Wine Tours

Hotel Andana a Valle de Guadalupe Secret Worth Sharing

by Javy on 2023-07-06 in Filed Under: Uncategorized, Wine Tours

Nestled just a couple of hours from San Diego, CA, just across the border, lies a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered – Valle de Guadalupe. This charming region is home to over 150 wineries and proudly produces 90% of the wine originating in Mexico. While grape cultivation has been a part of Valle’s heritage for over a century, it was only about 15 years ago that a renaissance took place, leading to the production of world-class wines and establishing it as a top-level enophile destination. During our recent visit to this captivating region, we had the pleasure of experiencing the epitome of elegance and class at Andana, a remarkable hotel that we can’t wait to share with you.

Experiencing the Holistic Pleasures:

In the world of wine tasting adventures, true enjoyment lies in experiencing everything holistically – from the delectable cuisine and comfortable accommodations to the breathtaking sights. That’s why we are thrilled to introduce you to Andana, a haven that encompasses all of these elements flawlessly.

A Haven of Unparalleled Comfort and Elegance:

Andana is an absolute gem within Valle de Guadalupe. With 33 meticulously designed suites, this hotel offers an unparalleled level of comfort and elegance without compromising the serene ambiance provided by its natural surroundings. From the moment we stepped into our room, we were captivated by the flawless design, reminiscent of the top destination properties in Napa. Every detail was thoughtfully curated, creating a space that exuded tranquility and sophistication.

Perfectly Situated for Gastronomic Delights:

One of the highlights of Andana’s location is its proximity to superior dining and wine tasting destinations. Whether you’re seeking a Michelin-starred restaurant or a hidden gem serving traditional Mexican delicacies, you’ll find an array of culinary delights just a stone’s throw away from the hotel. Andana’s concierge and hospitality team are well-connected, providing you with insider recommendations and ensuring that your dining experiences are nothing short of extraordinary.

A Home Away from Home in Valle:

If you’re planning a trip to Valle de Guadalupe, we wholeheartedly recommend considering Andana as your home base. The hotel’s impeccable service, luxurious accommodations, and prime location make it the perfect sanctuary for wine enthusiasts and travelers seeking a refined escape. Whether you spend your days exploring the vineyards, indulging in exquisite cuisine, or simply unwinding in the peaceful ambiance of the hotel, Andana will exceed your expectations.

Valle de Guadalupe is a destination that promises a sensory journey like no other, and Andana embodies the essence of class and elegance within this captivating region. With its impeccable attention to detail, luxurious amenities, and prime location, Andana ensures that your stay in Valle de Guadalupe will be an unforgettable experience. We wholeheartedly give Andana two thumbs up and urge you to consider this exquisite hotel for your next wine adventure.

With love,

The Javys

Mario Bazán Cellars – Where Elegant Beauty Meets Sublime Flavors

by Javy on 2019-04-16 in Filed Under: Activities in Napa, Wine Tours

We love rituals of beauty and we are passionate when it comes to perfection and nuance. Because marvelous wines is our thing we can’t help it but pause to celebrate Mario Bazán. You have probably heard about Mario. He has a story worth telling. A self-made man able to grow vines of marked quality. Mario is well versed in every facet of wine making. His experience in wine production is paramount. His wines are are laudable, complete and simply inspiring. His hands, mind and heart have shaped many of the Napa wines you have come to enjoy for almost 50 years.

When Less Is More

Bazán Cellars is a micro-producer. While Mario manages hundreds of acres for many highly coveted wineries his personal production is a gift available to a few lucky wine collectors. In contrast to mass-produced wines all of Mario’s wines are infused with dedication, intentionality and absolute craftsmanship. Together with his wife Gloria they are in the business of creating wines worthy of the most exclusive wine cellars.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to stop by their new tasting room. I can’t tell you how much I look forward to sharing this gem with you. Like a freshly blossomed anemone the ambiance is intimate, delicate and aimed at gifting each visitor with tender and caring hospitality. Their goal is to deliver guest-focused tasting opportunities filled with tidbits of history and wine-making education. It takes someone like Mario to execute at this level.

We can’t wait to introduce you. Ask us to include Bazán Cellars next time we get to host your wine tasting trip to Napa, Sonoma and the surrounding California Wine Country,

Much Love,

Javy

Luxury Wine Tours in Napa-How to Do it the Right Way

by nptadmin on 2015-03-31 in Filed Under: Wine Tours

On a regular basis we receive referrals from five star hotels in Napa looking for a transportation company that is able to handle VIP guests with discretion and flawless service. When it comes to marketing wine experiences we tend to agree with many critics that feel the word luxury is used way too frequently causing a great deal of dissapointment for wine buyers and collectors that are not only looking for the best and most exclusive wines but also seek out experiences that allow them to learn directly from winery owners, wine consultants and wine producers that truly take pride in every step of the art of wine making.

As we sat in our weekly meeting putting together wine tour itineraries for guests with superior appreciation of wine we had to challenge ourselves to deliver a true luxury experience in wine touring. Guests of such caliber are seeking opportunities to be the first to taste and purchase the finest wines that Napa has to offer and want to do so in a setting that is beautiful, conducive to full appreciation of each glass and intimate enough to understand what took place behind the scenes to make each wine possible. A wine after all, must always have a story.

