Destination Guide: Napa Valley
THE GIST
The Napa Valley region of Northern California is every wine lover’s mecca (at least in the US), and it’s undoubtedly a divine destination. Just north of San Francisco, you’ll find sweeping hillside landscapes, charming towns with high-end restaurants, luxury hotels and inns, and endless beautiful wineries and vineyards. The region is most known for its full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignons, but it also boasts buttery Chardonnays, bold Merlots, and plenty of other varietals for any curious palate to taste.
Napa Valley is a picture-perfect destination for anything from scenic bike rides and hot air balloons to culinary experiences, nightlife, and entertainment. So this is an amazing place to visit, even if wine isn’t your thing...but just know that by the time your visit is over, wine may very well be your thing.
THE PEACH + THE PIT
The best thing about Napa: wine, wine, and more wine.
Obviously, the wine itself is the highlight of this destination, and it’s the sole reason most people venture to Napa Valley. With over 400 wineries to choose from, you’ll taste some of the best wines in the world – and whether you’re sipping on tried and true favorites or discovering new varietals you never knew you loved, you will not be disappointed. Tasting experiences, wine tours, culinary activities, even just popping into any great restaurant or market in the area...no matter what you do, the wine will flow. And it will be the good stuff. So savor every sip.
The worst thing about Napa: $$$.
Napa offers some of the best quality wines in the world, some of the most gorgeous views in California, an impressive food and culture scene, and luxury stays and experiences. Unsurprisingly, that all comes at a price (and with that price comes a bit of a “pretentious” vibe, which Napa is known for). That’s not to say it’s not worth it or that there aren’t more affordable gems to be found throughout the region – but you pay for the classy, quality experience that Napa so elegantly delivers.
THE HIT LIST
There’s SO much to Napa Valley, and thus endless places to recommend, but here are just a few of our favorite spots.
CASTELLO DI AMOROSA
(CALISTOGA)
At Castello di Amorosa (which means “Castle of Love”), you will feel like you’ve stepped right into Tuscany – and not in a cheesy way. This castle is the real deal. After launching V. Sattui in St. Helena (another amazing estate), Vittorio Sattui’s great grandson Dario built the authentic 13th century Tuscan castle using hand-made materials from Europe. And it’s not just an architectural masterpiece; it’s an architectural masterpiece that sits on one of California’s very first vineyards, surrounded by acres of colorful rolling hills, forests, and streams...and it also produces some great wine! This is a breathtakingly beautiful place to enjoy some rich, tannin-y reds, explore the epic castle, frolic in the vineyards, and pretend you’re in Italy for the afternoon.
DUCKHORN VINEYARDS
(ST. HELENA)
At Duckhorn, you can taste your wines in a more intimate setting: a Victorian-style home with a wrap-around veranda that overlooks pretty gardens and lush vineyards. It’s the perfect experience to balance out the grand castles and estates of Napa and settle in for a quaint but quality tasting. Duckhorn offers great Cabs and Sauvignon Blancs, but it’s most well-known for its flagship Merlots – which definitely shouldn’t be slept on. Merlot has gotten a bad rap in recent years (thanks to the movie Sideways, probably?), but this ruby red is making a comeback, and Duckhorn is the place to rediscover its goodness.
CICCIO
(YOUNTVILLE)
Ciccio is touted as some of the best Italian food in the area, and we can confirm it’s an absolute must-have meal. Located in Yountville – a charming, adorable small town in the heart of Napa Valley which is itself worth a visit either way – Ciccio is more casual in nature, and isn’t stuffy or pretentious like many Napa restaurants. It’s got a low-key and unassuming vibe, as does its simple menu, but the food is out of this world. Serving up fresh and local wood-fired Italian fare, the menu changes every couple of days based on seasonal ingredients (that’s when you know it’s good). From the perfectly spiced lamb ribs to simple yet richly flavored pastas and famous wood-fired pizzas, you will most definitely find something to love.
Pro Tip: It may not always be available, but if you can manage to book the chef’s tasting, it’s an unbelievably generous amount and variety of food that promises to be drool-worthy.
THE HIDDEN GEMS
HISTORIC DEL DOTTO WINERY & CAVES
(NAPA)
Del Dotto has three locations throughout Napa, all beautiful, but there’s something special about the historic caves. The property was one of the first wineries in Napa Valley, and the barrel tasting experience you’ll find here is worth the visit. Get a tour of the historic caves and taste deliciously aged wines right from the barrel – whether it’s French Oak, American Oak, or a blend of the two which they’ve cleverly coined “Mo / Fo”.
BUEHLER VINEYARD
(ST. HELENA)
A bit off the beaten path, Buehler Vineyard is a small family-run winery that makes for a fantastic stop on your Napa Valley tour. Not only does Buehler boast beautiful grounds and tasty Cabs and Zinfandels, but they also offer some of the more affordable tasting and wine prices in all of Napa. The tours and tastings are personal, educational and casual, and as one of only two wineries located on a long, windy road you’re in for a quiet, remote experience.
GRAN ELECTRICA
(NAPA)
Not every dinner in Napa has to break the bank. Gran Electrica is an awesome spot downtown with a trendy, modern indoor-outdoor space, a lively, colorful atmosphere, and even better food and drinks. Go for the delicious tacos and tostadas, and if you need to take a short hiatus from all the wine, some of the best cocktails and margaritas around (seriously, I had a spicy pineapple margarita there that’s still the best marg I’ve ever had to this day).
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
TASTING FEES
While most wine tastings or tours in Napa will cost you upwards of $40 for the experience, many wineries will waive your fee if you buy a certain amount of bottles while you’re there. It’s always worth checking to see what each winery’s policy is, and if you love the wine, it’s usually worth purchasing – that way, you can kiss those tasting fees goodbye and enjoy your bottle whenever you please.
WHEN TO VISIT
Napa is absolutely beautiful year-round, but Fall (think late September - October) is usually the ideal time to visit. Although it’s a bit of a risk with fire season, and there’s a chance the weather will still be very warm...it could also be absolutely perfect, and the vineyards will sparkle in all their glory.
by Carly Weaver
Carly, a New-Jersey-native-turned-Los-Angeles-local, has worked in digital marketing for the past decade doing everything from copywriting to creative production to brand strategy. But she’s always had three great loves: food, travel, and writing. That’s where Ogden Pacific comes in.
All-time favorite travel story? That time she slept in a drawer in a Florence hospital. All-time favorite meal? Well, as a decidedly unemotional person she’s been moved to tears by a single bite of food more than once...so let’s not even go there right now. All-time favorite destinations? The Jersey Shore for Springer’s Homemade Ice Cream and pure nostalgia. The British Virgin Islands for endless crystal clear seas and some of the nicest people on earth. Montana for that clean, crisp, mountain air and $2 Moose Drools enjoyed over dive bar shuffleboard. And Italy for literally...every...single...thing. Including that bite of burrata she cried over.
She’s here to help inform you, guide you, entertain you, and inspire you to find your next all-time favorite trip. (And also to help make sure you don’t end up in a drawer while you’re there.)