year-old Solbar. Don’t miss his chilled ambrosia melon soup and confit of Niman Ranch lamb shoulder.
One of my first Napa experiences was a stay at Yountville’s Magnolia Inn, which has now been reimagined as Maison Fleurie, a collection of 13 warm but simple, French-inspired rooms set in three vine-covered stone buildings. The rates are wildly affordable—as low as $150 a night for the smallest room during harvest season. Just across the street is the LEED Platinum–certified Bardessono Hotel & Spa, where the 62 rooms offer a less-is-more aesthetic (organic linens; bay-laurel-wood desks), except for the bathrooms, which are big enough to actually fit a massage table. Also in town is the year-and-a-half-old North Block Hotel, the work of St. Helena–based interior designer Erin Martin. The 20 modern rooms are scattered around a lemon-tree-filled courtyard, where you’ll also see people popping in to Richard Reddington’s on-site pizzeria, Redd Wood. Set on a bluff above Yountville and owned by the founder of Cliff Lede Vineyards, the Poetry Inn is that upscale B&B you’re always looking for: five contemporary rooms, all with fireplaces, none with shared walls, so you won’t hear your neighbors. The innkeepers—Leona McLaughlin, Henrike Wagner, and Bob Copeland—can help with special requests; they once set up a private dinner for 10 at the French Laundry with only a week’s notice.
The Andaz brand has continued to expand, with the opening of its hotel in downtown Napa last year: think 141 clean-lined rooms with decadent marble tubs, and a buzzy terrace with fire pits and porch swings. For the full resort experience, try Meadowood, a 250-acre spread of 85 suites and cottages on the outskirts of St. Helena. The vibe is understated country club; guests wear whites for croquet and walk the nine-hole golf course. The 44-seat, Michelin three-starred Restaurant at Meadowood, run by the brilliant chef Christopher Kostow, opened an expanded bar area with an exclusive menu in March. The nine-course tasting is $450 a head, with wine pairings—and is worth every penny.
More Napa hotels on T+L: Hotels in Napa Valley.
Where to Eat
Back in the day, there weren’t many restaurants to pick from in Yountville. Then came Don and Sally Schmitt’s French Laundry in 1978. Now, it’s hard to choose where to go. There’s Michael Chiarello’s tried-and-true Italian spot, Bottega, and Richard Reddington’s Redd, plus three from Thomas Keller: Bouchon, a French bistro, Ad Hoc, which draws in the winemakers, and the Michelin three-starred French Laundry (he took it over from the Schmitts in 1994). Even if you don’t have a reservation at the latter, you can tour Keller’s nearby garden, where he grows Tuscan kale and winter squash.
While Yountville has been known for the classic star-chef restaurants, St. Helena has always felt hipper, with more relaxed places. On a recent visit I enjoyed French Blue, an airy, light-filled New American spot on Main Street designed and owned by local architect Howard Backen. Chef Philip Wang sources whatever he can locally, like the berries from a farm just up the road that appear in everything from the baked blueberry pancake at breakfast to the strawberry shortcake at dinner. At lunchtime, you’ll see locals crowding the tables for plates of fettucine with pesto broth and Calabrian chiles at Cook St. Helena, a tiny space with a marble-topped bar. La Condesa, a low-key cantina, churns out Tecate-battered shrimp tacos and exotic ice creams (avocado coconut curry; honey rosemary); plus, there are some 200 tequilas and 30 mezcals at the bar. (But who’s counting?) The trendy Goose & Gander gives a nod to the current cocktail craze. The upstairs dining room recalls an old hunting lodge, with its duck decoys and leather booths; the downstairs bar evokes a speakeasy. Michael Pazdon and Scott Beattie craft drinks with hand-carved ice and 25 types of seasonal edible flowers—your Pimm’s Cup might get a gem-marigold garnish.
The town of Napa has always felt businesslike. But in recent years, the urban atmosphere has given way to a thriving restaurant and bar scene with the addition of Oenotri (hearty southern Italian), Angèle (fantastic French by the river—Auberge’s Rouas is a partner), Morimoto (sushi from the eponymous Iron Chef), ZuZu (delicious tapas), and the year-old Thomas & Fagiani’s Bar, set in a brick-walled former boardinghouse. Head to the roof deck for the lovely views of the Napa River and a rhubarb gimlet.
