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Message
First time in Napa
Posted on 11/12/23 at 8:25 pm
Posted on 11/12/23 at 8:25 pm
Going to book our first time in Napa soon. Was looking at The Archer in downtown Napa.
For our first time, would staying in downtown Napa be best? Or should we look somewhere else.
Thinking of flying in Wednesday night and then back out Sunday afternoon. So will have all day Thur , Fri and Sat to do wineries and downtown stuff.
For our first time, would staying in downtown Napa be best? Or should we look somewhere else.
Thinking of flying in Wednesday night and then back out Sunday afternoon. So will have all day Thur , Fri and Sat to do wineries and downtown stuff.
5
Posted on 11/12/23 at 8:34 pm to Buck Dancer
It depends on what wineries you plan on going to and are you driving or will you have a driver? The Archer is great, but Yountville and St. Helena are closer to most of the wineries (about 30 minutes closer). If you are driving yourself, I would stay in those cities.
Napa is great if you want a little night life and for the younger set. Yountville and St Helena have nightlife, but not as much. You really can't go wrong in any of those cities. We love 1801 First in Napa, a great B&B. We love the Hotel Villagio, Napa Valley Inn and Hotel Yountville in the town of Yountville.
For wineries, it really depends upon your budget and your tastes. If you want to spend $75 - $150 per person per tasting, I can give you some great recommendations. If you want to spend $25 - $60 per person per tasting, I can give you some spots as well. For a first timer and on a limited budget, a wine tour company for the first day, with 3 - 6 tastings, is very economical and you will probably go to 2 really good wineries and 2 - 4 above average ones. Plus they drive you to the wineries and make all of the appointments.
Let me know your budget, what time of the year you plan on going, your wine knowledge and your goals, and I can give you better specific recommendations. Just FYI - not being pretentious, but I buy Napa wines from a low of $75 to upwards of $600 per bottle, but I started at much lower prices per bottle. Let me know and I can respond directly or via this post. Happy to help.
Napa is great if you want a little night life and for the younger set. Yountville and St Helena have nightlife, but not as much. You really can't go wrong in any of those cities. We love 1801 First in Napa, a great B&B. We love the Hotel Villagio, Napa Valley Inn and Hotel Yountville in the town of Yountville.
For wineries, it really depends upon your budget and your tastes. If you want to spend $75 - $150 per person per tasting, I can give you some great recommendations. If you want to spend $25 - $60 per person per tasting, I can give you some spots as well. For a first timer and on a limited budget, a wine tour company for the first day, with 3 - 6 tastings, is very economical and you will probably go to 2 really good wineries and 2 - 4 above average ones. Plus they drive you to the wineries and make all of the appointments.
Let me know your budget, what time of the year you plan on going, your wine knowledge and your goals, and I can give you better specific recommendations. Just FYI - not being pretentious, but I buy Napa wines from a low of $75 to upwards of $600 per bottle, but I started at much lower prices per bottle. Let me know and I can respond directly or via this post. Happy to help.
This post was edited on 11/12/23 at 8:44 pm
Posted on 11/12/23 at 8:51 pm to Buck Dancer
I prefer up valley. St Helena
Posted on 11/12/23 at 9:08 pm to WacoTiger
Waco, I’m good with $75-$150 per person tastings, so would love to hear your recommendations.
This would be our first time to this area, so would like to do the must do wineries. With only 3 days won’t be able to hit a bunch. So what would you say would be good first timer wineries to hit?
As far as location, I’d imagine we won’t be doing to much night life . Was just thinking downtown Napa would be good for first timers. But, really have no idea. I’ll check out your recommendations on places to stay.
We would be going in early March 2024 for our 20th anniversary.
Keep going back and forth between driving myself or getting a driver. A wine tour company doesn’t sound bad to hit a few different places one of the days, you have a Rec for a company?
Taste wise we are all over the place , heavy focus on reds. But, enjoy white and champagne.
Don’t want to go low budget, but, not looking to break the bank if that makes sense. Maybe keep the hotel $750 or lower a night.
Would like to get the must dos and sights for our first time in Napa. Hit a nice restaurant or two and see some beautiful scenery. We are in our mid 40’s and have been into wine for 20 years. Some bottles we like and have in our wine fridge currently are Turnbull, Cakebread, Justin, Pessimist, Sequoia Groove , Caymus (I know they get shite on) , Stags’ Leap, Plump Jack, Duckhorn and Frogs Leap.
This would be our first time to this area, so would like to do the must do wineries. With only 3 days won’t be able to hit a bunch. So what would you say would be good first timer wineries to hit?
As far as location, I’d imagine we won’t be doing to much night life . Was just thinking downtown Napa would be good for first timers. But, really have no idea. I’ll check out your recommendations on places to stay.