While this list is not all-inclusive and does not take into account individual preferences of the more refined palate we wanted to share with you some of the wineries and restaurants we have included as part of the wine and dine touring plan for our VIPs.

Keep in mind some of the venues we are listing are in high demand and only cater to a limited number of guests by appointment only. For gastronomical experiences some of the restaurants we have listed are often fully booked up to 90 days in advance.

If you are hoping to have us craft a multi-day wine tour experience in Napa that includes some of the highlighted venues please plan to book in advance. We are highly relational with some of these partners and sometimes can take advantage of a last minute cancellation but we rather plan ahead to ensure you and your guests have a delightful experience and the opportunity to source some of the best wine in the world.

Vineyard 29

An absolute favorite of ours. If you love Pinot Noir consider adding a few cases of their 2011 vintage to your collection.

Dancing Hares Vineyard

A highly exclusive winery with superior wines that consistently rank among the best. Their level of hospitality during private wine tastings is simply the stuff dreams are made of.

Bure Family Wine

If you are planning on a multi-day luxury wine tour you might want to include Bure. There is some travel involved but you won’t regret it. The route is scenic and it will allow for you and your guests to engage in conversation and compare notes from prior tastings.

Constant Vineyard

Words cannot begin to describe the beauty and view from this boutique vineyard. Small in size but large in character their wines are so coveted you need to sign into a waiting list for future vintages.

Gastronomical Adventures

The culinary landscape in Napa is not only seductive is highly coveted and features both classical cuisine and chefs with the gift for culinary innovation. Among our top picks these restaurants stand out for excellence in service and perfection in execution.

The Restaurant at Meadowood

The written language cannot capture the magic at Meadowood. Most of you have read about it or heard your friends describe the seductive qualities of the cuisine offered by the Meadowood culinary team.

French Laundry

The brainchild of Chef Thomas Keller this culinary experience is essential to the bucket list of real foodies. A stop at French Laundry is an experience and not simply a meal.

Give us a call or email us to discuss your wine touring preferences and help you book a true luxury wine tour of Napa.

Cheers!

Javy, David & Jona

The Ultimate Napa Experience-Tour Napa with a Winemaker

by nptadmin on 2015-03-20 in Filed Under: Wine Tours

As Movie Stars are to Hollywood, winemakers are to wine country; Some storytellers will describe them as Rockstars of the wine industry, while some will contradictorily say that the position is a glorified plumber. From world renowned wine consultants of Cult Wine brands to humble wine producing farmers, Napa Valley has a vast array of winemakers & stories to share. At Napa Private Tours, we’re very excited to have our own winemaker on-board to show you Wine Country from a producer’s standpoint.

Our winemaker David James has been producing his own premium rosé wine for the past four vintages now for DEFINE Wines (website link). He has moved around Napa Valley producing his wines at the Mondavi Family, Trefethen Family, Laird Family & Spelletich Family Wineries. David James moved to Napa Valley from Boston, MA to follow a vision he saw while visiting Italian Wine Country & wanted to get involved with the wine industry as soon as possible. After his years of studying wine chemistry & winery apprenticeships he set-off with a business plan & has been building a wine brand from the ground up.

When we tell you that we know Napa inside out and we are eager to share the most exclusive wine touring experiences we are not exaggerating. Napa Private Tours is a project rooted in a deep love for wine production and David James exemplifies it.

We’re very excited to have winemaker David James on the Napa Private Tours’ team to offer you an insiders view of starting a winery & producing premium wine in the world famous Napa Valley.

Cheers! Reserve your tour with David James today by contacting us at concierge@napaprivatetours.com.

Want to learn more about David James & Define Wines? Visit him at www.definewines.com

Best Wine Tours in Napa?

by nptadmin on 2015-03-14 in Filed Under: Wine Tours

We are surprised by number of wine tour operators and travel organizations that claim to know who is the best wine tour in Napa. To us a single wine tour cannot be qualified as the best mainly because we don’t believe in cookie cutter wine tours. Food & Wine ran an article featuring a collection of wineries they perceived to be the top wineries to visit in Napa and I can’t help it but agree with some of their picks. But before you add every single winery listed on this slideshow to your bucket list let me remind you that wine is a very personal and experiential luxury.

To us, crafting the best wine tours in Napa is about getting to know our guests and tailoring the wine tour to their taste, passions and wine collecting objectives. We are able to achieve the ultimate in personalization by carefully interviewing each potential guest and for lack of a better word pairing people with amazing wine experiences that speak to every sense.

When we plan your wine tour in Napa, we take into account, among other things the following:

Are you a first-timer looking for discovery?
Are you entertaining a corporate client or incentivizing your employees with a wine tour?
Do you have a clearly defined preference for certain types of wine?
Are you a wine collector looking to diversify your cellar?
Are you in town looking to buy wine cases to celebrate a special occasion?
Celebrating a special occasion or milestone?
Is your wine tour the backdrop of a marriage proposal?

Our team meets a couple of times per week to evaluate guest interviews and try to match you with the best and most beautiful wineries and the most coveted wines. As a boutique wine tour operator we want your experience to be so beautiful and memorable that you will want to repeat it year after year. Jona, David and I are dedicated to hosting five star wine tours and want every guest to fall in love with Napa and all that it has to offer.

Looking forward to your visit,

Javy