California’s Napa Valley is consistently atop annual travel award lists as one of the best food and wine destinations in the world.

This small patch of land produces world-renowned wines. It has also attracted some of the world’s best chefs which has thereby made Napa Valley also legendary for its phenomenal cuisine.

The Napa Valley, 30 miles long and five miles wide, is favored with over 400 wineries with 95% of them family-owned.

With such an overabundance of choices, we feel that Napa Valley is best experienced in tasty morsels.  To do otherwise precludes one from a unhurried savoring, which frankly is likely the antithesis of why you would want to visit Napa Valley in the first place.

For this particular visit, we concentrated our exploration on the southern region of the Napa Valley Wine Country, shown in the circle to the right, and made our base camps in the cities of Napa and Yountville.

Napa Valley is best savored in bite sized pieces!

How to get to Napa Valley

The Napa Valley is served by three international airports. San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland International Airport (OAK) and Sacramento International Airport (SMF) are each approximately 60 miles away (85 km), and can be reached in approximately 1.5 hours driving time.

We prefer getting to Napa Valley by way of the Sacramento International Airport as we are able to get direct flights from Phoenix, and the traffic is significantly less than will be found at San Francisco and Oakland.

Rental cars are readily available at all three airports.  If you prefer, San Francisco and Oakland have shuttles to the City of Napa, and you can then rent a car upon arrival. Here’s a link for more information about transportation to and around Napa Valley.

Where to Stay in Southern Napa Valley

Bardessono Hotel, Restaurant, and Spa – Yountville

Opened in February of 2009, Bardessono has amassed quite a collection of awards in a short period of time.

It debuted on the Condé Nast Traveler Hot List in its first year of operation, is one of only three LEED Platinum Certified Hotels in the US; and in 2012 has made it to the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List and is Michelin Guide Recommended.

We enjoyed a spa-suite that was custom designed to double as a private spa.  Bardessono believes that personalized spa treatments should be enjoyed in the special seclusion of your room which features a concealed massage table, soaking tub, separate shower, and beautiful double vanities.

One of the unusual features we noticed was that when sensors detect that guests are not in their room, the automatically controlled thermostats allow the temperature to raise or lower a few degrees and reduce excess energy demand. When cooling is required, the first stage of intervention is for motor controlled exterior venetian blinds to lower to reduce the heat gain from the sun.

I was wondering how those blinds got lowered.  I was looking around for chocolates from our housekeeper when Carol explained the environmental features of our room.

Darn!  I was hoping for chocolate!

Our experience generally finds contemporary architecture and design to be cold and uncomfortable, but that was absolutely not the case here.  In fact, we found ourselves drawn into the spirit of the place and everywhere found beauty, comfort, and luxury all knitted together with exceptional design and attention to detail.

We found beautiful sculptures to enjoy, a beautiful garden in which to stroll, a roof-top pool with stunning views of the surrounding mountains; abundant water features with soothing sounds, hammocks under beautiful trees, beautiful flora growing from rich volcanic soils, smiling staff determined to make our stay exceptional, and a general overall sense that Bardessono was destined to become one of those resorts that would reserve a special place in our hearts.

Bardessono also has a remarkable restaurant on-site, but we will tell you about that a little later.

Note:  click on photographs for large view and available slide show.

Napa River Inn at the Historic Napa Mill – Napa

We love historic properties, and the Napa River Inn is a member of the prestigious Historic Hotels of America.

The Napa River Inn is located within the Historic Napa Mill built in 1884.  Located in downtown Napa, the Inn consists of three buildings featuring 66 guest rooms designed to reflect 1800s elegance.

From the moment we walked in the front door, we were seemingly transported back to the 19th century where we reveled in the Inn’s beautiful decor.

Our room (see below) was decorated in rich reds featuring beautiful decorative white molding, a slipper-foot bathtub, a large walk-in double-head shower, and wonderfully soft linens found in only the best of resorts.

We greatly enjoyed the Historic Napa Mill location as we were able to walk out the door of the Inn and enjoy shopping, four dining venues, a jazz club, and a beautiful boardwalk along the Napa river.  Plus, each morning we enjoyed a complimentary breakfast from neighboring Sweetie Pies bakery.  YUM!

Lest I forget, you must also walk next door to the Village Sweet Shop and sample Debbie Dever’s dark chocolate cherry bark!  Wowza!

With all of the wonderful culinary amenities available at the Napa River Inn, you just may decide to hole up and never leave. Absolutely everything the luxury traveler needs is right there!

Note:  click on photographs for large view and available slide show.

 Maison Fleurie French Country Inn – Yountville

Maison Fleurie, one of the Four Sisters Inns, is the perfect blend of the modern luxuries of a boutique hotel and the traditional amenities and architecture of a bed and breakfast.

In our room we found finely crafted furniture, wonderful fabrics, a wonderful fireplace, and a jetted-tub to whirl away the sore muscles and feet from our day of adventure.

