As one of the most popular destinations in California, Napa Valley is famous for its gorgeous scenery and world-famous wineries. Only 1.5 hours north of San Francisco, it is a nice detour with the reward of good wines.
Although there are other things to do in Napa Valley, there is only one reason to go: To taste the wine.
In Napa Valley, you can find happiness at the bottom of the glass. As a first timer, this is my experience in the valley.
Things to Know
Napa is known for its reds. You may need to search for sweet or white wines.
The best way to enjoy several wine tastings in a day is to hire a driver. Not only will you arrive safely to each winery, but a driver can help guide you to the best ones.
Uber/Lyft is available and highly encouraged.
It is expensive… we will get to that later.
Make reservations to each winery. The peak season is late summer and fall, so reservations are strongly encouraged.
Cost
I love going to wineries—both local and well-known wine regions (Check out my post on Sip, Sip in the Finger Lakes). In my personal experience, you walk in to a winery and pay $5-10 per person for a selection of their wines. Afterward, you can have a quick tour of the property and talk to the staff about the history. Every once in a while, a commemorative glass is thrown into it.
However, Napa Valley is a step up. Most tastings will run you about $30 or more for a tasting, and even more for a tour. Since this is a unique experience to sip wine in the Napa Valley, you may find the prices reasonable.
This is not a sponsored post.
Inglenook Wine Tasting
The Inglewood winery is picturesque with its views of the mountains and ivy climbing ups the great chateau. The name “Inglenook” comes from the Scottish expression meaning “cozy corner”. When you have a glass of wine in your hand and stare out into the stunning, mountainous landscape, you cannot disagree.
The history of the Inglenook is extensive and entertaining. Within the main halls of the chateau, the rooms were converted into displays of the previous owners and iconic artifacts. Founded by Gustave Ferdinand Niebaum, the winery has stood in Napa Valley for almost two centuries. Eventually, the history of the winery becomes part of old Hollywood. Using his profits from The Godfather films, Francis and Eleanor Coppola bought the winery.
When you arrive, you will want to spend some time taking photos of the land, since it is something out of the movies.
Once you are ready for your tasting, they will usher your group to a table in the wine tasting salon to enjoy the Estate wines. A wine educator will deliver the first wine with a tray of artisan cheese, and will tell you more about the wine and history.
Castello di Amorosa
The Castello di Amorosa is a gorgeous winery styled after a 13th century Tuscan castle. As soon as you park your car, you will feel like you are transported into a life of royalty. Even if you are not interested in tasting the wine there, it is worth a stop just to see the splendor of its architecture. Taking over 15 years to build, the castle boasts 107 rooms, 170 acres and imported Italian marble.
Alternative Adventures
After you relax and uncork, here are a few adventures you can book in Napa Valley.
Go Horseback Riding: Saddle up and see the vineyards from a rancher’s perspective! The horseback riding tours tend to take visitors through the vineyards on horseback. These tours can cost roughly $80-120 depending on the company and tour options.
Ride the Napa Valley Wine Train: So maybe you want the wine, but also want an unique experience. Then the Ride the Napa Valley Wine Train is for you. As a mixture of wine tastings, fine dining experiences, museum and tour, the train ride is a stylish way to explore the valley.
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