Day One
Vintage House at the Estate Yountville
Our favorite place to stay in Napa Valley is The Estate in Yountville. It’s a 22 acre resort located in Yountville, the heart of Napa Valley and home to more culinary stars than any other region in the country. With three distinctly styled hotel experiences to choose from, The Estate offers a luxury hotel experience to match everyones tastes. My favorite amenities include a welcome glass of wine to greet guests and V Marketplace, which offers guests a festival shopping experience with home, garden and bath boutiques, fine art galleries and restaurants, a wine tasting cellar and Napa Valley’s original hot air balloon company, all housed within and around the historic Winery complex.
Napa Valley Wine Train
The Napa Valley Wine Train is a luxury vintage train ride through the stunning landscapes of Napa Valley while enjoying local wines and a multi-course, Michelin star, fine dining experience. The Napa Wine Train offers both lunch and dinner train rides that last three hours or more. I love recommending the lunch experience to those wanting to take in the scenery of the valley, but for an over the top romantic evening, the private table dinner experience in the skylight car, where you can see the stars overhead, is a one of a kind experience.
Del Dotto
This Italian inspired winery is more exciting indoors than outdoors. For those who love Italian art and architecture, a visit to this winery is an art gallery and wine tasting experience in one.
Peju
Possibly the most adorable winery in Napa Valley, a visit to Peju feels like walking straight into a fairytale for children and adults alike. Enjoy a reasonably priced tasting in the courtyard or among the vines and take time to explore the storybook gardens with your littles.
Bouchon Bistro
Thomas Kellers other Yountville restaurant is a more relaxed and more affordable alternative to dining at The French Laundry, but is still offers an incredible dining experience with a Parisian atmosphere.
Day Two
Bouchon Bakery
Bouchon’s namesake bakery is located right next door to Bouchon Bistro. It’s small inside with a line that we found moves rather quickly and is worth the wait. The outdoor seating space is limited and crowded in the mornings.
Van De Leur Park
A short walk up the street from Bouchon Bakery is Van De Leur Park. This was a lovely spot to sit with our coffee and pastries away from the crowds. It was also a perfect place to let our little one run and explore.
RH Yountville Wine Vault
I’m a big Restoration Hardware fan, so I couldn’t miss a chance to visit their new concept, food, wine and design experience at RH Yountville. Featuring gorgeous indoor and outdoor design, eclectic wine offerings and some of the best food we had in Napa Valley, this is an experience I highly recommend for design aficionados and foodies alike.
RH Yountville Gallery
RH Yountville Restaurant
Castello Di Amorosa
This tour and tasting is an experience we’ve enjoyed more than once. First, during our Intimate Napa Valley Wedding and again with our daughter. As an authentic medieval castle, relocated from Europe and reconstructed piece by piece on the rolling hills of St. Helena, this winery has one of the most amazing histories (to me) of all the wineries in Napa Valley. They also have one of the most amazing gift shops.
Caractere
If like me, you’re into french market goods, iconic furniture or antiquing, this place is defiantly for you. Located right on the roadside, you can’t miss Caractere Antiques & Things, where Georges Lustig displays a wonderful collection of antiques from south of France as well as decorative items from Greece, Spain, and Italy all characterized by their unique beauty and character.
Alpha Omega
This winery offers one of the best outdoor seated tasting experiences in Napa Valley, and as a bonus, it’s also family friendly. We enjoyed a couple hours lounging in the shade, sipping wine, coloring with our daughter, and enjoying the vineyard views over the winery’s large scale water feature.
Mustards Grill
Just down the road from Alpha Omega is another one of our favorite dinner spots, Mustards Grill, another discovery from our Intimate Napa Valley Wedding. After ten years, we still can’t stop talking about their onion rings.
Day Three
Boon Fly Café
A top pick of ours for Sunday Bruch, this highly rated restaurant also typically has a line out the door. So, I guess it’s a top pick for a lot of people. But we arrived early and waited twenty minutes on a porch swing with mimosas, which to me was a big part of it’s charm. My husband also declared his fried chicken and waffles some of the best food we enjoyed in Napa Valley over the weekend.
Domaine Carneros
Domaine Carneros has been one of my favorite tasting experiences thus far. The winery boasts some of the most beautiful views in all of Napa Valley, from both its outdoor tasting terrace, and its indoor tasting sunroom; and along with their sparkling wines, Domaine Carneros also offers cheese plates and caviar pairings for one of the most elevated tasting experiences in Napa Valley, exclusively for guests age 21 and over.
di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art
Located right across the road from Domaine Carneros is di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art. This was a fun excursion for my husband and daughter while I tasted wine at Domaine Carneros. Located on over 200 acres of indoor and outdoor gallery space, contemporary art installations ranged in size from tiny to enormous and left room in between for little to stretch their legs, though we recommend a stroller just in case.
V. Sattui Winery & Deli
This winery is so, so close to our hearts, (since this is where we were married), and we make a point to visit every time we’re in Napa Valley. Since our wedding nearly ten years ago, V. Sattui has begun offering outdoor dining on their picnic grounds with selections from their artesian deli and cheese counter of your foodie dreams. Even ten years ago, they offered the largest selection of cheeses on the west coast. Visit on the weekends, and their experience offerings include incredible outdoor BBQ and Food Trucks.
Beringer
Beringer Vineyards offers another one of my favorite, family friendly, relaxed, outdoor tasting and tour experiences. The estate allows guests to walk the grounds, enjoying a glass of wine (actually three) while exploring the historic wine cellars, gardens, patios, Beringer backyard and Bocce Ball court.
The French Laundry
The French Laundry is an award winning restaurant (to say the least) and could be considered a bucket list dining experience for many. For me, the history of the building, the chef, their ingredients and spirit of hospitality are what make this restaurant particularly charming. The restaurant and its story are hands down a fairytale brought to life and if you’re able to snag reservations months in advance, this is one experience I hope you can enjoy in good company.
Day Four
Charles Krug
Charles Krug is the oldest winery in Napa Valley, home of the first tasting room which opened in 1882, and host to many live music events throughout the year. It’s stunning interior design offers guests an elegant tasting experience and the history of the estate offers oenophiles and historophiles an exciting tour throughout the centuries old estate.
The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil
Another Napa Valley experience that offers spectacular views of the valley is the French inspired restaurant at Auberge du Soleil. Napa Valley’s first fine dining experience established in 1981, The Restaurant at Auberge do Soleil offers local seasonal ingredients, Michelin star fine dining and panoramic views of wine country–an amazing beginning, or end to any Napa Valley getaway.
