Best Things to do Wine Country, California

A weekend in Wine Country, California will be the most relaxing, exciting, and entertaining 48 hours of your life. The Best Things to do Wine Country, California include dining at The French Laundry, exploring the farm to table options at Long Meadow Ranch, making your own wine at the Conn Creek Barrel Blending Experience, taste all the wine, and finish it off at Morimoto Napa.

Wine Country is located 50 miles northeast of San Francisco and extends from American Canyon to Calistoga California. The top things to do are centered around tasting some of the best wine in the country.

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Best Things to do Wine Country California

There are two major roads winding through wine country Highway 29 the main drag, and Silverado Trail less traveled but just as beautiful. There are tons of wineries to tour, and interesting things to do. A long weekend is going to go by quick, and it is a decent distance to cover. Wine tastings can be a bit pricey at some of the higher end wineries, and the distances between the wineries can be pretty significant, so keep that in mind when creating your route.

First things first, getting to Napa Valley there are two major airports in the area Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is 75 miles. The Oakland International Airport (OAK) is 63 miles away. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is 70 miles away the drive from San Francisco can be a little longer because of traffic, and the toll over the Golden Gate Bridge is $8.70 each way. Pro Tip create a license plate account on the Golden Gate Bridge Toll website, for the time you are in the area, but always make sure to close it out on your last day. This will save you the fee rental car companies charge you when you go through tolls. Once you have your rental and head out, you are in for a beautiful ride, the views on the way are so gorgeous.

The French Laundry

Prioritizing Experiences over things, the ultimate foodie experience in the Napa area is The French Laundry. The French Laundry is located in Yountville California. Yountville is is such an adorable town, and is filled with lots of lovely restaurants. The three-starred Michelin Restaurant The French Laundry is Thomas Keller’s flagship restaurant. The restaurant can be quite a difficult reservation to get, and you prepay for the basic reservation when booking. There are add-on’s available such as adding wine to the coursed meal. This can add up, but trust me this is an experience of a lifetime.

The food is amazing and the coursed meal is well worth the time and money. There are two tasting menus offered daily, the Chef’s Menu and the Tasting of Vegetables. The nine courses are well worth it! The bread is freshly baked, and the butter is so rich and creamy. There is a course with truffles, and man do they make it rain shaved truffles! That is the first and only time I have ever experience such decadence.

When you think you need to wave the white flag, they bring out desserts and you find the room to indulge in the most gorgeous hand painted chocolates you have ever seen. If you are hoping for more info on how these amazing Chef’s make it all work, ask them for a tour, and they might indulge you! There is a livestream in the kitchen of their sister restaurant in NYC Per Se. The kitchen is absolutely amazing, and if you even kinda like restaurants you will be awestruck at this gorgeous workspace!

The best area to stay hands down is St. Helena, this feels a little more trendy and down to earth, and after the amazing but somewhat pricey meal you just experienced your pocket book might thank you for spending a little less in the hotel department. There are plenty of hotels and B&B’s to choose from, but being closer to downtown area would serve you better. The downtown area has many cute shops and yummy food options, and even some late night options if you are feeling up for it. Although, quieter than Napa, St. Helena is beautiful and I think is the perfect base of operations for your weekend. It is a quick drive to any location in the wine country area.

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Long Meadow Ranch

Long Meadow Ranch is a winery and a farm to table restaurant. It is so incredibly delicious, for sure order the deviled eggs. If you are looking for an amazing view the tasting room has some amazing wine and the most epic view. It’s incredible and well worth the add to the list.

Conn Creek Barrel Blending Experience

Conn Creek Barrel Blending Experience is another must-hit 2 hour experience. The blending experience begins with a little education on the different growing regions in Napa Valley. The term is the American Viticultural Area, or AVA, and Napa Valley within it exists 16 additional AVAs.

Then it breaks down the different types of Cabernet Sauvignon you have the opportunity to blend. You also can add in Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. After taste testing all of the different options, you then do a mini taster of the blend you will create.

Once you have the blend balanced for your taste, you then blend a bottle. You get to name it, get whity with it! Then put it on the shelf for 6-9 months, and pop it open. If you love your blend, they keep it on file and you can order more bottles! How cool is this addition to your wine collection. Also, if you travel with a partner you get to compete on who makes the better bottle, but everyone wins with some yummy wine! You will learn so much from the two hour experience, and develop your palate and knowledge.

Wine Tasting

Wine tasting in Napa Valley is where it is at. There are so many amazing wineries to choose from. This is the part that may require some planning and reservations. I would pick your top 3 wineries, and make reservations, space them out. While driving up and down the trail you could add in a couple other options if something along the way peaks your interest. If you are truly going to make a day of it, you may want to get a driver for the day. The drives between wineries can be pretty long and you don’t want to chance drinking and driving. If you are in the restaurant business, make sure you bring your business cards, because many of the big wineries offer a hospitality discount.

Morimoto Napa

If you are up for more tour downtown Napa, there are so many tasting rooms to wander through and try new and different options. I also recommend hitting up Morimoto Napa. It is one of Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s restaurants. It is beautiful and the food is amazing and unique. It is a very popular place, so you may want reservations, but the bar is first come first serve. There is a patio area that overlooks the Napa River. You will love the amazing food creations that are served here and the beautiful interior.

There are so many other options in Napa Valley, you could do a hot air balloon ride, the wine train or tour Castello di Amorosa. If all you do is drive up Highway 29 and down Silverado Trail and turn in when the whim crosses you, it will still be an epic adventure. Make it the best fit for you, whatever pops your bottle!