If you like, you can borrow a bicycle to explore the charming town of Yountville after your wondrous complimentary breakfast, and in the afternoon return for wine and hors d’oeuvres.

Although time didn’t permit in our schedule, there is also a pool and hot tub where you might enjoy one of the fine bottles of wine found in your day of wine tasting.

We’ve grown to love small boutique lodging options and Maison Fleurie stands tall with the best of them.

Note:  click on photographs for large view and available slide show 

Lavender French Country Inn – Yountville

One of the sister properties to the property above, this Four Sisters Inn was recently voted as one of the Top 50 Small Hotels in the United States by Condé Nast Traveler.

Lavender, one of Yountville’s heritage homes, offers a touch of Provence right in the heart of the Napa Valley.

As with all of the Four Sisters Inns, we enjoyed a beautiful complimentary breakfast buffet, afternoon wine, tea and hor d’oeuvres; evening turndown with Le Belge chocolate, fresh baked cookies at the desk, a bed full of wonderful linens, a flat-panel TV, a refrigerator, a beautiful gas fireplace; jetted spa tub with shower, and even our own private walled-patio to enjoy our morning complimentary newspaper.

We will also long remember Marion at the front desk.  She had the most wonderful English accent, and interjected our tour of the property with a series of jokes that lifted our tired spirits.  And, she had piping-hot cookies!

We had a delightful stay and can confidently recommend a visit.

Note:  click on photographs for large view and available slide show 

Where to eat in Southern Napa Valley

The Restaurant at Bardessono – Yountville

Executive Chef Victor Scargle heads the team at The Restaurant at Bardessono.

He’s a well-known entity in wine country where his credits include executive chef roles at Go Fish in St. Helena, and Julia’s Kitchen at COPIA, where he earned an impressive 3.5 star review from the San Francisco Chronicle.

Scargle spent five years working with Michael Mina at Mina Group restaurants, including Aqua in San Francisco and Las Vegas, and Pisces in Burlingame; at Aqua he was honored by the San Francisco Chronicle as a “Rising Star Chef” – a highly coveted award which recognizes the best and brightest young culinary talent.  When we’re in Vegas, we always visit Aqua for their Paella.

We enjoyed a spectacular dinner while spending a night at the Bardessono Hotel (above).  Carol and I shared a fabulous wine-pairing tasting menu which included Big Eye Tuna Tartare, Half Moon Bay Sand Dabs, Don Watson Lamb Ravioli, Iberico Fresco Pork, Thomasville Tomme, and Trio of Desserts.

The restaurant was beautiful, the staff very attentive, and was easily the finest meal of this particular trip.  Highly recommended!

Note:  click on photographs for large view and available slide show

Angéle Restaurant and Bar – City of Napa

Angéle is a French country restaurant and bar offering refined bistro fare, wine and cocktails on the Napa riverfront in the heart of downtown Napa.

Their dining room, located in the historic 1890’s ship chandlery now known as the Hatt Building, evokes the simple romance of the classic French brasserie.  If the weather is nice, you might also enjoy dining on their riverfront patio.

We stopped in for lunch and had a fabulous meal. We shared Salade de Betteraves (beet salad with quinoa, apples, puffed farro and ris de camargue).  YUM!  We love quinoa.  For our entrée we shared Croque Monsieur ou Madame (parisian ham and gruyere on country bread, mixed green salad, with an egg on top).  WOW!  Quite possibly the best sandwich ever!

Now, this was quite enough food for lunch, but the waiter seduced us with Grain de Macaroni (its mac n’ cheese folks).  Holy Mouthgasm Batman! We enjoyed Angéle so much, we went back again for dinner.  Fabulous!

Note:  click on photographs for large view and available slide show

Oenotri – City of Napa

Oenotri is an Italian restaurant in downtown Napa featuring a daily changing menu driven by ingredients that are local, fresh and in season.

Culinary traditions hale from Sicily, Campania, Calabria, Basilicata and Puglia.  Salumi is hand-crafted in house, and their pasta is made fresh daily. 80% of the restaurant’s produce comes from their own Oenotri Farm, and Head Sommelier Sur Lucero was just recognized as one of the nation’s Best New Sommeliers by Wine & Spirits magazine.

We started our meal with Panna Pizza (roasted river dog delicata squash, gorgonzola, treviso radicchio) Magnifico!  Next, we shared Antipasti (dandelion greens with brown turkey figs, pistachios, and bianco mangiare), and Pasta (potato gnocchi with nocino, walnut cream, parmigiano crocante).

Absolutely a hip, fun place with fabulous cuisine.

Note:  click on photographs for large view and available slide show

Gott’s Roadside – City of Napa

Don’t tell Carol I told you this, but she just loves food that tends to be a bit on the greasy side of life.  Give her a cheeseburger, a massive pile of onion rings, and she is all smiles.

When we learned about Gott’s Roadside, there was no question that we were going to be paying them a visit.  In fact, she asked our limo driver, while we were out wine tasting, to take us to Gott’s for lunch.

