Yountville in February

[Mulcahy]

As I described here my husband and I were considering a trip to Napa in February. Well, we've decided to go (yay).

We will be staying in Yountville. Am wondering if any of you (Carolyn, I know you do) have favorite wineries -- am looking for off the beaten path type of places. For instance, wineries we love: Havens, Schoolhouse, Casa Nuestra. Wineries we didn't like: Rudd, Jarvis.

I could use a little restaurant help, as well. We've been to:

Tra Vigne

Mustards

French Laundry

Bistro Jeanty

Domaine Chandon

Martini House

Bistro Don Giovanni

Auberge de Soleil

Bouchon

Hurley's

Will definitely be going back to Bistro Jeanty and Mustards (I know, touristy, but I love the pulled pork sandwich). No French Laundry or Terra type restaurant this trip (am trying to spend less). Any suggestions? (Have no interest in repeating Tra Vigne or Hurley's).

Thanks folks.

Edited to add: We'll be there on Superbowl Sunday. Any suggestions for good bars to watch the game?

Edited again to fix the mispelling of Carolyn's name.

Edited December 22, 2004 by Mulcahy (log)

[Carolyn Tillie]

I'm sure Winesonoma will be able to pipe in on where to watch the game -- as I only follow Sumo, I wouldn't have a clue on that query...

You've listed a pretty decent accounting of restaurants. There are obviously some new ones that should be considered (and some I will be able to report on more completely in the next few weeks as I will be dining out a lot with friends visiting).

Pilar's is a big favorite of mine and shouldn't be missed.

Stomp is a new one in Calistoga which I have yet to try.

Wine Garden in Yountville will be an easy don't-miss for you on one of those evenings where you want a little walk and just a few bites (bring some wine -- their list sucks).

Zuzu's is a fabulous Tapas restaurant in downtown Napa and is easily one of the best places by virtue of the fact that it is NOT California cuisine, French, or Italian.

Regarding wineries, I hope you will consider visiting me at Ladera. I am also fond of Pride, Ridge, J, Schramsburg (for sparkling), Smith Madrone, Neal Family, and the standby, Robert Sinsky. Most of these wineries are appointment-onle (except Sinskey) and will require some phone calls to be made. Again, during the next two weeks, I will have a household of guests and will be doing some exploring myself and will therefore have a few more recommendations before you start out on your trip.

[Mulcahy]

Regarding wineries, I hope you will consider visiting me at Ladera. I am also fond of Pride, Ridge, J, Schramsburg (for sparkling), Smith Madrone, Neal Family, and the standby, Robert Sinsky. Most of these wineries are appointment-onle (except Sinskey) and will require some phone calls to be made. Again, during the next two weeks, I will have a household of guests and will be doing some exploring myself and will therefore have a few more recommendations before you start out on your trip.

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We would love to visit you at Ladera! Absolutely love to. When we get closer to departure I will pm you to set up a visit.

Thanks for the list of the others. Never been to any of them and now will work on setting up visits.

[Jaymes]

I really like the Hanna Winery. There has never been a crowd there when I was there, and it is kind of out of the way, so you don't get as many folks stomping through. At least that has been my experience. And the wine is excellent.

Another stop I always make is the Prager Winery & Port Works. It's small, family owned and operated, and that's who's in the tasting room. The port is great. There are sweet ones and not so sweet ones. And there are other wines as well. It's right on the main tourist trail, so it's easy to find. But because it's small and primarily offers port, it's not so well known.

[tanabutler]

I really like the Hanna Winery.  There has never been a crowd there when I was there, and it is kind of out of the way, so you don't get as many folks stomping through.  At least that has been my experience.  And the wine is excellent.

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Isn't Hanna in Sonoma? Alexander Valley? Someone at another food forum was mentioning it in conjunction with Sonoma. (And yes, the wines are good.)

Mulcahy, don't miss the Niebaum-Coppola Winery. The memorabilia from his movies fills the place (and it's a castle, really), and the wines are fine. Some other favorites are Robert Sinskey, Joseph Phelps, Rombauer (the Joy of Cooking family), and what used to be S. Andersen and is now Cliff Lede (which makes me nuts, them throwing away a perfectly good name they'd spent decades building) They specialize in sparkling wines—wonderful sparkling wines. Frog's Leap is a WONDERFUL winery, with some of the nicest people I've ever worked with.

Actually, it's fun to spend a day on the Silverado Trail, off the main drag.