Napa is also a great place for lunch. Stop by any purveyor at the 40,000-square-foot Oxbow Public Market for a grab-and-go meal, though we’re certain you’ll want to sit for a dozen on the half shell at Hog Island Oyster Company. Gott’s Roadside, next door, is famous for burgers, or try Dim Sum Charlie’s food truck for pork shu mai out of a vintage Airstream. Don’t skip breakfast at Chef Curtis and Tara Lindley’s Southern-style bakery, Napa Valley Biscuits. The ambitious (or slightly hungover) tuck in to the “peppy”: fried chicken and bacon sandwiched between two waffles.
Where to Taste
I prefer wineries that offer more than just a pour, where you can hike or bike, or see incredible art and architecture. Take the curving, Gaudiesque Quixote Winery in the Stag’s Leap District, north of Napa. Designed in the 1990’s by the Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, this golden-domed building only opened to the public in 2007; don’t miss their Petit Syrahs and Cabernets. Another must is the Hess Collection, which, in addition to having outstanding Cabernets and Chardonnays, showcases works by the likes of Robert Motherwell, Frank Stella, and Andy Goldsworthy in a 1903 stone winery. Michael Graves’s stunning, postmodern Minoan temple—the centerpiece of Clos Pegase Winery, outside Calistoga—features gigantic sculptures by Henry Moore, Jean Dubuffet, and Robert Morris on its grounds.
For something on a more intimate scale, there’s Stony Hill Vineyard: 160 heart-stopping acres on the slope of Spring Mountain, north of St. Helena. Call ahead to book a guided hour-long hike with Sarah McCrea, granddaughter of the founders: for $100 per person, this includes a picnic lunch by redwoods and pours of Chardonnay. Go to Swanson Vineyards as much for the elegant but quirky atmosphere (you’re seated in a carnival-like, cherry-red salon) as for the Cabernets. One to watch: the new tasting room and culinary center by Jarred Denton and Signum Architecture for Hall Wines in St. Helena. When finished, it promises to be a marvel of floor-to-ceiling glass windows, with views of the sheltered St. Helena valley floor. Also on the horizon is Odette Estate Winery, from former San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom, Gordon Getty, and John Conover (the trio behind PlumpJack Winery and CADE). When completed next year, the project—set on 36 acres off the Silverado Trail—will feature 18,000 square feet of caves, solar panels, and a planted living roof designed by Mexican architect Juancarlos Fernandez. Though Odette’s first vintage won’t be out until 2015, the estate has a temporary tasting room where you can sample other bottles.
If you’re a collector, get in touch with wine experts David and Monica Stevens. The couple own 750 Wines, a St. Helena store stocking the best labels, and they host tastings by appointment with lesser-knowns like Dakota Shy and Pulido Walker, up-and-comers like Matthiasson, and established names like Harlan and Bond.
Where to Shop
You don’t really come to Napa for the shopping, but if you must, St. Helena is the place. Browse Pennyweight for stationery, fountain pens, and colorful Pasotti umbrellas; Flats for gorgeous cashmere scarves from India and ballet shoes made in Florence; and St. Helena Olive Oil Company, housed in a former bank, for locally pressed extra-virgin oils. The Culinary Institute of America sells everything you could ever imagine for the kitchen. Woodhouse Chocolate is a gem of a store with butter-colored, wood-paneled walls. Their s’mores (dipped in Belgian milk chocolate) and whole bars topped with smoked paprika and saffron salt are to die for.
What to Do
The biggest news for bikers is the ongoing creation of the Napa Valley Vine Trail, which will be a 47-mile route running from the Vallejo Valley in the south to Calistoga up north. Parts are completed, and a six-mile stretch is slated to open next year between Yountville and Napa; until then, you’ll probably want to stick to the Silverado Trail and back roads (and bypass traffic-clogged Highway 29). Velo Vino, a tasting room in downtown St. Helena from the founders of Clif Bar energy snacks, offers maps, wake-up espressos, and Clif Family Wines Cabernet, post-ride. If you’re looking to hike, try the three-mile trail in wildflower-filled Westwood Hills Park, just outside Napa—or tackle the five-mile path to the top of 4,343-foot-high Mount St. Helena in Robert Louis Stevenson Park, outside Calistoga.
No longer a winery, 217-acre Di Rosa now displays an impressive collection of works by Bay Area artists (Bruce Nauman; Roy De Forest; Robert Arneson) assembled by the property’s previous owners, the late Rene and Veronica di Rosa. You can always drop in at this Carneros landmark, but it’s better to book a guided tour, which highlights the 125-year-old residence and sculpture garden. And for an alternative night out, swing by the Cameo Cinema, St. Helena’s historic movie house, which dates back to 1913. Owner Cathy Buck programs a mix of indie, foreign, and first-run Hollywood films—even Francis Ford Coppola is a regular.
