A Weekend of Wine Tasting in Napa Valley
After years of talking about it, we finally made it happen - a long-awaited trip to Napa Valley to celebrate my birthday! We paired it with a few nights in San Francisco (you can read all about that adventure here if you’re curious). Napa was everything I’d imagined - beautiful, charming and relaxing. After two full days of exploring and wine tasting, I left feeling like I’d uncovered some of the best ways to experience this magical place. Keep reading for my favorites!
Accommodations:
The Inn On First: We were lucky enough to find this little gem of a hotel in Napa, and even decided to treat ourselves to the honeymoon suite! The inn itself is quaint, quiet, and peaceful. The managers, a lovely married couple, also serve as the chefs, offering rotating breakfast options each morning and freshly baked cookies for guests every afternoon. Breakfast is served in their charming garden, surrounded by blooming flowers and hummingbirds - the perfect way to start the day. The location was ideal too - just a quick 5 minute drive to Napa’s best shops and restaurants.
Wineries:
Jordan Vineyard & Winery: This was truly the highlight of our time in Napa! We decided to splurge on the Jordan Estate Tour, a four-hour immersive experience that showcases the very best of the winery. The tour begins at the main house with freshly squeezed orange juice and warm scones before you board a Mercedes Sprinter van to explore the estate.
The first stop is at the gardens, where you can pick and taste fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs - and even feed some to their resident donkeys and goats. Next, you’ll visit a beautiful tasting spot overlooking one of the property’s serene ponds to sample Jordan’s wines and olive oil, paired with delicious accoutrements.
From there, you’ll head into the vineyards to learn about grape growing and the winemaking process (you can even pick a few grapes right off the vine!). The grand finale is an incredible lunch prepared by Jordan’s in-house Michelin-trained chef, paired with their wines and served from a hilltop vantage point overlooking the surrounding vineyards.
Our guide was thoughtful and engaging, the food and wines were outstanding, and the entire experience felt like something out of a fairy tale. I can’t recommend this tour enough - I’m already planning to do it again on my next trip to Napa Valley!
Silver Oak Alexander Valley: We visited Silver Oak the same day as Jordan since both are located in the Healdsburg area - just a quick Uber ride apart! Silver Oak’s sleek, modern architecture was a striking contrast to Jordan’s French chateau style, but equally beautiful in its own way.
For this visit, we opted for a simple four-wine tasting - no tours or pairings - which was a perfect, relaxed change of pace after our morning-long experience. Our host walked us through each current release vintage, explaining their unique notes and history, while we enjoyed the sunshine and vineyard views. It was peaceful, intimate, and the perfect way to spend an afternoon in wine country.
Far Niente Winery: Far Niente has been gracing Napa Valley with its charm and elegance since 1885. Recommended to us by several friends, it quickly became clear why it’s such a beloved spot. The grounds look like something straight out of a storybook - lush gardens, sparkling ponds, and a historic main house draped in ivy.
We booked the Group Tour & Tasting, which took us through the winery’s famous caves, gave us a peek at their vintage car collection, and concluded with a cheese pairing alongside some of my favorite wines of the entire trip!
Restaurants:
Taqueria Maria: We loved this spot so much that we ate there both nights of our trip! The live mariachi band and incredible enchiladas made for a festive, welcoming atmosphere. If you’re craving some delicious Mexican food in Napa, this is the place to go!
Dry Creek General Store: Established in 1881, this charming stop makes for the perfect lunch break between wineries. We grabbed sandwiches between our tastings at Jordan and Silver Oak and cooled off under the fan mist while gazing out at the surrounding vineyards - it was the perfect midday recharge!
Gott’s Roadside: A Northern California classic! We stopped by for a quick bite and ordered the green chile cheeseburger and garlic fries - both absolutely delicious. The lines can get long, so I recommend ordering ahead online if you can.
Travel Tips:
Plan your routes ahead of time. Napa Valley covers a large area, and many vineyards are spread out. We dedicated one day to wineries near Healdsburg and grouped nearby stops together. I’d highly recommend planning out where you’ll go ahead of time so you can group certain stops together!
Transportation: You can drive (with a designated driver, of course), hire a private transfer, or use rideshares. We opted for Ubers, which mostly worked well, though wait times varied - some arrived instantly, others took up to 30 minutes. Plan buffer time between tastings just in case.
Bringing wine home: If you fall in love with a few bottles (and you will!), there are several ways to bring them back. You can ship them via a local shipping service, invest in a wine suitcase, or do what we did - carefully pack them in a checked bag and fly them home with you!