But when you're on the main drag, hit the Oakville Grocery for sandwiches and cheese and make a picnic, even if it you have to eat it in your room. Buy condiments! (Stonewall Kitchen's Vidalia Onion sauce, or Maple Chipotle Grill Sauce, for example.)

Cool, look what I found: some coupons for $ off tastings.

Nearly complete listing of wineries in Napa. Other wines I've really enjoyed: Acacia, Cakebread Cellars, Far Niente, Green & Red, Grgich Hills, ZD Cellars.

Tasting on Main looks cool, as does Wineries of Napa Valley, and there are 2-for-1 coupons on the tasting fees (gosh, prices have gone up in the last two-three years).

Hope that helps!

[Carolyn Tillie]

Awww.. Tana, that list sucks big giant rocks. Not only is Ladera not on it, neither is O'Shaughnessy, Outpost, and more. I gotta call those folks (thanks for the heads-up, though.. it is part of my job to take care of these things!)

Edited to add -- these folks only list wineries that are members of the Conference and Visitors Bureau. You gotta pay the dues to get them to list you!

Edited December 22, 2004 by Carolyn Tillie (log)

[samgiovese]

A couple of other retaurant suggestions:

Market in St. Helena is not gourmet, but very good food, and INEXPENSIVE wine...nothing marked up over $14.00 over retail. The former Green Valley Cafe is now Cook, and the chef, Jude Wilmoth, has been in the valley forever. He used to cook at the Napa Valley Grill, and then at Pere Jeanty in Younville. Tra Vigne has a new chef...Bay Area native Daniel Trudeau. I haven't tried it since the change, but I know he cooked for several years at the Hayes St. Grill in the City. Calistoga also has a new place, Stomp, where Jan Birnbaum's Catahoula used to be. Again, haven't tried it, but might be worth a go.

For out-of-the-way wineries, try Chateau Potelle up on Mt. Veeder (no appt. necessary, but it's way the heck up there!), Staglin Family (call their office in Yountville for an appointment), Darioush (just to see the facility...OMG, the money they must have spent!). Also, don't miss Ladera...Carolyn will treat you like royalty, and their two cabs are VERY good (I like the gentleman right now...the cowboy needs more time in the bolttle, but will be dynamite!) As Tana mentioned, Far Niente is now open by Appt. only. It's $40.00 per person, but we thought worth it. Beautiful facility and nice tour & tasting experience. Hope you enjoy yourselves. If you have time and are into it, Villagio in Yountville has a great spa.

Edited December 23, 2004 by samgiovese (log)

[bilrus]

I've only been once - but I would second two places menitoned above. My wife and I had a delightful time at Joseph Phelps on an afternoon in November when we wer the only two visitors and we recieved excellent attention.

We also had a very nice meal at Market. Excellent fish and chips and the truffle mac and cheese were particularly memorable.

[tanabutler]

A couple of other retaurant suggestions:

Also, don't miss Ladera...Carolyn will treat you like royalty, and their two cabs are VERY good (I like the gentleman right now...the cowboy needs more time in the bolttle, but will be dynamite!)  Villagio in Yountville has a great spa.

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Which is the cowboy and which is the gentleman? I need to give one to my daughter to wait for her 21st birthday (2009).

[samgiovese]

A couple of other retaurant suggestions:

Also, don't miss Ladera...Carolyn will treat you like royalty, and their two cabs are VERY good (I like the gentleman right now...the cowboy needs more time in the bolttle, but will be dynamite!)  Villagio in Yountville has a great spa.

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Which is the cowboy and which is the gentleman? I need to give one to my daughter to wait for her 21st birthday (2009).

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The gentleman is the Howell Mt., and the cowboy is the Lone Canyon. Carolyn can expound further if you need it.

[tanabutler]

Thanks. I'm taking the gentleman to the dinner I won.

[Jaymes]

I really like the Hanna Winery.  There has never been a crowd there when I was there, and it is kind of out of the way, so you don't get as many folks stomping through.  At least that has been my experience.  And the wine is excellent.

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Isn't Hanna in Sonoma? Alexander Valley? Someone at another food forum was mentioning it in conjunction with Sonoma. (And yes, the wines are good.)

Yep. And it's pretty far north from the well-worn trails. But still, I really enjoy it and the wines are good. Don't know if I'd suggest it for a 'first-timer,' but after folks have already been to Napa, and "done" all the usual suspects, and are looking for other alternatives, I think it's a good one.

