Wine & Dine in Yountville, Napa Valley

Yountville is a small village in Napa Valley wine country. It is made for wine and food lovers. There is a little bit of shopping to be had, but the joy of the place is in its walkability. You may choose to hop in a car or take a tour of the greater wine country offerings, of course, but this town allows you an easily contained tasting experience without needing a designated driver.

Wineries

Please note, in the past few years many tasting rooms have implemented a fee for tasting that they do not always credit back to you with a purchase, which used to be the accepted practice.

Jessup Cellars Tasting Gallery: For its deep, dark reds and its art gallery.

Hope & Grace Wines: This winery has quite a cult following and is totally worth stoppping by.

Handwritten Wines: This winery hosts a special atmosphere and has some memorable wines.

Note: I am sad to say that Ma(i)sonry, which was my favorite place in all of Wine Country, has been purchased and revamped by a retail chain. It has lost its magic. However, if you are not put off by outdoor chandeliers (over 50 of them to be exact) you may enjoy the outdoor seating. And the food is quite good.

Other fun stops

Kollar Chocolates: This chocolate shop carries unique shapes and flavors.

JCB Tasting Salon: This cute spot carries imports, wines and other eclectic items.

George C Yount Pioneer Cemetery and Ancient Indian Burial Grounds: Located at the end of town, this is an excellent distinction from all the wine.

Day trips

There is plenty to explore in wine country. One of my favorite tasing areas is the Silverado trail, just a hop, skip and a jump from Yountville.

Bistro Jeanty: A fabulous French restaurant for food lovers and novices alike. The setting is a bit rickety-bistro with casual French vibes. The vine-covered patio is a lovely option for lingering over foie gras, escargot, tomato soup en croute and wine when you are there for lunch on a nice day. Prices are nice enough that a steak frites for lunch is not out of the question.

Bouchon Bistro: The third of Thomas Keller’s Yountville restaurants and 1/3 of the price of French Laundry (see below), where you can eat unpretentious, French fare with a Keller twist. From Croque Madame to steak and roasted chicken, the kitchen puts out classical French bistro fare. I love sitting at the marble topped bar, Pastis in one hand and a spoon for my mussels in the other. Not only is it quite affordable, but if you are lucky enough to snag an outdoor seat, feel free to sit, Paris-style, all afternoon chatting with friends.

Ad Hoc: Another Thomas Keller offshoot, originally planned as pop-up, Ad Hoc is a casual burger kind of place. Their sample menu varies, but might include greens with dates and nectarines, ribeye with artichoke relish and mushroom ragu or fish and chips, local cheese with peach ham and pana cotta with berry sauce. I love the diagram of meat cuts hanging over the front. Check the menu before you go, as it changes daily, and schedule your visit, if you can, to make it up there for fried chicken night!

Bottega Napa Valley: Housed in an old, this brick winery is set back from the main strip and snuggled up next to Michael Chiarello’s Napa Style cooking store. This vine-covered Italian eatery is almost always full, it seems… And for good reason. The food is good and its patio is inviting. I would recommend sitting next to the stone fireplace on the patio for drinks and ordering small plates from the bar. The interior is a rustic, warm and deeply hued dining room which is comfortable. The wine list is fun, indoors or out, and has some interesting discoveries.

The French Laundry: This is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of dining experience. The multi-course meal; takes several hours to get through, and while you will relish every bite, I found myself calculating the price of every chew. Yes, the food is all that it is purported to be: genuine, elegant, beautiful, exciting, intriguing and served with precision. If you have the time and the patience to get a reservation six months out, and the money (I am not exaggerating when I forewarn that an evening here will put you back close to $750 for 2), then go early, sit in the garden and sip on something cool and lovely, or take a stroll through their vegetable garden across the street first. Take in every corner and piece of artwork in this rather dim, old laundry building. And savor every bite because it may be the only time you get to! Note: Jacket and tie required. No jeans, shorts, tennis shoes or T-shirts permitted inside.