re: Napa Winery Wine Tastings (Time spent beyond the tasting)

As others have said: Max 2 or 3 tastings in a day.

On our 2-a-day tours, we just had a chill morning and a break before dinner. On 3-a-days it honestly got close to feeling rushed just getting between places (as rushed as you can be while relaxing and drinking delicious wine in gorgeous surroundings) but never had anybody try to rush us out of any property.

Anything worth getting in for tasting on-property is most likely going to require a reservation - but you can always call around day-of and see if there are cancellations. For spurious walk-in action, there a lot of tasting rooms (bars), especially in Napa proper, where you can taste a ton of wines. If you are in downtown Napa, you won't have any problem killing time. Same is true in most cities, but depends on how much you're in to sight seeing.

Don't try to bring food in (unless you pre-arrange that it's okay) but you can eat at a restaurant between stops, or carry a picnic lunch with you. Hit up the Cal-Mart in calistoga for easy and delicious picnic lunch options.

If you have a solid day or (maybe even half day if you hurry) a drive up the coast is definitely a trip worth making. Can hit the redwoods while you're up there.

Food options/recommendations will vary drastically depending on where you are that day, and/or where your home base is. Reservations at a lot of places aren't necessarily required, as long as you're flexible on what time you eat and how long you're okay with waiting. But booking a reservation really just helps to plan out the day.

Food recs are also going to vary pretty highly depending on your price point. Model bakery is definitely a good breakfast option, but if you're in or near Yountville, Bouchon Bakery is legitimately amazing. As close as I have ever gotten to proper French Pastry without going to Paris. We didn't try it until near the end of our trip and I was mad at myself for not getting to eat it for every previous breakfast.

Not sure how much time you have before your trip or if you have any flexibility, but if you have the means, I would HIGHLY recommend getting a private tour/driver to take you to wineries. It eases the driving burden (uber is hit or miss, depending on where you are) and the good drivers will line up tours at boutique wineries that you otherwise would never even find. As I was told when I was there - you're not very likely to hit a checkpoint, but if you swerve or blow a stop sign or have your phone in your hand, you WILL get pulled over and your purple teeth will be a dead giveaway.

Most of all - do what you want! It's a beautiful place with great food, great juice, and nice people.