Edited December 23, 2004 by Jaymes (log)

[winesonoma]

You can get to Hanna from 128 out of Calistoga. David 94928 here on eGullet works there.

[samgiovese]

You can get to Hanna from 128 out of Calistoga. David 94928 here on eGullet works there.

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Just checked your original post. Since you're planning to be in the valley for a week, I think a trip into the Alexander Valley, and perhaps over to the Dry Creek Valley would be enjoyable. Much quieter than Napa...especially Dry Creek, where they make dynamite zins. It's a very pretty drive north and west of Calistoga, and a really easy day trip from Yountville. There are several places to lunch in Healdsburg, or you could buy picnic supplies at the Dry Creek Store and picnic (weather permitting) at one of the wineries. Just a suggestion.

[tanabutler]

I had forgotten I had one of these maps, which are truly helpful.

Detailed insets of:

Benicia

Calistoga

Healdsburg

Napa

Petaluma

St. Helena

San Anselmo

San Rafael

Santa Rosa

Sausalito

Sebastopol

Sonoma

Tiburon

There are very detailed maps with icons for:

Breweries, cideries

Campgrounds, RV Parks

Casinos

Colleges and Universities

Fairgrounds

Ferry Services

Gardens

Golf Courses

Golden Gate NRA

Lake Berryessa

Lake Sonoma

Marinas & Boat Launches

Mt. Tamalpais

Muir Woods

Museums, Historic Places

Napa Valley Wineries

Parks & Recreation Areas

Philip Burton Wilderness

Pt. Reyes National Seashore

Shopping & Antique Malls, Outlet Centers

Sonoma Coast State Beaches

Theaters & Performing Arts

Trails: Hiking & Biking

Visitor Centers

Wildlife Preserves (yum, preserves! )

It's the best $6 you will spend, believe me. The lists of wineries includes URLs, phone numbers, addresses, and sometimes, special information such as: "Turnbull Cellars (Oak.) 8210 St. Helena Hwy (CA 29/CA 128) Award-winning architect Wm. Turnbull designed the redwood winery, and was once a partner in this establishment. Rortaing black & white photog. exhibits. Daily tasting (minty cabernet is a good choice) & sales; by appt. only."

Which wineries have picnic grounds? They're listed.

My map is a few years old, though, and doesn't include some of the names already suggested. Still, it's a great thing. I am assuming the newer version is updated (Jan. 2004).

I'm a map geek, and I love this map.

[marie-louise]

You can get to Hanna from 128 out of Calistoga. David 94928 here on eGullet works there.

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Just checked your original post. Since you're planning to be in the valley for a week, I think a trip into the Alexander Valley, and perhaps over to the Dry Creek Valley would be enjoyable. Much quieter than Napa...especially Dry Creek, where they make dynamite zins. It's a very pretty drive north and west of Calistoga, and a really easy day trip from Yountville. There are several places to lunch in Healdsburg, or you could buy picnic supplies at the Dry Creek Store and picnic (weather permitting) at one of the wineries. Just a suggestion.

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Stop at the Jimtown Store too. You can buy Rancho Gordo beans there or at Dean & DeLucca.

[samgiovese]

We'll be there on Superbowl Sunday. Any suggestions for good bars to watch the game?

There is a sports bar in Bel Aire Plaza (Trancas @ California) just off 29 about 6 miles south of Yountville. (It's the center with the new Target, Cost Plus and Trader Joe's) I don't know anything about it, other than driving by it last night on my way to a friend's house.

FWIW

PM me if you'd like the name & further info.

[winesonoma]

Swiss Hotel Sonoma. You can sit at the bar and Eat. Reasonable food and a small intimate atmosphere. Not wide screen. Mostly locals.

[Carolyn Tillie]

We'll be there on Superbowl Sunday. Any suggestions for good bars to watch the game?

There is a sports bar in Bel Aire Plaza (Trancas @ California) just off 29 about 6 miles south of Yountville. (It's the center with the new Target, Cost Plus and Trader Joe's) I don't know anything about it, other than driving by it last night on my way to a friend's house.

FWIW

PM me if you'd like the name & further info.

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Okay, I am REALLY embarassed that I didn't mention this place. Not because I've ever been there, but because I drive through the Bel Aire Plaza every day, living just behind it the center and with Shawn working in the center... It just never triggered its existence in my brain!