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If you followed my previous blog, you would know that I recently Joined my husband on a work trip to the Napa Valley. If you read that blog you would know that I am not a wine person. (Shocking, I know!) I am more of a cocktail girl, I love champagne, I can drink white wine, but the idea of a merlot or a cabernet just is not my vibe. So, what's a girl to do in wine country when wine is not her thing?
Before my trip, I researched vineyards with friends, including a Sommelier, who talked endlessly about full-bodied cabernets until I just couldn't take it anymore. I had to take the matter into my own hands and come up with my own itinerary.
I searched high and low while researching which vineyards would be the best for us to visit,
The criteria I was looking for were not going to be based on wine only but also considering:
The architecture and design of the property,
The properties uniqueness, how does it stand out against other wineries and vineyards.
A food-based option. (since we're foodies)
Day 1 - Promontory Winery
The Promontory facility, opened in 2017, is a vast series of structures designed by Napa architect Howard Backen. It includes a tank room, cellar, lab, and tasting areas. The industrial aesthetic pays homage to the area's history as a stagecoach route between Napa and Sonoma in the late 1800s.
It's not difficult to see why promontory was the first winery I wanted to visit on my trip. A big fan of beautiful architecture, and majestic spaces, I knew that this was a property I would relish in visiting. I called ahead to reserve a private tasting tour. Promontory does not accept walk-ins, and to be honest, if you did not know where it was you would not be able to find it easily.
Our host David greeted us at the huge steel gates that guard the property. He asked us what specifically we wanted to see and do, as the tour was going to end with a tasting in one of the tasting rooms. I asked if we could see everything, I wanted to go down into the caves and see where the wine is being made.
We had the experience of touring the entire property and tasting some of the current vintage directly from the barrel. Promontory only produces one wine, and it currently has 14 vintages available.
Promontory offers only four vintages from its collection that are available for purchase. These range from the inaugural vintage of 2008 priced at $1800 per bottle, up to the 2019 vintage priced at $1100 per bottle. The creators of Promontory also produce another line called Penultimate, which provides a more affordable option for a wider range of consumers. Despite being more budget-friendly, this wine still benefits from the same careful attention to detail as the flagship wine. For collectors, the Penultimate can often be enjoyed sooner while they wait for the flagship bottle to mature in the cellar.
Day 2 - Jarvis Estate & Silver Oak
Morning Tour - Jarvis Estate
I was eager to visit Jarvis Estate winery due to its distinctive caves.
Jarvis Estate is a family-owned winery that produces a limited quantity of exceptional wines from their sustainably farmed vineyards located in the rugged hillside, four miles east of downtown Napa Valley. The winemaking facility at Jarvis Estate is situated entirely within a 45,000 square foot cave carved into the picturesque Vaca Mountains, serving as both a visual and technical marvel.
Their wines are exclusively made from grapes grown on the estate and are aged in the cave until they reach perfection before being released. They produce Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot, Tempranillo, and two proprietary Bordeaux blends.
We did a group tour, with two other couples. Unfortunately for us, one of the other couples considered themselves to be "in the industry" And literally asked every single minute question imaginable. It certainly made the tour drag on a lot longer than it probably needed to. The other couple were on their 3rd winery of the day, hailing from New Jersey, needless to say They were both well and truly loaded by the time they got to Jarvis Estate.
Jarvis hosted a lovely tasting, and we went through their 2008 Chardonnay, 2019 Cabernet Franc, 2019 Merlot, 2018 Cabernet, 2018 Lake William, and 2013 Reserve Cabernet. My Husband Thoroughly enjoyed the cheeses and crackers that were served as an accoutrement to the wines, and we both agreed the caves and the property itself were the standout part of this experience, and quite unlike any other place we had been before. If you want to explore a truly unique winery, Jarvis is the place to do it. - I would just try to book a private experience so as to not have to deal with potentially drunken guests at your tour, or "people in the industry" that are literally speaking in wine-terms the entirety of the tour.
Afternoon tour- Silver Oak
One of my husband's go-to wines is Silver Oak, so unquestionably I had to include a visit to Silver Oak on my itinerary. This is the only property That we visited, that does not adhere to any of the prerequisites for me wanting to visit a winery. I chose to do a tasting option rather than a winery or cellar tour. And perhaps I would have had a better experience here if I had done a tour instead of a tasting. Silver Oak is really set up to feel more like a storefront rather than a bespoke "behind the scenes" experience. We were seated with our expert, and the wines had already been pre-poured, something that I didn't love. (Each other winery poured in front of you.) I had ordered the cheese plate, so that we may have something to nibble on, but in all honesty, besides the cute glassware they gift you upon leaving, this experience was a bit of a miss, for me.
