Hey Guys!
Major disclaimer- I may be holding a wine glass in EVERY photo- Do not judge me 🙂
Hope you’re all doing great. Two weekends ago I took some time off work and my fiance and I went to Napa Valley and we had an amazing time. This was our second trip to Napa Valley (read my post back in 2014 here). Our first time was a day trip and we remembered feeling so at ease and so relaxed- must have been the wine, right?), and so we always knew we wanted to return. However, we were going to return and we were going to stay in Napa and enjoy it all. This was exactly what we did. We spent 3 nights and 3 full days. We stayed at Rancho Caymus Inn, a cute Spanish style hacienda boutique and we loved it. They served a lovely continental breakfast and the property is so cute and quiet.
On our first day we had a quick bite at the cute and newly renovated Clif Family Winery. They usually have a food truck for lunch but it wasn’t there when we went. The decor inside and ambiance is perfect for a quick stop and bite as soon as you get into town.
We then did a wine pairing class at The CIA Copia and it was amazing. The class was about 1 hour long and we learned how to pair foods with our wines. You guys, if it’s one thing you MUST do in Napa Valley, you must do the wine pairing class. We left feeling super educated and excited to really dive into what we eat with our wines. It really really makes a difference. We even left loving wines we didn’t like before.
The next day we took The Napa Valley Wine Train and we did the Legacy Tour. We visited three wineries on that tour- Robert Modavi, Charles Krug and, V. Sattui. So, we’re on an actual train and it comprises of a four course meal package (breakfast, lunch, dinner and, desert). We were on the train for about 6 hours. At each stop we visited a winery, learned about the history, tasted some of their wines and we got sometime to explore on our own. After each stop we head back to the train, where we were served a course. This was such a good way to spend the day. We didn’t have to drive, we sat next to other folks, made conversation and, enjoyed the journey together.
On our third day we visited three other locations- Oakville Grocery, Durant and Booth tasting room, and Chimney Rock Winery.
Oakville Grocery is the eldest grocery store in California. The food was so yummy. You have to try their home-made pizza. This guy makes the pizza and he will come out and talk to you. They were so friendly and amazing. Also, try the fried chicken and the Kale salad-ahhhhmazing.
Durant and Booth is literally steps away fromOakville Grocery. We also did a wine tasting session there and their wines are amazing. The one thing I loved about Durant and Booth was the decor. Oh My Gosh! You must wear you chicest daytime look so you can capture amazing photos. It was so beautiful.
Finally, we made our way on the either side of Napa Valley to Chimney Rock Wineryand they do say save the best for last. This was our favorite winery of them all. It has a really friendly hang out spot feel. The staff was amazing an their wines were immaculate. It’s a beautiful property where you can just get your wine and have a seat outside with the most beautiful backdrop of vineyards.
I’ll be posting a video of our trip on my Instagram soon so make sure you’re following me there.
A few tips for your first trip to Napa Valley:
Fly into San Francisco-see a bit of San Fran then drive up to Napa Valley
Rent a car-drive responsibly
Do the hot air balloon ride- we were supposed to do it but the weather was too bad that weekend.
Spread out your visits to wineries
Try Italian Food at Pasta Prego (it’s like a 10 star for me and I’m not even an Italian food fan)
Wear comfortable shoes
Pack your camera and bring your cell phone chargers
Book everything in advance
I really hope you enjoyed these photos from my trip to Napa Valley. It’s such a beautiful and tranquil town. You won’t regret your trip. Should you have any questions, feel free to email me or leave a comment here below. I’ll respond.
xoxo
Keyma
