The Pacific Highway journey continues to grow in popularity as being a great way to discover the West Coast of America. From San Francisco to Los Angeles, you could take in the finest of great city living, national parks, not to mention some of the best wine regions in the world. One of our highly recommended road trip stops would have to be Napa Valley, a must visit destination for luxury travellers looking for the finest in gastronomy and only an hour and a half’s drive from San Francisco. Boasting more than 450 wineries, the 30 mile valley is home to excellent cuisine, local artists, historic architecture as well as stunning landscapes that will appeal to our more refined luxury travellers. Listed below are four ways for luxury travelers to enjoy the Napa Valley
4 ways to enjoy the best of Napa Valley
1. The wine
Well let’s start with the most obvious – the wine! Our recommendation would be to leave the wine tours to the experts as opposed to attempting to piece together your own tour. Napa Private Tours is one of our top recommended partners and certainly worth the investment to savour the very best in Californian wine in complete effortless luxury. From just $500 everyone within your group or couple can enjoy the experience without needing to nominate a designated driver or suffer the trials of GPS and the small unmarked back roads.
A completely tailored experience, your wine coach will tailor the tour based on your preferences taking into consideration your personality, tastes and objectives. Guests are picked up from the hotel by luxury vehicle to ensure maximum comfort and driven to the finest vineyards in the area but ensuring all appointments are booked and so the vineyards are all ready for your arrival and the leisurely drive includes some of the best scenery in Napa. For the luxury traveler, exclusivity is vital and tours include caves, or private vineyard experiences with limited edition wines for that something special.
2. The food
As well as delicious wine the food in Napa is certainly the place to revel into the area’s gastronomy. There is of course Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry – one for each and every food lover’s bucket list. This three star Michelin restaurant is unquestionably top of its game but dress code aside (don’t forget your jacket gentlemen) this is very much a relaxed affair in which you can enjoy the creative talents of the team within a more intimate atmosphere. The knowledgeable and passionate team are happy to provide advice and suggestions and it’s not surprising their wine list is notably focussed on quality – including half bottles which is perfect for two – but also very balanced with regards to price. If reservations at the high in demand French Laundry aren’t possible, Thomas Keller’s second more low-key restaurant, Ad Hoc provides a much more relaxed, casual family atmosphere with one menu per day.
Finally for those who prefer a good wholesome food experience, a trip to Long Meadow Ranch at St Helena is necessary because of their delicious farm to menu table. The outside dining on the stunning terrace offers spectacular views of Napa, and the restaurant features its own smokers and BBQ for phenomenal cuisine. The team are equally enthusiastic about the food and wine, and are extremely helpful in providing assistance with the menu. One tip – try the delicious wines from local fun family company Dirty and Rowdy!
3. Local towns
Visiting the local towns can offer a welcome respite from visiting vineyards. Yountville whilst small means that it’s easily walk able and unlike most American towns where driving is really a necessity, you can easily walk from the hotel to the chilled bars or restaurants. Redd Wood bar serves great pizza to get a lighter snack option and provides a far more adventurous menu of toppings – don’t knock Brussel sprouts on pizza until you’ve tried it. Unusual, yes, delicious, definitely! Meander through Downtown Napa and visit Oxbox Public Market where you can find the artisanal ingredients used in the best Napa Valley restaurants from freshly baked goods, charcuterie and cheese or visit a local Taqueria for a taste of Mexico. Art lovers will love Santa Lane because of its art galleries featuring local artists as well as shops.
4. Luxury accommodation
Our recommendation will be to get the most from your visit to Napa by allowing yourself a longer period and treating yourself to a comfortable short break. You will find a great selection of luxury accommodation in the region which would suit our most discerning clientele. Bardessono Hotel and Spa offers a fully luxurious guest experience whilst remaining eco-conscious where sustainability is at the heart of its design and service. Every room can be transformed into a private spa space for massages and together with the main spa therapy center offers a combination of both east and western therapies. The Carneros Inn is set on 27 acres of scenic countryside with its Californian farm inspired cottages silos and barns offering lush vineyard or garden views, as well as excellent concierge service. The exclusive, intimate Auberge du Soleil has all of the facilities of a luxury resort including 7,000 square foot luxury spa and Michelin star restaurant. Finally Calistoga Ranch offers supreme comfort, nestled in a private canyon in the Upper Napa Valley amidst 157 acres of mountainside hiking trails as well as its own private lake and supplying the ultimate indoor/outdoor living experience.
The wonderful thing about Napa is that it’s a year round destination, and pretty consistent weather wise. There is certainly plenty to discover and do however the rates will drop slightly in mid-September after domestic peak travel from July-September, which ties in during the autumn harvest season and certainly our top recommendation of when to visit.