Why Napa Valley?
Wine not, I mean why not! My first trip to Napa Valley was over a decade ago and I was just totally entranced with it. All the rolling greens and just how clean and serene it felt. And not to mention of course, the wine. It was just such a tranquil place, and although it’s definitely built up, its still how I remembered it, amazing.
Where to stay
This is an important need to know. When we say Napa Valley, we include all of the surrounding towns in this quaint and serene place. The first time around we stayed in Calistoga. It felt like you could walk from end to end because it felt so tiny, with a few local shops and a wonderful café called Serafina’s that made the absolute best breakfast. However, Calistoga is actually 34 miles from Napa Valley which is where I stayed this latest time. If you rent a car and rotate which friend will be the designated driver, seeing wine country is a breeze. If not, it’s definitely important to map out your plans ahead of time.
Getting around the vineyards and wineries
This visit to Napa we stayed in the heart of it and getting around was a bit difficult. Ubers are available but can take quite a bit of time depending on what winery and where in Napa you’re going to. On our first day we had reservations at Mumm. We literally landed, checked in and had to make it to our reservation. And that is when we realized getting around town would be tricky. There were 7 of us so we had to take two Ubers. First group got lucky and the second had to wait, and wait. We were late. We are definitely spoiled here in NYC with our 2 minute Uber wait times. Next we visited the beautiful grounds of Castello di Amorosa, and again we were flipping coins for which group would get the first Uber over.
At the end of our tasting, we were in the parking lot well after closing to wait for our Uber. A good half hour before we were picked up. So I would suggest hiring a designated driver service or making friends with one of your Uber drivers and see if you can arrange a direct call and pickup, or just know you need to factor in ample Uber wait time.
Also important to note, if traveling with a group especially, most of the wineries these days don’t except walk-ins so definitely call ahead. Some even require planning days in advance.
Wine tours, to do or not to do…
I can only speak to two wine tours. First up is Platypus Tours. They pick you up at your hotel and the driver actually chooses your vineyard destinations. They take you to three smaller more eco friendly wineries and serve you a lovely, boxed lunch. I think the price was kinda steep as a whole so if you have a group, you could likely pool that money to rent your own car service for the day and pick your own spots. But it was cool to see the smaller run places, learn their stories and support the smaller businesses. Deerfield Ranch Winery was one and I absolutely loved it. It was set on the hills of Napa with beautiful picturesque mountains in the distance. In a wine cave with some really interesting art.
Bucket List splurge
The next one was the ultimate splurge experience, a bucket list item and worth every single penny in my opinion. The Napa Valley Wine Train is an Historical train that takes you back into time. It also takes you on a tour to 3 vineyards through wine country. It has a fully stocked bar, and our trip included a glass of Mumm Sparkling wine and a gourmet 3 course meal that was really delicious. You do one tasting on board the train while in route. That was Raymond Vineyard and the wine was incredible. The next two stops were the Charles Krug cellars which was a very in-depth tour on some beautiful grounds and last stop was V. Sattui Vineyards which had a wonderful market with the most delicious breads and cheeses.
This is versatile enough to romance two love birds while also satisfying a group of besties on girl’s trip. I 10/10 recommend!
Plan for the weather
Because I’ve been here once before and was actually going during the same time of year, I knew how to plan for the weather. Napa Valley is not like the rest of California. They definitely experience more of the seasons in this part of the state. Both of my trips happened to be in March and both times the weather fluctuated between 50 – 70 degrees. The morning and nights were cold. Midday would be luckier with high 60’s to low 70’s. I packed sweaters and blazers, so this way I could utilize that to layer instead of walking around with a coat, although it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring a lightweight jacket or lightweight peacoat. I did some wishful thinking and packed some sandals; but the main shoe most of the trip was a bootie and some sneakers. March is definitely not flip flop season. And if you’re doing any late dinners, also plan to be cold!
A must see
Overall, Napa Valley is a must see. So far, the two times I’ve been are a 10/10 recommend. My first trip was with a significant other and this latest was a girls trip. Napa Valley is suitable for both. Bring your friends or bring your partner, either way it’s a must do!
