We've heard about the many amazing restaurants in the area, and wanted some input from those that have been to the region. We will likely spend 3 days in the Napa valley. Any suggestions/ideas are more than welcome! Thanks.
2007-07-23 09:16:40 · 3 answers · asked by skg1219 1 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ San Francisco
If you go to wine country in Napa - make sure you go to mostly NAPA wineries, NOT sonoma wineries, which many people will suggest. Anyone from the Bay Area will tell you that NAPA has better wine than Sonoma (though admittedly there are some VERY good wineries in Sonoma - but we're talking averages here). That said, here are some of the best wineries that I've been to and that I really enjoyed:
domaine carneros - in NAPA valley, is probably the nicest winery there is - europeanesque and very clean. It has water fountains and a pretty good wine selection with all the fixings of cheese, chocolate, and other goodies. Very nice, and the cost is not bad either (not cheap mind you, but fair - I would tell you if they were expensive)
viansa winery and italian marketplace - Also in NAPA is a very good windery with a large plot of land that you can explore and walk through - very picturesque, with great views and even better wine. Better wine than the first suggestion, but the building itself if not as nice. Less than 15 mins from the first.
madonna estate winery - almost directly across from the Domaine winery, this one is more quaint and small with a home feel to it. The wine is very good and delicate. They give you a nice tour and are very personable to you. Plus they let you sample and taste 6 wines for only $15 - very good prices.
vintage 1870 - the last and final suggestion (and you might be drunk by this one) is an older, but very nice winery tucked away in the hills of Napa. Very nice people and just your average napa winery with good tasty wine and close enough to the other wineries so you can avoid the dreadful DUI.
Good luck, have fun and DONT forget that there is a premium outlet in NAPA that is less than 20min away from most of the wineries! Plus try and go to downtown Napa (near 1st and 2nd streets) where there is live music, great restaurants and more local wine to drink!
Hope this helps, have fun!
2007-07-23 09:51:59 · answer #1 · answered by brix510 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ok, wineries I have to say see as many as you can But don't miss Neibaum Coppola ! It's Francis Ford Coppola's and it is wonderful. Beautiful estate, great wine (a plus) and a museum or his movie stuff including a real Tucker car ! Also V Satui winery and gourmet foods is great with a picnic area (also across the street is Dean and DeLuca which is an awesome place). As far as eating, the highest rated place in the valley is The French Laundry. Hard to get into and a fortune but the best of the best !
2007-07-25 01:29:01 · answer #2 · answered by aPINK1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my favorite napa restaurants are:
Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen in St. Helena
Bistro Don Giovanni in Napa
Uva's Trattoria in Napa
Angele in Napa
Bouchon in Yountville
Taylor's Refresher (great casual burgers for day time)
Fave wineries are
Schramsberg in Calistoga (call ahead for appointment)
Silverado in Napa
Luna In Napa
Beringer and Mondavi do great tours, I personally don't like their wine, but they are fanastic for tours.
2007-07-24 02:26:20 · answer #3 · answered by Lisa H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