Napa Valley, California
Napa Valley is totally amazing! If you drink wine, put Napa on your bucket list and make sure to check it off. There is no right or wrong way to travel to Napa because your drinking wine everywhere. My suggestion is to make the circle from San Francisco to Napa and up to Calistoga. Head up into Alexander Valley, down to Sonoma and jump on the 101 into San Francisco. Below are the stops I made in order from first to last. Get ready to get your lips purple.
BOUCHON BISTRO
OMG I never had French food this good before in my life. The service was outstanding and everything I ordered was super good. Please don't skip this place if you like French food. Remember: Everything with truffle is better.
OPUS ONE
So, if you think you know wine and your all that; you might be. But if your not, this is the best place to start your Napa experience. Take the tour and you will learn more in one hour, then 10 years of drinking wine. This place is a laboratory and a wealth of information. Great architecture and amazing wine.
CAYMUS
If you never had Caymus and you like a bold, smooth cab taste. Go to your local wine shop and pick one up ASAP. Open, pour and bring that Caymus wine glass to you face. There is no need to let the bottle breath, just drink and pour me another. The ground were amazing and for under $100.00 a bottle you can't go wrong. The winery is a relaxing place with beautiful landscape and good vibes.
STAG'S LEAP WINE CELLARS
Many people are not familiar with Stag's Leap winery unless you drink wine on the regular. The tasting room feels like you are in a spaceship with amazing views of their grounds! This is a damn good wine and I can wait for my first shipment.
T-VINE
Cool place and really local. More then likely you can't find this wine at your local wine store; which makes it even more interesting to stop by for a tasting. Once you go here you will love what they have to offer. And lucky for all of us who like tasty affordable wines, they will ship bottle to your house. You can also buy online. While you are there, make sure to ask to see the decanting trick.
Tank Garage
This is a sister winery to T-Vine and you could walk from T-Vine to Tank. Really cool place to hang and get all the local vibes. Very low key and nice people to enjoy wine with while in Calistoga. Tank Garage Winery never wants you to dream alone.
We didn't eat much once we started drinking wine. But when we did, we ate good. Everything we ate was delicious and fresh. They even have those Blistered Padrón Peppers that are trending currently for an appetizer. If your in Calistoga, stop in and have a beer and some food to fuel you for more wine.
JORDAN
I thought I was in France and died. Arrive a little early for your tasting and walk the grounds. This place is a gem and they are sustainable innovators. The wine is paired with food and the whole tour is outstanding. You can find this wine in a lot of your local wine stores. But, once you have been to Jordan, you will not forget your experience.
ARISTA
What a class act. Super personal and welcoming. You feel like you are on a ranch and that is because you are on a ranch. But, this ranch is beautiful and their wines are delicious. Schedule a tour and tasting, and like Jordan, get there early so you can take in the views the property has to offer. Enjoy the wildlife, you never know what you might see. We were finishing up our tasting and a hawk decided to join us for some wine.
““The Napa Valley is Disneyland for alcoholics. Be honest, you’re not visiting wineries in four days because you’re an oenophile, you’re doing it because you’re a drunk. It’s the only place in America where you can pass out in a stranger’s house and it’s okay, because it’s a B&B and you paid for it.””