We would be going in early March 2024 for our 20th anniversary.
Keep going back and forth between driving myself or getting a driver. A wine tour company doesn’t sound bad to hit a few different places one of the days, you have a Rec for a company?
Taste wise we are all over the place , heavy focus on reds. But, enjoy white and champagne.
Don’t want to go low budget, but, not looking to break the bank if that makes sense. Maybe keep the hotel $750 or lower a night.
Would like to get the must dos and sights for our first time in Napa. Hit a nice restaurant or two and see some beautiful scenery. We are in our mid 40’s and have been into wine for 20 years. Some bottles we like and have in our wine fridge currently are Turnbull, Cakebread, Justin, Pessimist, Sequoia Groove , Caymus (I know they get shite on) , Stags’ Leap, Plump Jack, Duckhorn and Frogs Leap.
This post was edited on 11/12/23 at 9:51 pm
Posted on 11/12/23 at 10:16 pm to Buck Dancer
That's great info to help me give you some recommendations.
Here are some that I would look at (in no particular order):
1. Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel are owned by the same family. A mininal tasting will probably run about $110 - $125 per person. Both wineries are great, but Far Niente has a better tour and views.
2. Hall Winery - several locations, but we love the St. Helena location. About $60 - $75 per person. Great wine.
3. Joseph Phelps - great views and great wine. About $100 per person.
4. Quintessa - great Bordeaux blends- Tastings are from $125 and up. Premium wines from about $180/bottle.
5. Opus Wines - super premium (wine from $200 - $400 per bottle). Tastings are pricey - $200/person. Georgeous property.
6. Fantesca - very private winery with wine made by Heidi Barrett - who made Screaming Eagle famous. Pretty pricey for non-members, but you might be able to talk and get a lower price. Not great views, but great wine. They don't do a lot of tastings.
7. Schramsberg - if you like champagne, this is the place (I don't, but my wife does). The Davies family also makes JDavies wine - a cabernet, which is very good. Great cave tour for the champagne and prices are probably in the $75 - $100 per person for a tasting.
8. Silver Oak - not great tour or views, but good wine.A tasting is probably around $60-75/person. Go to Napa Valley tasting room.
9. Darioush - great wine and cheese pairing. Beautiful property and fantastic wine. Probably $120 - $150 per person for tastings. They also have a wine and olive oil tasting for about $140 per person.
10. Chappellet - great wines and a great tour. Probably in the $125/person cost for a tour/tasting.
Several of the wineries will comp or reduce the visit or tasting fee if you purchase a minimum amount of wine (maybe 6 bottes?). Always ask at your visit.
This should give you some great places for a first visit. There are places that you might be directed to by friends or locals, like Prisoner or Del Dotto, which are pretty low end wineries, but they do a great job on the visits for newbies. I don't care for their wines.
There are several high ends, like Colgin and Peter Micheal, but you have to be on the buying list to get a tour. If sommeone can get you into either of those, take it, regardless of the cost. Both wineries sell wine from a low of $150/bottle to a high of $600/bottle.
For restaurants, I would recommend the following:
1. Mustard's (we like it primarilty for lunch, but people swear by dinner as well);
2. If you stay in Napa, the sushi and oysters (very expensive) at Oxbox Market are pretty good.
3. Bouchon's in St. Helena (owned by Thomas Keller - French Laundry fame) is pretty good.
3. We like Bistro Don Giovanni for Italian food in Napa.
4. Gott's Roadside is a good place for burgers.
5. Bistro Jeanty in Yountville is very good.
6. Oakville Grocery is a great lunch spot between winery visits.
7. Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil is a pretty high end, but georgeous views.
We typically haven't eaten much in the town of Napa, other than quick bites at Oxbow Market. There are several good restaurants in Napa, but we generally stay in St Helena or Younteville.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Here are some that I would look at (in no particular order):
1. Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel are owned by the same family. A mininal tasting will probably run about $110 - $125 per person. Both wineries are great, but Far Niente has a better tour and views.
2. Hall Winery - several locations, but we love the St. Helena location. About $60 - $75 per person. Great wine.
3. Joseph Phelps - great views and great wine. About $100 per person.
4. Quintessa - great Bordeaux blends- Tastings are from $125 and up. Premium wines from about $180/bottle.
5. Opus Wines - super premium (wine from $200 - $400 per bottle). Tastings are pricey - $200/person. Georgeous property.
6. Fantesca - very private winery with wine made by Heidi Barrett - who made Screaming Eagle famous. Pretty pricey for non-members, but you might be able to talk and get a lower price. Not great views, but great wine. They don't do a lot of tastings.
7. Schramsberg - if you like champagne, this is the place (I don't, but my wife does). The Davies family also makes JDavies wine - a cabernet, which is very good. Great cave tour for the champagne and prices are probably in the $75 - $100 per person for a tasting.
