“Best of” napa valley 2021

if you’re planning a trip to Napa Valley, here are my favorite experiences to add to your itinerary.

I recently took my 10th trip to Napa Valley (my 2nd as a family vacation), and it was the best visit yet - by far! Along with re-visiting a favorite winery or restaurant each time, I try to mix it up with some new discoveries. And while I’m used to creating an itinerary all on my own, this time I put 2 entire days into the very capable hands of the folks at Noble Wine Tours. We discussed my preferences during a pre-trip call, and I gave them the green light to book wineries that I never would have found on my own. The result was a perfect balance between fantastic wine and stunning environment. I was absolutely blown away!

As an interior designer, I also love getting inspiration from the properties, cellars, and tasting rooms. Many tasting rooms throughout Napa and Sonoma are incredibly beautiful, but to me, it’s the ability of a space to connect the wine to its history & philosophy that makes it memorable. And ….you can’t talk about Napa experiences without also covering the incredible food. There are so many places to choose from, it’s hard to go wrong. Here were my favorites this trip, cheers!

*I’ve added links to the places mentioned and a few helpful tips at the bottom of this post.

The original barn at the Kathryn Hall St. Helena property restored and converted into an event and tasting space.

Family & friends enjoying the Hall cabernet tasting out on the lawn.

Chandeliers and huge trees create a beautiful, indoor/outdoor terrace feel to the RH Yountville restaurant.

Dinner winding down at RH Yountville (a nice burgundy to lighten things up after a day of big cabs). The roast chicken and truffle fries are not to be missed.

At Chateau Potelle, small bites paired with each wine in a quaint, private "backyard" setting.

Coq au Vin at Bistro Jeanty is delicious. Be sure to try the Quenelles de Broche & the famous tomato soup in puff pastry.

At Trinchero Family Estate, designer Erin Martin added furniture and finishes that play to a speakeasy vibe and reflect the property's prohibition-era history.

Starting with some share plates at Bistro Con Giovani. The meatballs with ragu and soft polenta were delicious.

The outdoor tasting venue at Far Niente is stunning... surprise of the day, this beautiful Dolce wine which reminded me of some of the best Sauternes.

An un-assuming barn exterior reveals modern and art-filled tasting and barrel rooms inside at BRION in St. Helena

Each of the 3 cabernet vineyards is represented by its own winemaker. All three were exceptional.

One of the many pieces of art at BRION as well as a small peak at the barrel room in the background.

The most stunning view of the trip belongs to Constant at the top of Diamond Mountain.

We felt right at home in Constant's tasting room, a one-bedroom home used by the owners and the winery for special occasions.

With a neutral palette and understated elegance, the room doesn't interfere with the beautiful view framed by floor to ceiling sliding doors.

Our tasting lineup for the visit. Not listed was their first foray into Chardonnay which we tasted (it was delicious) before diving into the reds.

Working her way through Constant's incredible wines. The entire experience was so amazing, we had to be prodded several times by our tour guide to leave for the next appointment.

At Marciano Estate, a gorgeous round stone building houses the stunning barrel cellar. I highly recommend reading the story of the property's history on their website.

Meet max, winery dog and tour guide extraordinaire.

It's a rough job tasting these wines, but someone has to do it:) Marciano had my favorite wines of the trip -and we were also treated to their award-winning estate olive oil.

These decanters!

Reading up on the first wine about to be poured.

Surrounded by panoramic views of the secluded property, this fireplace is central to the room. Love the mix of steel, stone & wood.

At HDV (Hyde de Villaine), a collaboration between Hyde of California and Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanée Conti. Pinot and Chardonnay were the stars of this tasting.

Tips to make the most out of your Napa visit:

1. No more than 3 visits per day. If you aren’t going in a professional capacity (ie spitting), it’s best to schedule 3 (or fewer) tastings per day so you can relax and take your time. Also, many of the wines are high in alcohol, and the pours can be generous.

2. Make reservations. Reservations are required at several of the wineries and recommended at others. It’s best to plan ahead to avoid being disappointed. The same applies to restaurants which are busy all year long.

3. Hire a driver. If you have a designated driver in your group who won’t be participating in tasting, that is great. If not, I highly recommend getting a driver to pick you up from and deliver you safely to your hotel. A driver also helps keep you on track for your appointments and is a great source of local information.

*it’s worth noting that my 2021 visit was centered in Napa County, Sonoma isn’t represented (hopefully next year!)

Links to get you started:

Driver/concierge: https://www.noblewt.com/

Wineries: https://www.brionwines.com/ https://www.constantwine.com/ http://www.marcianoestate.com/ https://farniente.com/ https://www.vgschateaupotelle.com/ https://www.hallwines.com/visit/winery-experiences/hall-st-helena https://www.hdvwines.com/

Restaurants: https://bistrojeanty.com/ https://rh.com/content/category.jsp?context=Yountville-Restaurant http://bistrodongiovanni.com/ https://www.pressnapavalley.com/ https://www.gotts.com/ https://goosegander.com/