Pack a Picnic
Top spots for lunch on the go.
• Drop by a Model Bakery (there are two: one in Oxbow Public Market, one in St. Helena) for their legendary English muffins or a sourdough baguette.
• A Napa institution since 1881, the Oakville Grocery stocks house-made tapenades as well as cheeses from Cowgirl Creamery; the deli makes a wicked Cuban sandwich.
• You’ll find Umbrian salami and whole hams at the Fatted Calf, in Oxbow.
• May through October, Thursday through Saturday, Thomas Keller’s Addendum sells boxed lunches of buttermilk fried chicken out of its Yountville storefront. A side of corn bread? Yes, please.
Sonoma County: Where to Go
Have a few extra days in wine country? Consider these seven places.
Stay
Farmhouse Inn: Run by a gracious brother-and-sister team, this B&B in Forestville has a Michelin-starred restaurant. $$$
Hotel Healdsburg: Fifty-five rooms with teak platform beds and Frette linens, located off the town square. The lobby bar serves small plates from Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen. $$$
Taste
Francis Ford Coppola Winery: Coppola’s “wine wonderland” in Geyserville is worth a whole day: there are two restaurants, a cabana-lined pool, even a gallery with Godfather memorabilia.
Partake by K-J: Wines are paired with vegetables sourced from Kendall-Jackson’s own garden at this new Healdsburg tasting lounge. partakebykj.com.
Ram’s Gate Winery: Howard Backen’s barnlike complex near the town of Sonoma houses several salons and lounges; choose between a flight of four, a five-course food-and-wine pairing, or a picnic by the pond.
Do
The Barlow: Housed in a former apple cannery, this market in Sebastopol will house 35 to 45 local businesses by mid 2014. Open: La Follette Wines’ first-ever tasting room and the new location of Zazu Kitchen.
Shed: Grab an espresso made with beans from local roaster Flying Goat Coffee and browse the selection of tools for home and garden at this modern space in Healdsburg. healdsburgshed.com.
Where the Locals Go
Jan Niemi, owner of St. Helena’s Flats boutique: “For a romantic dinner, the Lakehouse at Calistoga Ranch fits the bill. Fresh produce; great wine list. The idyllic setting takes you back a few centuries.”
Howard Backen, architect and restaurateur: “For a lovely drive, I’ll start in St. Helena and go about twenty miles north into Sonoma’s Alexander Valley, stopping at the Jimtown Store. It’s perfect for a sandwich and an inexpensive glass of wine.”
Dennis Kelly, head sommelier at the French Laundry: “For a quiet picnic, I like Chappellet Vineyards, which offers a mind- blowing view of Lake Hennessey, with the valley floor and Mayacamas range in the background. The very best time to catch it is at sunset.”
Getting There
Most travelers will fly in to San Francisco International Airport and rent a car for the drive to Napa Valley (60–90 minutes). Highway 29 is the county’s main road, running 30 miles north to south from Calistoga to Napa, and parallel to the scenic Silverado Trail, which sees less traffic.
Stay
Andaz Napa Napa; hyatt.com. $$$
Auberge du Soleil Rutherford; aubergedusoleil.com. $$$$
Bardessono Hotel & Spa Yountville; bardessono.com. $$$$
Calistoga Ranch Calistoga; calistogaranch.com. $$$$
Maison Fleurie Yountville; maisonfleurienapa.com. $
Meadowood Napa Valley St. Helena; meadowood.com. $$$$
North Block Hotel Yountville; northblockhotel.com. $$$
Poetry Inn Napa; poetryinn.com. $$$$
Solage Calistoga Calistoga; solagecalistoga.com. $$$
Eat
Ad Hoc 6476 Washington St., Yountville; adhocrestaurant.com. $$$
Angèle 540 Main St., Napa; angelerestaurant.com. $$$
Bottega 6525 Washington St., Yountville; botteganapavalley.com. $$$
Bouchon 6534 Washington St., Yountville; bouchonbistro.com. $$$
Cook St. Helena 1310 Main St., St. Helena; cooksthelena.com. $$$
Dim Sum Charlie’s 728 First St., Napa; dimsumcharlies.com.