8. Silver Oak - not great tour or views, but good wine.A tasting is probably around $60-75/person. Go to Napa Valley tasting room.
9. Darioush - great wine and cheese pairing. Beautiful property and fantastic wine. Probably $120 - $150 per person for tastings. They also have a wine and olive oil tasting for about $140 per person.
10. Chappellet - great wines and a great tour. Probably in the $125/person cost for a tour/tasting.
Several of the wineries will comp or reduce the visit or tasting fee if you purchase a minimum amount of wine (maybe 6 bottes?). Always ask at your visit.
This should give you some great places for a first visit. There are places that you might be directed to by friends or locals, like Prisoner or Del Dotto, which are pretty low end wineries, but they do a great job on the visits for newbies. I don't care for their wines.
There are several high ends, like Colgin and Peter Micheal, but you have to be on the buying list to get a tour. If sommeone can get you into either of those, take it, regardless of the cost. Both wineries sell wine from a low of $150/bottle to a high of $600/bottle.
For restaurants, I would recommend the following:
1. Mustard's (we like it primarilty for lunch, but people swear by dinner as well);
2. If you stay in Napa, the sushi and oysters (very expensive) at Oxbox Market are pretty good.
3. Bouchon's in St. Helena (owned by Thomas Keller - French Laundry fame) is pretty good.
3. We like Bistro Don Giovanni for Italian food in Napa.
4. Gott's Roadside is a good place for burgers.
5. Bistro Jeanty in Yountville is very good.
6. Oakville Grocery is a great lunch spot between winery visits.
7. Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil is a pretty high end, but georgeous views.
We typically haven't eaten much in the town of Napa, other than quick bites at Oxbow Market. There are several good restaurants in Napa, but we generally stay in St Helena or Younteville.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
This post was edited on 11/13/23 at 11:30 am
Posted on 11/13/23 at 5:39 am to Buck Dancer
quote:
Keep going back and forth between driving myself or getting a driver.
get a driver for sure. you'll be so glad you did.
wine tastings are not really so much tastings as they are 'wine drinking'
each time we've done that, the driver made sure to have electrolyte waters in the vehicle for us and planned a stop for lunch as well.
enjoy your trip and congrats / happy 20th anniversary!
Posted on 11/13/23 at 6:04 am to tigernurse
Fantastic info. Any recs on places to stay? Like I mentioned I had been looking at the archer, but, are totally open to suggestions. Would like to keep it around $750 a night or lower. Since this is our first time not set on a specific location.
Also, any recs on drivers or wine tours? Wouldn’t mind joining a wine tour group one day just to mix it up a little.
Thanks again for the fantastic recs.
Also, any recs on drivers or wine tours? Wouldn’t mind joining a wine tour group one day just to mix it up a little.
Thanks again for the fantastic recs.
Posted on 11/13/23 at 6:18 am to Buck Dancer
quote:
WacoTiger
solid recs from him
but for sure get a driver.
we've always used a gal who is more than just a driver. Her business/occupation is an independent tour/driver.
she made all of our reservations, scheduled lunch, made sure we stayed well hydrated in between wineries and picked us up and dropped us back off at the hotel where we stayed.
made all the difference in the world, bc we could truly just relax, drink all the wine and not have to worry about one dadgum thing.
For your next trip, try the Willamette Valley outside of Portland OR if you like reds. I have always been a malbec and cab girl, but them OR Pinot Noir's are fire.
Posted on 11/13/23 at 11:12 am to Fun Bunch
quote:
I prefer up valley. St Helena
If you're staying up valley, try my cousin's winery. It's J Rickards Winery. It's small, but their wine is outstanding and they are super nice people and very helpful.
Posted on 11/13/23 at 11:19 am to Buck Dancer
Get a driver—here are some recs
Napa Sonoma Blend Wine Tours / John Kopilow
Beau Wine Tours/ Michael Quinlan
Paul Perry
Whyspit
Lots of good advice above on places to visit—here are some additional cool (somewhat) under the radar spots to consider in no particular order: Barnett, Lerner Project, Rivers Marie, Mending Wall, Arrow & Branch, Memento Mori, Cimarossa, O’Shaughnessy, Dunn, Progeny, Black Sears, Arkenstone, Fait Main, Carter, Elyse, Amizetta, Aonair, Adversity. After hours pick any of the in town Napa tasting rooms and top off the day with a walk (or a stumble, but not a tumble). My advice—use this trip to recon for future trips too because one visit to Napa is never enough
Napa Sonoma Blend Wine Tours / John Kopilow
Beau Wine Tours/ Michael Quinlan
Paul Perry
Whyspit
Lots of good advice above on places to visit—here are some additional cool (somewhat) under the radar spots to consider in no particular order: Barnett, Lerner Project, Rivers Marie, Mending Wall, Arrow & Branch, Memento Mori, Cimarossa, O’Shaughnessy, Dunn, Progeny, Black Sears, Arkenstone, Fait Main, Carter, Elyse, Amizetta, Aonair, Adversity. After hours pick any of the in town Napa tasting rooms and top off the day with a walk (or a stumble, but not a tumble). My advice—use this trip to recon for future trips too because one visit to Napa is never enough
Posted on 11/13/23 at 11:35 am to Buck Dancer
As I wrote above, here are recommendations for places to stay:
We love "1801 First" in Napa, a great B&B.
