Auberge du Soleil
This legendary place started as the valley’s first fine-dining restaurant, and was later converted into a Provence-style iconic luxury hotel, set on a 33-acre estate of olive and oak trees. The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil -with one Michelin star- is the best place for a lunch break, surrounded by amazing vineyards. The Sculpture Garden of the hotel also features more than 100 works by 60 Californian artists.
Meadowood Napa Valley
This Relais & Chateaux hotel is a world in itself, with its pampering spa and facilites that are ideal for special occasions. They also organize visits to the best smaller family wine estates of the valley. If you would like to get off the beaten track, check the wineries list on their website!
The French Laundry, Yountville
American chef Thomas Keller’s culinary heaven. This Relais & Chateaux member restaurant has been receiving 3 Michelin stars for the twelfth year in a row. An ideal place for having a dinner at the relaxing ambiance of an old renovated French laundry. While you are there, check their amazing sister establishments, Bouchon bakery and bistro as well.
Miminashi, Downtown Napa
A restaurant where San Francisco residents frequent for its Japanese-style Izakaya menus. The place is only open for dinners, seven days a week. They also serve a family-style prix fixe menu for groups of 8 or more, which offers a great selection from their menu including yakitori, ramen and gyoza (dumplings). The modern wooden interiors have also been inspired by Japanese culture.
Opus One Winery
This is where America’s most sought after wines are produced. Opus One is the result of a New World-Old World partnership between two visionary men: Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild (Bordeaux), and Robert Mondavi, famed for his amazing Napa winery. Five heritage Bordeaux grape varieties are cultivated here to make two outstanding wines. Guided tours and tasting are offered by appointment only. Contemporary architecture, and classical music broadcast inside and outside make this visit a special one.
Inglenook, St. Helena Highway
This is the historical wine estate, where the famous Amerixcan director Francis Ford Coppola first started to produce wine in the 70s. After a few ups and downs, he became successful too. So successful that this tranquil wine estate suddenly became a tourist magnet, making Coppola almost go crazy. So, he decided to open Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Sonoma (a “Disneylike” wine estate for tourists) and reserved one and only Inglenook for himself and the visitors who are serious about wine!
Silver Oak Napa Valley
A modern and beautiful family estate, where you could just drop in for a tasting or reserve a special food pairing by their inhouse chef. They have a second winery in Alexander Valley too. They only cultivate Cabernet Sauvignon, while craft their wines in hand-made American white oak barrels.
ÆRENA Galleries & Gardens
A contemporary art consultancy agency, featuring four galleries and eight sculpture gardens sprinkled throughout Napa and Sonoma valleys. Showcasing works of emerging, mid-career and established artists, they also organize personalized wine and gallery experiences, where visitors could have intimate tours with the artists.