June gloom is (almost) upon us. Pre-emptively craving the sunny side of life? Head to Napa Valley, where golden light blankets vineyard-covered hills. Daily afternoon flights from LAX mean you’ll touch down in time to soak in the smog-free sunset.
Green goes luxe at the ecofriendly Bardessono in Yountville, where you can pedal alongside the acres of vineyards on a complimentary carbon fiber bicycle.
Water babies take the plunge at Solage Calistoga with its showstopping 130-foot, heated swimming pool.
The ne plus ultra of wine country pampering, the Spa at Carneros Inn in Napa entices weary travelers with indulgent poultice massages and antioxidant-rich facials.
Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto made a splash in Napa with Morimoto, where fresh sushi and forward-thinking Japanese cuisine are the catch of the day.
Tyler Florence’s Rotisserie & Wine lives up to its name and then some with creative dishes like Sonoma duck confit and waffles.
It’s dinner and a show at The Culinary Institute of America’s St. Helena campus restaurant, The Wine Spectator Greystone, where you can watch as chefs and students make prosciutto-wrapped cod in an open kitchen.
Do a few warm-up laps around Napa’s Oxbow Public Market, where local purveyors like Tillerman Tea and Kara’s Cupcakes hawk gourmet goodies.
Hit the sweet spot with Woodhouse Chocolate’s handcrafted confections in classic (mocha cream) and off-the-grid (Thai ginger) flavors.
Swanson Vineyards’s new tasting room, The Sip Shoppe, pairs the winery’s vintages with inspired eats (caviar-topped potato chips, old-fashioned toffee).
New kid on the block Cade is the Valley’s LEED Gold Certified winery and has a solar-powered tasting room.
If winery-hopping is more your speed, grab your driver’s license and book a Wine Country Vespa tour.
Or if you need a break from the hard stuff altogether, head over to Round Pond Estate for a tasting of gourmet olive oil.
Comments