French Blue 1429 Main St., St. Helena; frenchbluenapa.com. $$$
French Laundry 6640 Washington St., Yountville; frenchlaundry.com. $$$$
Goose & Gander 1245 Spring St., St. Helena; goosegander.com. $$$
Gott’s Roadside 644 First St., Napa; gotts.com. $$
Hog Island Oyster Company Oxbow Public Market, 610 First St., Napa; hogislandoysters.com.
La Condesa 1320 Main St., St. Helena; lacondesa.com. $$
Morimoto 610 Main St., Napa; morimotonapa.com. $$$
Napa Valley Biscuits 1502 Main St., Napa; napavalleybiscuits.com.
Oenotri 1425 First St., Napa; oenotri.com. $$
Oxbow Public Market 610/644 First St., Napa; oxbowpublicmarket.com.
Redd 6480 Washington St., Yountville; reddnapavalley.com. $$$
Redd Wood 6755 Washington St., Yountville; redd-wood.com. $$$
Restaurant at Meadowood 900 Meadowood Lane, St. Helena; therestaurantatmeadowood.com. $$$$
Solbar 755 Silverado Trail, Calistoga; solagecalistoga.com. $$$
The Thomas and Fagiani’s Bar 813 Main St., Napa; thethomas-napa.com. $$$
ZuZu 829 Main St., Napa; zuzunapa.com. $$
Shop
Culinary Institute of America 2555 Main St., St. Helena; ciachef.edu.
Flats 1219B Main St., St. Helena; flatsnapavalley.com.
Pennyweight 1337 Main St., St. Helena; pennyweightnapavalley.com.
St. Helena Olive Oil Company 1351 Main St., St. Helena; sholiveoil.com.
Woodhouse Chocolate 1367 Main St., St. Helena; woodhousechocolate.com.
Do
Cameo Cinema 1340 Main St., St. Helena; cameocinema.com.
Di Rosa 5200 Sonoma Hwy., Napa; dirosaart.org.
Napa Valley Vine Trail St. Helena; vinetrail.org.
Robert Louis Stevenson Park 3801 St. Helena Hwy. N., Calistoga; parks.ca.gov.
Velo Vino 709 Main St., St. Helena; cliffamilywinery.com.
Westwood Hills Park 3107 Browns Valley Rd., Napa; napahiking.com.
Taste
Clos Pegase Winery 1060 Dunaweal Lane, Calistoga; clospegase.com.
Hall Wines 401 St. Helena Hwy. S., St. Helena; hallwines.com.
Hess Collection 4411 Redwood Rd., Napa; hesscollection.com.
Odette Estate Winery 5998 Silverado Trail, Napa; odetteestate.com.
Quixote Winery 6126 Silverado Trail, Napa; quixotewinery.com.
750 Wines 1224 Adams St., St. Helena; 750wines.com.
Stony Hill Vineyard 3331 St. Helena Hwy. N., St. Helena; stonyhillvineyard.com.
Swanson Vineyards 1271 Manley Lane, Napa; swansonvineyards.com.
Hotels
$ Less than $200
$$ $200 to $350
$$$ $350 to $500
$$$$ $500 to $1,000
$$$$$ More than $1,000
Restaurants
$ Less than $25
$$ $25 to $75
$$$ $75 to $150
$$$$ More than $150
Woodhouse Chocolate
Since 2004, chocolatier Tracy Wood Anderson has sold her collection of delectable handmade chocolates in this sumptuously elegant shop. Beneath a crystal chandelier, display cases like those found in jewelry shops show off trays of Anderson’s chocolate “gems”: beautifully molded truffles and filled chocolates, including praline noisettes, raspberry chambords, and dipped caramels sprinkled with fleur de sel. For a winter treat, pick up a tin of rich hot chocolate powder, spiced with Madagascan vanilla or zesty nutmeg.
The Restaurant at Meadowood
Culinary Institute of America
Aspiring chefs and food lovers should experience the gourmet craftsmanship of the wunderkinds studying at the CIA at Hyde Park by stopping in their Apple Pie Bakery Café, the last class for gifted pastry students.
Angèle
What It’s Like: On the banks of the Napa River in a 100-year-old white-and-blue-painted (former) boathouse, this family-run bistro is loved by locals throughout the valley for its French-inspired menu and cheery ambience—think oversize bouquets of loosely bundled meadow flowers, weathered wood interiors, and a warm and welcoming staff. The elegant outdoor patio is framed by arbors, with vineyards in the distance. If you squint and ignore all signs in English, it’s not hard to imagine yourself in Provence.