I suppose if you’re going to eat a burger, you might as well eat one that has won a James Beard Foundation “American Classics” Award.

Now, I’m certain that when Carol reads this, she is going to say, “Hey Mr., don’t forget to tell them that when we were done enjoying this wonderful Americana cuisine that you hightailed it across the street to get a cupcake from Kara’s Cupcakes“.

Guilty as charged!  🙂

Where to Day Spa in Southern Napa Valley

Carol w/ her sister Beth at Spa Villagio

If you’re carrying around a bundle of stress, a few aches and pains, or simply enjoy extravagant pampering then you should strongly consider an interlude from your wine tasting at Spa Villagio.

Yountville’s Spa Villagio was recently awarded “Top 50 Hotel Spas in US & Canada” by Travel + Leisure magazine, and resides inside the AAA Four-Diamond award-winning Villagio Inn & Spa.

Carol, and her sister Beth, each enjoyed two hours of expert massage and then luxuriated in a private spa suite for an hour afterwords.

The Spa Villagio Spa Suite is crafted with your choice of scents, sound, and spa refreshments. It is elegantly appointed with fireplaces, oversized sunken jetted soaking tubs, steam showers, wet bars, flat screen televisions, Bose sound systems and private terraces.

I was secretly scurried up to their suite to capture this scene as they were enjoying champagne, laughter, and a wonderful time of sister-bonding.  As this was the day before Beth’s wedding, this is certain to become a cherished lifetime memory.

We highly recommend adding some spa time at Spa Villagio to your Napa Valley experience.

Top 10 Things to do in Napa Valley

1. Wine Tasting.  Click here for our Napa Valley Wine Tasting Guide.  We’ve picked six of our favorite southern Napa Valley Wineries complete with six informative videos.
2. Shopping.  Both of the downtown areas of Napa and Yountville have wonderful boutique shopping to enjoy.
3. Napa Walking Tour.  George Weber, local historian, actor, and beer/wine expert, and owner of the Napa Walking Tour, takes you on a leisurely two-mile stroll of downtown Napa.  With plenty of stops and places to sit down, you will learn the history of Napa from prehistoric times to the present.  You will learn of Napa’s participation in the Gold Rush, Napa’s victorian factory era, the prohibition era, and revel at some of Napa’s beautifully preserved historic homes.  Plus, you sample some local beers, some local wines, tour Napa’s finest Victorian manor, and walk along the newly renovated, multi-million dollar Napa Riverfront Walk.
4. Culinary Institute of America.  If  you’re a die-hard foodie, you’re bound to enjoy the Culinary Institue of America. Partake of unique sensory evaluation guided tastings at the Flavor Bar, shop for everything culinary in the Spice Islands Marketplace, dine in the award-winning Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant, enjoy a cooking demonstration, visit the Vintners Hall of Fame, learn something new about wine in Wine Exploration classes, or take part in a wide range of food enthusiast courses.
5. Murder Mystery on the Napa Wine Train.  Daring and Dastardly Detectives deliberate on death and . . . book rights? A number of the world’s greatest detectives are gathering on the Napa Valley Wine Train to see who will receive the royalties to the recently published best seller, called “The Detectives’ Club.” Under the terms of the contract, any of the eight detectives who are alive at midnight will share in the royalties – $5,000,000. Those who are no longer among the living will receive nothing for their estate. Join them and see if you can solve the murder, or murders, of The Detectives’ Club. A four course meal is included.
6. Oxbow Public Market.  The Oxbow Public Market offers a wide range of artisanal food and wine products, and features ingredients for dinner as well as an inexpensive snack or meal on site.
7. Scenic Drive.  Stir up your inner Lewis and Clark and explore the stunningly beautiful countryside that surrounds the valley.  You’ll be amazed at the beautiful scenery and deep forests that can be found surrounding Napa Valley.
8. Have a Picnic.  Go to the Oxbow Market, grab a bottle of wine from your wine tastings, and take yourself into the countryside for a romantic picnic.  Guys, don’t forget to write down a few sweet nothings to whisper in your wife’s ear.  Wives like that kinda stuff.
9. Hot Air Balloons.  We haven’t personally done this yet.  But it’s on our list of things to do when we next visit.  Here’s a few links.
10. Couples Mud Bath.  You haven’t lived until you’ve been immersed in a piping-hot tub of mud next to the love of your life.  Afterwards, you laugh-out-loud as you hose the mud off of each other.  We’ll never forget that experience!

Additional Resources

If all of that isn’t enough to wet your whistle, here are two additional resources:

• Official Destination Planner of the Napa Valley
• Legendary Napa Valley (Official Napa Valley Website)

Well, that’s our guide to visiting southern Napa Valley wine country.  We love Napa Valley and are certain to be again back as we move north in the valley to complete our series.  Stay tuned!

Disclosure: travel considerations were given by Bardessono, Napa River Inn, and The Four Sisters Inns.  Further considerations were received by the Napa and Yountville visitors bureau.  Thanks all, we had a great time!

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