Pack Your Bags: Napa

Dining at Auberge du Soleil

There are few places that
I have willingly visited as
often as Napa. If you’re
seeking a long weekend or
vacation of pure pleasure,
book your trip now with our recommendations in mind. I
was able to squeeze in a two
and a half day experience in
early August, and even though
I’ve been there many times before,
it was fantastic to return.

This trip I had the pleasure of staying in a condo at the Vino Bello Resort located on the Meritage Hotel property. The brand new, one-bedroom condo was roomy and beautifully appointed. The pool was enjoyable, although we had to hide our champagne flutes every time the cabana boy walked through to take drink orders, as no glass was allowed in the pool area. The brand new, one-bedroom condo was roomy and beautifully appointed. The pool was enjoyable, although we had to hide our champagne flutes every time the cabana boy walked through to take drink orders, as no glass was allowed in the pool area. Definitely skip Spa Terra and the on-site restaurant. With a kitchen in your room, a gourmet market about a mile away, and an abundance of renowned dining and spas in the area, an on-site restaurant or spa isn’t a worry. The resort is located at the very southern tip of Napa, making it easy to take in both the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. We loved the fact that we had a lot of space to stretch out and relax before and after wine tastings.

No matter how long or short your trip, plan to lunch at two places: Auberge Soleil and Etoile on Chandon Winery’s property. Reservations are recommended at both. At Auberge, you’ll enjoy amazing views as you dine al fresco under a canopy. Servings are petite, but divine. We especially enjoyed the tuna tartar. At Chandon, we arrived at the tail end of lunch, and it served us well! We bought a bottle of vintage bubbly and our waiter poured generous glasses of other vintages to finish off the bottles opened and awaiting the by-the-glass lunch crowd. There were three of us dining, and everything was fabulous. Don’t be scared away when you have to walk through the boisterous mass of people in the wine tasting room. You’ll dine tucked away under a canopy of trees, complete with a babbling brook and serene gardens.

For dinner, we opted to dine in on our first evening so we could unwind at the spa and pool. We feasted on cold Alaskan king crab and prawns, expertly recommended by the seafood pro at the nearby gourmet grocer. The next day, we enjoyed an affordable, prixe fixed meal at Ad Hoc, owned by the French Laundry’s founder, Thomas Keller. Yes, it’s amazing but true: I can honestly use affordable and French Laundry in the same sentence! For $45 we enjoyed a four course meal which changes daily. The wine list by the glass was disappointing, so plan on purchasing a bottle. The wait staff was very professional…we think blue eyes and honey smiles are pre-requisites for the mostly-male staff (not that we’re complaining!). We discovered Illy coffee and the fun of a French press at Ad Hoc. Indulgent doesn’t even begin to describe the brownie phenomenon they served for dessert.

Oh, and the wine! Of course! Another amazing visit to Joseph Phelps. You must make an appointment to taste their wines, and I recommend you sign up for one of the seminars. My girlfriend, Stacy, and I were thrilled to be the only ones in the Le Nez class! Geraldine Seltzer, our guide, treated us well. She was incredibly knowledgeable and chatty. Hats off to Stacy for correctly identifying all of the scents during the aroma challenge! I joined the club and can’t wait for my Insignia to arrive in late October. If you love big, complex reds, Joseph Phelps is for you!

At Peju with our pal, Robert Sherman

We discovered a new favorite, thanks to neighbor Mike’s tip the night prior to my flight to California. Peju is a beautiful, chateau on Highway 29 just south of St. Helena. Our pourer, Robert Sherman, was fantastic!

And Miner is another fun one that we had to stop and sample. Their pourers are always down to earth and they have some amazing reds.

We took a break from tasting wine to sample some olive oils (and honey, and balsamic vinegars and more) at the St. Helena Olive Oil Company. We learned a lot (like you’re not supposed to cook with extra virgin olive oil because it is made with a cold press and the heat of cooking changes the flavor. Opt for another oil, like grapeseed, for cooking). Definitely a fun stop!

While this August’s trip to Napa was all too brief, we definitely hit some of the best wineries and sampled some heavenly wine and food. If you decide to visit, get ready to entice your taste buds and relax your soul.