We love the Hotel Villagio, Napa Valley Inn and Hotel Yountville in the town of Yountville.
All of those should be under $750/night. The Yountville hotels are similar to Pebble Beach Lodging hotels. Very high-end, but should be under $750/night, depending upon the time of the year. We love Napa in December. Restaurants, wineries and lodging are easy to get into.
We love "1801 First" in Napa, a great B&B.
We love the Hotel Villagio, Napa Valley Inn and Hotel Yountville in the town of Yountville.
All of those should be under $750/night. The Yountville hotels are similar to Pebble Beach Lodging hotels. Very high-end, but should be under $750/night, depending upon the time of the year. We love Napa in December. Restaurants, wineries and lodging are easy to get into.
Posted on 11/13/23 at 12:35 pm to Buck Dancer
Check out Madrigal winery and Robert Biale for some off low key fantastic tastings and properties
Posted on 11/13/23 at 1:55 pm to Buck Dancer
We just got back from Napa last week. We had stayed in Yountville before, which we loved. We stayed at an AirBnB in downtown Napa this time, which was cool as well. Cannot go wrong.
Our driver told us there are about 100 DUIs a month in Napa- having a driver for all days is a must.
Regarding wineries, we were along for the ride with some folks in the wine and food and beverage industry, and we did some amazing tastings. In order below:
1. Dana Estates- if you can get a tasting, do it. The property is stunning.
2. Cardinale- See Dana Estates
3. Freemark Abbey- great wine, awesome spot
4. Round Pond- loved it
5. Spire House- loved it
Restaurants
Downtown Napa
1. Angele- didnt think I loved French food, but holy crap this was good.
2. Cole's Chop House- everyone recommended and it was great.
3. Farmstead (St. Helena) highly recommend. Great lunch.
Have a great time.
Our driver told us there are about 100 DUIs a month in Napa- having a driver for all days is a must.
Regarding wineries, we were along for the ride with some folks in the wine and food and beverage industry, and we did some amazing tastings. In order below:
1. Dana Estates- if you can get a tasting, do it. The property is stunning.
2. Cardinale- See Dana Estates
3. Freemark Abbey- great wine, awesome spot
4. Round Pond- loved it
5. Spire House- loved it
Restaurants
Downtown Napa
1. Angele- didnt think I loved French food, but holy crap this was good.
2. Cole's Chop House- everyone recommended and it was great.
3. Farmstead (St. Helena) highly recommend. Great lunch.
Have a great time.
Posted on 11/13/23 at 4:31 pm to Buck Dancer
quote:
Keep going back and forth between driving myself or getting a driver
get a driver or just uber. you don't want to drive while drinking so much wine each day. ubers are plentiful in my experience.
go to 3 wineries a day, 4 absolute max. you don't want to be rushing between tastings, you want to enjoy them.
places to go (i've listed sonoma stuff too because it's definitely worthy of a visit, imo, it's better than napa as it's a little more down to earth):
reds:
chappellet - arguably the best view in napa.
opus one
nickel and nickel
ridge (sonoma/lytton springs) - among the best american reds you can find. great zin and zin heavy blends.
louis martini - cab king, try some monte rosso or lot 1 if you can
landmark (sonoma/kenwood) - great pinot noir and chardonnay.
bubbles:
gloria ferrer (sonoma, but not far from napa off 12) - some of the best sparkling you'll find in the area.
chandon - not the best if you're shopping at a grocery store, but their winery experience is fantastic.
J vineyards (sonoma) - great sparkling, but also fantastic pinot noir and chardonnay. if you get the bubble room tasting/food pairing, there's not too many experiences in sonoma/napa that are better.
restaurants:
french laundry (obviously $$$$$ and reservations might be hard to get)
bouchon bistro
farmstead at long meadow ranch
gott's roadside - lunch burgers
napkins
mustards
cook st helena
what we've done a few times, and I HIGHLY recommend, is staying in or at least visiting Glen Ellen which is on the sonoma side. it's a really nice, quaint town with some world class dining in the fig cafe and Glen Ellen Star.
This post was edited on 11/13/23 at 4:32 pm
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