Day 3- Domaine Chandon
If you read my last blog post, you would know that the highlight of my trip to Napa was a visit to this magnificent property. While doing my research on top places to visit in Napa, I was specifically looking for a winery experience that offered a food and wine pairing. I searched high and low, I read multiple blogs, travel guides, and went to my ever-trusted source: EATER (San Francisco) to find 16 premiere wineries with excellent food in Napa! I settled on Chandon, because it is a well-known brand, I knew that after all my wine tastings I would be absolutely ready for some bubbles, and also because the property recently underwent a massive renovation, and it was touted to be spectacular!
I was absolutely thrilled to have deviated from the standard offerings of Merlot and Cabernet. We had opted to do the five-course testing menu, which took us on a culinary journey; beginning with a summer stone fruit watercress salad, paired with the réserve meunier, and then a green gazpacho with shrimp and red onion paired with the Monterey Vintage Blanc de Blancs. The potato gnocchi served with snap peas, radish and grapefruit was mouthwateringly good and it was served alongside the Chandon Etoile Brut.
For the main dish, A Wagyu strip loin served with broccoli, cauliflower, pearl onion and pesto was served with a Cabernet Sauvignon, (that was surprisingly excellent!) Since I am not a meat-eater, the chef was kind enough to prepare a delicious filet of Halibut, prepared with the same accoutrement as the original main dish as to not disturb the flavor profiles of the pairing.
Dessert was a honey and buttermilk Panna Cotta, prepared with strawberry and pistachio, this was paired with the Chandon Etoile Rose.
I was even alerted by a friend who had visited the winery the day prior about a special "off-the-menu" wine that I simply must try! Our host, Jesus, was kind enough to offer me a pour of the exclusive garden spritz tea, a delicious and refreshing blend of Darjeeling, Ceylon, and Assam teas infused with oil of bergamot, so delicious!
As per my last blog, which goes into the experience at Chandon more deeply, I thoroughly enjoyed my time here, and highly recommend it to anyone, whether a couple wanting to experience a romantic brunch, or for a boozy bachelorettes luncheon. The property can host groups up to 350 guests, and I have no doubt that any event here would be an experience to remember!
Places to Stay in Napa
The Meritage Resort and Spa (This is where we stayed, while not the typical hotel we would choose to stay at, it's very highly rated and has excellent amenities.)
Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection
The Four Seasons resort and residences, Napa Valley
Bardessono Hotel and Spa
Stanley Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection.
Top Restaurants in Napa
Farm - Rustic fine dining.
Executive chef Aaron Meneghelli is a local who has worked all over the valley and spent time cooking in France and Italy. He uses his exceptional understanding of what’s in season and what grows in the farmlands surrounding the resort to create what the region is best known for: classic Californian farm-to-table cuisine.
The French Laundry - Refined and memorable.
Chef Thomas Keller has elevated American fine dining standards. The rustic 1880 stone and timber cottage setting provides a homely ambiance, while the Limoges China, crystal stemware, and floor-length linens on the tables establish an elegant stage for the daily-changing nine-course French or vegetarian tasting menus.
Bouchon - French Bistro Vibe
Another Thomas Keller spot, Bouchon offers authentic French bistro dishes served with Keller’s unfailing attention to detail in both ingredients and presentation.
Bouchon's seasonal menu and raw bar offerings vary throughout the year, yet classics such as roast chicken, leg of lamb, and trout amandine remain as steadfast favorites all year round.
Things to know before you go
Napa is essentially a farming community. Although vineyards and wineries sound like they might be high end, the vibe is definitely relaxed and casual. When packing for your trip to Napa, Bear in mind the type of footwear you want to bring. Most properties have pea gravel, and if you're going to be walking along the vineyards you might want to be wearing a comfortable pair of shoes/sandals.
Leave the athletic wear at home. Although relaxed and casual might mean Lululemon leggings to you, Napa is not the place for that.
Don't even think about drinking and driving. Most of the wineries are one to two miles apart at minimum, depending on your itinerary, you might even have to drive 20 minutes between wineries. Is not a good idea to be doing that after you have been sampling wines. We saw a lot of speed checks, and policemen just waiting to pull drink-drivers over. Instead, ask your hotel to arrange a driver for you.
Many wineries have walk-in tastings available, but most of the high-end wineries require a reservation. Be sure to reserve a month in advance, especially in the summer months as reservations get booked up quickly.
Same goes for the fine dining restaurants in Napa, you are going to need to make a reservation if you want a spot at one of Napa's finest restaurants.
Consider booking private tours. As I mentioned Jarvis Estate was the only tour/experience that we did that was as a group, as we wanted to try a breadth of experiences. We decided private is the way to go so you don't have to deal with drunken strangers.
There you have it; I hope you enjoyed exploring Napa Valley with me and taking this adventure through wine country. I hope you find some ideas for your upcoming trip to Napa.
If you've been to Napa before, I'd love to hear YOUR recommendations in the comments below!
Fallon xo
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