Activities in Napa

Credit: Jericho Canyon

Hi Javy,

We are planning on visiting San Francisco and heading to Napa for a day to enjoy some wineries with the help of one of your wine coaches. I was wondering if you could help us pick a few wineries that are best suited for cold days. This is our first winter wine tour and we are concerned about staying warm and truly enjoying the tasting experience. We can’t wait to hear from you and look forward to our visit.

Jacy & John

Hi Guys,

I am going to take the liberty to respond to your request in a public setting hoping that it can help others planning to visit Napa during low season. Today as I was driving into the valley I could not help it but wonder at the beauty of the fog just lifting and the light softly reflecting on rain droplets. When you visit we probably want to stay away from lighter wines and focus on beautiful and rich flavors that warm both body and soul. We also want to head to wineries where we stand a good chance of visiting with the owner or wine maker so we can go beyond tasting and into conversations that build upon your already nuanced wine knowledge.

You may think that the landscape is fully dormant but the truth is that there is much life exploding in ways that surprise. The mustard has started to blossom and we have spotted sheep already hard at work prepping the land. Don’t forget your camera.

Darioush

Seeking opportunities others overlooked, Darioush and Steve focused intently on site selection and cooler microclimates in Southern Napa Valley; high atop Mount Veeder and the maritime-influenced Valley floor. Replanting where necessary to unlock the full potential of both the vineyard and wine grape cultivated from it. They committed to a Bordeaux-style of winemaking – a blended style they long admired for the potential to truly express a wine’s character (Except from their website because I don’t have words beautiful enough to describe their efforts and style). Heading to this winery is like a mini European vacation. Their tasting room is nothing less than magical and I think you will totally love their Duel blend.

Fontanella

Because there is nothing better than being treated like family. Fontanella is seductive all year long and their ability to pair their wines with gorgeous small bites is the stuff culinary dreams are made of. To add to the cool factor Fontanella was just featured in the latest Tom Clancy novel, True Faith & Allegiance. Talk about having a story to tell.

Ehlers Estate

Because they are lovely and loving and have a way about them that makes you feel like you belong. Their wine is beautiful inside and out with bottles that make you feel like you are constantly luxuriating. Did I mention they make a cab franc to die for?

Jericho Canyon

The views are amazing, the wine utterly seductive and their tasting room so very welcoming. Did I mention their lovely cave? Our own wine collection has a few bottles of Chimera, their proprietary blend.

We can’t wait to host you,

Javy & Team

If you are brokenhearted with the reality that you won’t be able to attend The South Beach Wine and Food Festival we want you to take heart. Not all is lost yet. Jump on your favorite travel engine or cash in some air miles and come join us for Taste of Napa 2016. This event has evolved in beautiful ways capturing the very heart of Napa as a culinary and wine Mecca.

From July 15 to July 24 visitors and locals alike will mingle with la creme de la creme getting to know fantastic culinary artists, delightful performers and the most coveted vintners in the region.

The vibe of our festival is without question a nonpareil experience. Just close your eyes and imagine an afternoon and evening at some of the most coveted wineries and resorts in Napa enjoying eats and treats crafted to perfectly pair with your favorite wines.

The festival offers a full array of tickets and packages aimed at helping you put together an experience that perfectly meets your time constraints while allowing you to enjoy the highlights of the event.

Should I Buy The All Access Pass?

That depends. If your schedule permits the All Access Pass could prove to be an outstanding value. If instead, you have a penchant for independent exploration consider getting a multi-day for opening or closing weekend and spending a few days in Napa taking advantage of a customized wine tasting tour highlighting your favorite wine style, visiting your favorite wineries or allowing us to craft a personalized wine tour itinerary aimed at helping you discover hidden gems and rising stars.

How Should I Dress?

In direct contrast with South Beach Wine & Food Festival our Festival is far less casual. Expect a dress code that embraces elegance and comfort. Gentleman often wear summer slacks and ladies attend both day and evening events with beautiful summer dresses. Galas hosted in venues such as Meadowood resort expect gentleman to wear a jacket. Tie is not required but encouraged. If you are in town and in need of emergency atelier services our personal shopper at Scott Lyall is just a phone call away.

