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Started By
Message
Recs for Napa and Sonoma
Posted on 6/8/15 at 12:12 am
Posted on 6/8/15 at 12:12 am
Finally taking the wife for a trip to wine country. We will be in Napa for 3 days and the Sonoma area for 3 days. We fly in on Father's day. Neither of us have ever been but I want to eat well while were are there. Ill need any recs from a quick bite to you guys telling me that I have no shot at French Laundry (I plan to try to get in there). I'm not a millionaire but have a nice vacation account saved for this trip. One night I am staying at the Jordan winery and another at the Mauritson winery. Just need to fill in the blanks.
TIA
TIA
10
Posted on 6/8/15 at 6:46 am to EMILIO
Depends on where you are at in Sonoma, but if you can get to the coast there is a place called the terrapin cafe I think (definitely terrapin). It's Michelin rated... Ate there when we stayed in bodega bay. Hit the small mom and pop wineries and ask for recs there as well....
Arista, moshin, Hanna(known for their whites) and hop kiln (my favorite) are the ones I can remember off the top....
Arista, moshin, Hanna(known for their whites) and hop kiln (my favorite) are the ones I can remember off the top....
Posted on 6/8/15 at 7:31 am to HebertFest08
Posted on 6/8/15 at 7:33 am to EMILIO
Sunset dinner on the balcony at Auberge du Soleil in Napa Valley was very nice.
Auberge du Soleil
Also, any recommedations from Don Chowder or Coolpapaboze are spot on for Napa/Sonoma.
Auberge du Soleil
Also, any recommedations from Don Chowder or Coolpapaboze are spot on for Napa/Sonoma.
This post was edited on 6/8/15 at 7:35 am
Posted on 6/8/15 at 7:40 am to EMILIO
If you want to try something unique check out peju's cooking class. We had an absolute blast.
Posted on 6/8/15 at 7:41 am to EMILIO
The marimoto in Napa was great last time I was there.
Posted on 6/8/15 at 8:57 am to Creamer
At this point you have no chance to get in French Laundry. They take reservation 60 days out from the day you want to get in...and they will get 300 calls on that day for 17 tables. My wife and I are going the last week on July and we tried for the first three days to even get to talk to someone...finally got through on the forth day. Dial the number, hit 3 for reservations, if you don't get a person, hang up and try again. I tried 67 times starting at noon (10am west coast time) on the first day. Plan on spending $500 a person with the wine pairing if you get lucky.
Also, check out Wine Spectator June 2015 for a great guide to Napa. Good information on the whole area, places to stay, restaurants, etc.
Also, check out Wine Spectator June 2015 for a great guide to Napa. Good information on the whole area, places to stay, restaurants, etc.
Posted on 6/8/15 at 10:15 am to EMILIO
Go by the Oxbow public market in Napa. Great variety of food choices, and Hog Island Oyster Co has great oysters. you can drink and snack you way thru the whole place at Ca Momi, Eiko's, Kitchen Door; then get some ice cream.
It's really hard to go wrong in Napa/Yountville/St. Helena. Tra Vigne, Brix, Redd Wood. Bring your big pants.
It's really hard to go wrong in Napa/Yountville/St. Helena. Tra Vigne, Brix, Redd Wood. Bring your big pants.
Posted on 6/8/15 at 10:27 am to Mung
This trip is being set up through my work, restaurant biz. Our wine guy has set up some tastings and places to stay for a few nights. So far, he has recommended Barndiva one night and Valette another night. Need meals on 3 other nights. If I was to get into F Laundry, it would only be a hook up through our restaurant group. Dont think I have the time or the patience to call that many times. Maybe its wishful thinking....
Posted on 6/8/15 at 10:34 am to Creamer
quote:
The marimoto in Napa was great last time I was there.
I'd really like to eat there, hopefully it can happen.
Side question, what should I be wearing to any winery tastings? Sounds silly but I don't want to look like a total douche and be too casual but I also dont want to overdress. I wasnt sure if the nicer the winery meant nicer clothes?
Posted on 6/8/15 at 10:44 am to EMILIO
Napa is pretty casual. I go everywhere in shorts, a polo and flip flops. At night, jeans and a fancy dress shirt my GF got me.
