Napa

There are so many options to choose from in Napa and Sonoma!

If you are coming here, we assume you want to try out some wineries. Here are a few of our favorites (that all require reservations)1.

Please stay safe! Uber and Lyft are both great options to get around if you do not have a designated non-drinking driver.

Hendry

for the science behind wine

There is a reason why they have 584 exclusively 5-star ratings on Yelp. Hendry goes beyond some of the other wineries that offer tastings to include educational tour and scientific explanation to wine making and wine tasting. This how we finally came to understand why certain wine pairs best with fatty food. Also ask Mr. Hendry about his life before wine! It’s fascinating.

You can chose to go on the full tour which takes 3 hours or an afternoon tasting which takes about 2.

Schramsberg Vineyards

for a romantic candle-lit cave tour

Made famous by Barabara Walters who called the signature Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc “the Blankety Blank” on national TV while describing Nixon’s “Toast to Peace” with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, Schramsberg offers all kind of wines these days. The cave tour is absolutely amazing and gives you plenty of sparkling wine to try. Also try their amazing red wine JD (#dashaapproved)

If you don’t feel like a tour and just want to sip on some sparkling wine, visit their sister location Davies Vineyards tasting room in St Helena

Speaking of history, did you know that the reason the champagne clause, i.e. the fact that you can’t call sparkling wine champagne unless it’s from the Champagne region of France, was part of the Treaty of Versailles signed to end WWI??? However the Treaty was never actually ratified in the US. No one paid attention anyway since the US was in the middle of Prohibition, so alcohol related rules seemed not important at the time. US producers remained free to apply that term until 2006 when a wine-trade agreement was signed between the US and the EU but anyone who already had an approved label was grandfathered. Politics….It’s fascinating. How was it relevant to the end of the war? Who knows??

Scribe

for that amazing California vibe

Oh there is nothing like sitting on top of a hill overlooking the vineyards with a light breeze… While parts of Scribe are only accessible to members, the amazing Hacienda offers wine tasting and food to everyone. Walk around their garden, look at the palm tree drive, sit outside and take it all in. This place is not for learning how wine is made – it’s for feeling like there are no cares in the world. Best paired with a convertible ride after.

When calling for a reservation, specifically mention that you are looking for a tasting at the Hacienda.

Other things to check out

  • Mumm Napa if you want an easier to get into sparkling wine place. It does have a bit more of a touristy feel to it but is still great.
  • Francis Ford Coppola Winery if you want to see an Oscar in real life and sip some cocktails by the pool. Beware this place is very popular and on the more expensive side. Also it takes an hour to drive to/from Napa.
  • Any estate winery (O’Brien Estate, Alquimista, etc.). You never know who you will meet at these places. We met a winemker who casually forgot to tell us that he is a Pulitzer winning journalist. #lifegoals
  • Any of the restaurants by Thomas Keller in Yountville. After 40 years, reservations remain hard to get at The French Laundry, but Bouchon and Ad Hoc are pretty great. So is Addendum where you can eat Ad Hoc's fried chicken at a picnic table.
  • Bouchon Bakery in Yountville (Also by Thomas Kelller). Get the butter shortbreads. Trust me!
  • Oxbow Public Market in Napa. Great place to get coffee, quick but still amazing food and feel like you are in a Napa commercial.
  • The sunset. You’ll understand why.

Things to avoid

No offense to some places but they are not a great use of time if you are only here for a couple of days:

  • The wine train – it’s overrated.
  • Any sort of wine bus tour – you’ll end up at some very commercial places with some very drunk people.

1: For our international friends and families with children: The drinking age in the US is 21. Many wineries will not permit children under that age (20? Yep still A CHILD) and babies on the premises. Always check with the wineries beforehand on their specific rules.