What & Where to Eat?

Every hosted event will have a variety of culinary exhibitions, wine tasting opportunities and pairings prepared to perfection. But what happens before and after each event? The meals enjoyed in Napa during your stay will make you fall in love with our Valley in ways that you never imagined before. If we are your transportation and wine tour provider during your stay we will book your dining reservations at beautiful culinary venues. Some featuring world-class chefs and others trending in the underground dining scene.

Book early. Each year our Festival grows in popularity. We would love to be your Napa Valley transportation provider of choice and promise to take your experience to the next level. However, if we are fully booked we will make our best effort to refer you to top vendors to ensure your experience is worthy of bragging about.  

The season of giving is upon us and once again we are looking forward to hosting this year’s Back to the Vine. This annual charity event helps us raise money to donate to underprivileged children of low-income families in our very own community.

In 2014 we were able to raise money to help 300 children. This year, with your support and the generosity of Central Valley Project we would like to increase this number to 400. According to a study conducted by Bay Area economists, more than 7,000 families are employed by the vineyards in our area during peak growing season. These families are living in low-income situations, paycheck to paycheck, and many don’t qualify for government aid.

The Effects of the Drought

With the current drought wreaking havoc on the state of California, many farmworkers wages have been cut. Many employers are only paying workers the piece rate. While California is not a stranger to the impacts of drought, most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows wage loss as a result of the current drought at nearly double that of the drought in 2009.

Therefore, as we gather with family and friends this holiday season, we want to share our spirit and joy with these very families. The families who do so much and work so hard to make Napa the vivacious and wonderful community it is.

Back to the Vine 2015 will take place at the Boys & Girls Club of Napa on December 6th and kicks off at noon. During the event we will provide winter coats and early Christmas gifts to the children of vineyard, cellar, service, and farm workers in our area. In addition, Chef Gerry from Castro Catering and Alma from Picnics & Pairings will extend the good cheer by passing out a few snacks and goodies to the kids in attendance. Plus, we’re working on bringing lots more surprises to all attendees in the way of live music, DJ, and all sorts of family friendly activities.

How can you help?

Thanks to the immense generosity of Central Valley Project we do not need additional donations this year. However, we still would LOVE for you to join us for a magnificent celebration. Here are a few ways you can help make this event a successful one:

Nominate a Family

We strive to be intentional with our gift distribution. To achieve this, we donate presents based on the nominations of our friends a business partners. If you are aware of a family within your operation or community that you think should be blessed with a special holiday surprise, please do not hesitate to let us know. We would be incredibly honored to help provide them with a magical holiday experience.

Just send an email to concierge@napaprivatetours.com and include the following information:

1. The first and last name of a parent/guardian in the nominated family.
2. A contact phone number for the family.
3. The names, ages, clothing sizes, and genders of the children. (Don’t worry if you’re unsure about these details, we can always contact the family prior to the event to secure the necessary info.)
4. Any special circumstances or struggles the family is facing which you might want to mention.

Please send in your nominations no later than November 28, 2015 in order to ensure Central Valley Project has enough time to take care of the logistics.

Join Us On Location

Help us give hugs, love and good wishes by joining us on location for the event! We believe in the power of community and to make sure this event is a success we need everyone’s help. Stopping by and acting as an agent of goodwill would go a LONG way in helping us achieve this. If possible, here are a few items we would love for you to bring:

• A bottle of wine to share with volunteers after the activity.
• An item for a basket raffle
• A bottle or two of wine for Napa Private Tours to use to facilitate blogger outreach and increased awareness of the event.
• A big smile and TONS OF LOVE!

Please let us know if you would like to volunteer no later than November 27th by sending us a quick email to concierge@napaprivatetours.com.

Not able to make it but still want to help make this event a success? We would be happy to pick up your wine donation prior to the event. Just contact our team at concierge@napaprivatetours.com.

The Details

Location:

Boys & Girls Club of Napa Valley

1515 Pueblo Ave.

Napa, CA 94558

Dates and Times:

December 6th, 2015

Volunteer Arrival: 10 am

Event Begins: 12 noon

Nominated Families Arrival: 1 pm