Posted on 6/8/15 at 10:47 am to EMILIO
Can also go to Bouchon, which is a more casual, bistro by Keller. Been to the one in Vegas and thought it was very good.
Posted on 6/8/15 at 11:10 am to EMILIO
IMO Bottega is the best restaurant in all of Napa County. Its right in the heart of Yountville. Redd, Auberge de solei (sp?), Bistro Jeanty, Etoile and Bouchon are my favs for dinner.
For lunch, check with the restaurant 1st but Thomas Keller's Addendum in Yountville makes some of the best fried chicken ive ever had. (He owns the French Laundry FYI). Cindy's Backstreet kitchen is another fantastic casual lunch option.
These are my fav. Napa wineries in no particular order:
Raymond
Rombauer
Alpha Omega
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Chappellet
Robert Mondavi (Cellar Tasting)
Frank Family
Folie e deux (for a quick cheap tasting, and potential lunch picnic)
Frog's Leap
Duckhorn
Opus One
Hard to go wrong with the wineries, but IMO, if you are really into wine and not so much touring & sightseeing, I would avoid Castella De amarosa (sp? The big castle). The cakebread tour is also very underwhelming, you should just do a tasting without the tour if you go by there.
Have a good time, best place for a vacation in the country for my tastes and preferences.
For lunch, check with the restaurant 1st but Thomas Keller's Addendum in Yountville makes some of the best fried chicken ive ever had. (He owns the French Laundry FYI). Cindy's Backstreet kitchen is another fantastic casual lunch option.
These are my fav. Napa wineries in no particular order:
Raymond
Rombauer
Alpha Omega
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Chappellet
Robert Mondavi (Cellar Tasting)
Frank Family
Folie e deux (for a quick cheap tasting, and potential lunch picnic)
Frog's Leap
Duckhorn
Opus One
Hard to go wrong with the wineries, but IMO, if you are really into wine and not so much touring & sightseeing, I would avoid Castella De amarosa (sp? The big castle). The cakebread tour is also very underwhelming, you should just do a tasting without the tour if you go by there.
Have a good time, best place for a vacation in the country for my tastes and preferences.
Posted on 6/8/15 at 12:13 pm to EMILIO
quote:
This trip is being set up through my work, restaurant biz.
Make sure to mention you are in the biz and have a card if possible. Most of the wineries will comp your tastings or give you free cheese/crackers if you mention it.
Posted on 6/8/15 at 1:00 pm to EMILIO
quote:Solid.
Mauritson
If you're in to Zins then I would suggest you try Mazzocco just outside of Healdsburg.
Posted on 6/8/15 at 7:43 pm to DonChowder
quote:
Mauritson Solid.
I hope so. Met Clay Mauritson in Nola and he was really cool and invited us to stay at his place.
Posted on 6/8/15 at 10:01 pm to DonChowder
Looks like our first 2 nights will be in Calistoga. Not sure what the restaurant scene is in that town....?
Posted on 6/8/15 at 10:12 pm to EMILIO
I stayed in Calistoga for a couple of nights last year. For food, definitely go to Solbar one night for dinner. JoLe was also quite good for dinner.
I really enjoyed the wine at Vincent Arroyo and actually ended up buying a case from them to be sent back home to me. Other good vineyards I went to were Lava Vine (hip bar scene) and the castle vineyard was cool just to walk around the castle.
I really enjoyed the wine at Vincent Arroyo and actually ended up buying a case from them to be sent back home to me. Other good vineyards I went to were Lava Vine (hip bar scene) and the castle vineyard was cool just to walk around the castle.
Posted on 6/8/15 at 10:15 pm to EMILIO
quote:
first 2 nights will be in Calistoga
Hole in the wall bar...Suzys. It's on the main drag.
Fancy good eats...Solbar on Silverado Trail.
Winery where they pair flaming hot cheetohs with a Muscat wine...Summers on Tubbs Lane. Fair warning - the wine maker is a Florida fan. Be prepared to talk some shite if youre an LSU fan.
Hit up the mud spas if that's your thing.
You'll be on my stomping grounds. @gmail if you need some help.
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