We’re off to spend a few days in wine country in a couple of weeks. Any suggestions for where to eat or what to do. French Laundry is booked up. We’ll eat a meal at Bouchon. We might take a mud bath at Indian Springs. We eat everything from BBQ to the fancy stuff.
Best brunch I’ve ever had…at Brix…I think that is how it is spelled! We went to the Sunday Brunch buffet…absolutely outstanding. And gorgeous venue.
Here is the link.
Brix - yummmmm! Also, check out Angele’s in downtown Napa - it is our favorite French-inspired food without the hefty $$$$$.
Are you going to do wine tasting?
Yes, wine tasting is the major draw. Last time we went to Chandon because we’d done it on our honeymoon, a very private exclusive place recommended by our local wine shop and one other one that I can’t remember. The time before we had all our non-wine drinking kids along and we took a tasting class at the CIA which was fun. I should look up if there’s something a little more complicated.
I’m also reading this thread for a lunch place. Last time I was there it was almost 7 years ago when kid#1 graduate from high school. Any nice restaurant in Sonoma?
DH and I were in Napa last week. Our favorite meal was a dinner at Press in St Helena (right adjacent to the Dean and Deluca store). We had the tasting menu with wine pairing. Every bite was delicious.
Other favorites from past visits include Morimoto, Celadon, Rutherford Grill, Etoile, Bouchon, Longmeadow Ranch, Brix, Bounty Hunter BBQ.
Some favorite wineries for tasting by appointment only - Tres Sabores, Frog’s Leap, Relic, Boyd.
Walk in wineries - Whitehall Lane, Sequoia Grove, Grgich, Beringer, Cakebread.
Are you looking for winery suggestions? Loved Far Niente; tasting was expensive though. Clos du Val is in a very pretty location. Hess Collection has wine tasting and an art museum. Frog’s Leap is very nice.
Farmstead is my current favorite. Check out the CIA in St. Helena ( they have classes!) and Oxbow for casual too.
I highly recommend doing a tasting at Mumm. Awesome patio seating. Awesome sparkling wine selection.
As far as still wines go… We like Rutherford Ranch and St Supery wines in Napa.
I probably shouldn’t advertise it as it is mostly a locals spot, but if you find yourself in Bodega Bay there is a little crab place on the side of the road called Spud Point Crab Company. It is a regular stop for their crab cakes and chowder.
^Sounds yummy!
Thanks @mathmom for starting this thread. Me and my family are actually going to Napa Valley this weekend. I have 2 kids (9,18) and have been researching stuff that we can do as a family. Here are some that you might want to consider:
The Petrified Forest (a small interesting forest place:)
http://www.petrifiedforest.org
Aerial Gondola winery tour: Sterling Vineyards
Safari: http://www.safariwest.com/
Try http://www.redd-wood.com/ or it’s fancier parent, http://reddnapavalley.com/. I went to school with the chef!
It’s been a couple decades since I was up there, but we used to love getting food at V Sattui winery and sitting out on their lawn and having a picnic. And when we needed a little rest we’d head over to Sterling and take the tram, then hang out on their deck.
If you have the time and inclination, Alice Water’s original restaurant, Chez Panisse is down in Berkeley. It’s in an area known as Gourmet Gulch that’s worth a visit for foodies.
I always recommend spending an afternoon at this art gallery in Carneros. It’s a blast.
Also, depending on the time of year you go…check out the concert schedule at Mondavi winery. Music outdoor, picnic style.
A friend from my undergrad runs the tasting room at Selby winery in Healdsburg…they do mostly dry wines but have a couple on the sweeter side too.
Post #14, we used to go to Sattui winery and purchase food for a picnic.
But I’m afraid Chez Panisse has gone downhill since the 90s-2000s. Last time we were in Berkeley we didn’t even go in.
Disagree on any suggestion that Chez Panisse has gone downhill; had an amazing meal there recently. But there’s no reason to go all the way to Berkeley to dinner when there are so many great restaurants in Napa Valley.
Meant to say Gourmet Ghetto.