What to Order: Any one of chef Aaron Meneghelli’s French classics, like assiette de charcuterie (assorted cured meats and house-made pâté) with country toast; roast chicken with mustard seed gnocchi; summer berry clafoutis.
Best Seat in the House: On the patio under the shady trellis, laced, appropriately, with grapevines, and overlooking the glassy Napa River.
Insider Tip: The Rouas family prides itself on a strong relationship with the surrounding vineyards, and as a result carries some hard-to-find boutique wines. Some, like the Sauvignon Blanc from Huge Bear (which produces only 100 cases annually), are even poured by the glass. When in Napa...
Solage Calistoga
Hog Island Oyster Company
Since 1983, Hog Island Oyster Company has built a reputation for harvesting oysters from Tomales Bay in adjacent Marin County. This small eatery, located on the north side of the Ferry Building, only serves in-season oysters (and clams), so there may be Sweetwaters, Atlantics, or Kumamotos. Oysters come in sets of 6, 12, or 24, and are prepared steamed, raw, stewed, or baked. Daily specials vary, as well, and may include black cod with roasted red potatoes, asparagus, and Romesco. Snag a seat at the L-shaped raw bar or settle into a table for a view of the ferries and the Bay Bridge.
Oxbow Public Market
Ad Hoc
Redd
French Laundry
Swanson Vineyards
After helping his father and brother develop Swanson Family frozen dinners in the 1950’s, W. Clarke Swanson created this winery in 1985, purchasing 100 acres of land in Oakville. Together with winemaker Chris Phelps, Swanson continues to produce some of California’s most respected Merlots. The Sip Shoppe is open by appointment only, and serves wine and food pairings, such as caviar and Pinot Grigio. The more formal Salon has openings for group tastings three times during the day, with a maximum of eight people at each.
The Hess Collection
Di Rosa Preserve
After 22 years of harvesting grapes in Carneros, Rene and Veronica di Rosa transformed their winery into a 250-acre, indoor-outdoor museum dedicated to Bay Area artists. Today, approximately 2,000 works by more than 800 artists are displayed in three galleries as well as on the surrounding estate, which includes the old vineyards, a manmade lake, a sculpture meadow, and a free-roaming group of peacocks. The lakefront Gatehouse Gallery welcomes guests without reservations, but the main gallery, the century-old stone winery (formerly the di Rosa residence), and much of the outdoor exhibit space are accessible by guided tour only.
Poetry Inn
Meadowood Napa Valley
Auberge du Soleil
Calistoga Ranch
Bottega
In the Fall of 2008, Food Network celebrity chef Michael Chiarello launched this low-key dining room with wood-beamed ceilings and Venetian-plaster walls. The menu is rustic southern Italian, with dishes such as roast pork and honey-sage–roasted apples and grilled quail and black-olive sausage.
Cook St. Helena
Within the narrow confines of Cook, owner-chef Jude Wilmoth, who previously helmed the kitchen at St. Helena's Tra Vigne, prepares casual Northern Italian cuisine using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The bright white walls of the snug space—it features only 31 seats, including a diner-style, walk-ins-only counter near the entrance—contrast the dark wood floors, and unique decorative elements like the sculptured animal head, rustic tin mirror, and gourd-shaped pendant lights give the dining room a fun, quirky edge. Dishes like Cornish game hen with butternut squash and braised short ribs with scallion-whipped potatoes find their way onto Wilmoth’s seasonal menu, and the concise wine list focuses on focuses mainly on local vintners.
Bardessono
Cameo Cinema
Referred to by locals as "the Cameo," this historic theater has one of the oldest movie screens in existence in the U.S. and shows a rotating selection of current independent and mainstream films. From the outside, a vertical wooden sign with red lettering is stationed above a classic marquee displaying the theater's daily showings; inside the lobby, the decorative elements are reminiscent of the 1920’s, with old movie posters reflecting amber light. A variety of vegan snacks, juices, gelatos, and sorbets are for sale at the concession bar. Theaters have traditional cinema-style seating, as well as 18 purple love-seats.
North Block Hotel
Formerly the Hotel Luca
Twenty bright and airy guest rooms and the Tuscan-inspired Cantinetta Piero restaurant make up this intimate hotel.
Ram's Gate Winery
Howard Backen’s barnlike complex near the town of Sonoma houses several salons and lounges; choose between a flight of four, a five-course food-and-wine pairing, or a picnic by the pond.
