Napa Valley

Taste of Napa Valley...

The thing about wine, of course, is that it has a synergy with food; they enhance each other. Accordingly, food is elevated here. There are many excellent chefs in this area and many great dining facilities, ranging from the world-famous French Laundry in Yountville to tiny grocery stores that serve gourmet sandwiches. The Valley and its wines beg to be brought on a picnic. It might just be the best way to have lunch. Some wineries cater to picnickers, notably V. Sattui has a nice picnic area and even a deli, but they don't want picnickers tying up their limited parking. Some encourage picnics, but only by reservation. Most wineries offer tastings and/or tours of their products. The form this takes varies greatly. The largest, most well-known wineries such as Mondavi and Beringer are open daily with large hosting facilities, guided tours of the operation and reserve rooms for tasting select, more expensive wines. The many smaller wineries may offer tastings only by appointment, but your tour or tasting may be conducted by the owner. Almost all vineyards charge a fee for the tastings, with the more popular vineyards charging somewhere in the range of $45–$110 (however some ~$30 tours may be available). Winery tours are generally very interesting and informative. Reserve room tastings provide an opportunity to sample expensive wines without having to spend a larger amount for a bottle. Sometimes the tasting fee can be applied to the cost of a bottle purchased.