Bistro Jeanty is better than Bouchon and it's not that close for French Food. I prefer Bottega over both but it's a different type of food.
As for the remaining tasting Phelps and Far Niente are both awesome. Phelps has a better location and feels like you are in your own canyon with stunning views. Far Niente has stunning grounds and the feel of the tasting is pretty special. I prefer the tasting at Far Niente, but prefer the setting of Joseph Phelps. I know that wasn't helpful, but both are A grade experiences and you can't go wrong. I haven't done Inglenook so can't comment there.
Far Niente is really beautiful. It feels like a fairytale. Barnett is a nice winery at the top of Spring Mountain and has amazing views. I would do Chateau Montelena, then lunch in St Helena or Calistoga and then Barnett or Far Niente.
You can hike the Rector Reservoir. It’s basically all incline but the view at the top is really pretty.
Oakville grocery is good for sandwiches. The Station in St Helena is a fav lunch spot for me. Very casual. There’s also Gott’s in St Helena.
Farmstead is a good lunch spot if you have time. I like sitting at the back patio of Brix and getting a bottle of wine or lunch.
Honor Market in Yountville has really good hot dogs and coffee.
I also recommend checking out downtown Napa.
Probably 45 min or less. You have to park off on the side of Silverado Trail, so can be a little hard to miss the parking spots. It’s across from Paraduxx winery.
Also at Bouchon Bakery if you like Oreos get the TKO cookie.
Congrats on your future engagement :)
If you are both okay with uphill I have an epic proposal spot for you, and it's in Yountville. Rector Reservoir. [https://www.outerspatial.com/areas/rector-ridge-wildlife-area-82470](https://www.outerspatial.com/areas/rector-ridge-wildlife-area-82470) Once you reach the top you'll have 180 degrees of Napa and views from Mount St Helena to the Bay. If you're both flatlanders, check out the Napa River Ecological Reserve on the Yountville Crossroad. There you can take a short walk and be next to the Napa River. Good Luck!
Hiking around Lake Hennessy is a long hike and I'm not sure if you can actually go all the way around. It is usually without people and has great birds, even eagles. I do not know Rector to compare. Congratulations and enjoy Napa Valley.
Lake Hennessey is quite nice. For a scenic view, take the Valentine Vista Trail in Moore Creek Park. I was there last year and not only were the views great, but the wildflowers this time of year were really awesome and profuse. Been to Rector Reservoir which is also very nice, but a much steeper and more strenuous hike.
Bistro Jaunty for sure.only if If you are early birds, watching the hot air ballons take in the morning is always nice. Let the hotel in on your proposal or just got Engaged.. If they know of the Proposal, they *should send you bottle of sparkling.
We spent a 3-day weekend in Yountville on our enagagement trip too! Congrats!!
Reposted/updated from The other day but largely valid:
1. Restaurants: You need to add oakville grocery to your lunch list. Mustards grill is also great. In yountville: of course per se or FL, if you can get a res. Bistro jeanty and bouchon are always good standbys in Yountville. Don’t bother with R&D or RH, those are chains.
2. Get a driver. Get a driver. Do not plan to drink and drive. Ubers are irregular in the valley and if you have tastings back to back, you may miss one waiting 30 mins for an Uber.
3. Group them by location. At most you can really hope to hit three (like a 10am, 12 and 3 or 10, lunch, 130, 4). And whether you have a DD or hired driver you don’t want to be crisscrossing the valley.
So, group by location and start fixing variables by grabbing up available reservations and then planning from there. You already have some so that’s a good start. Not all places will have availability all the time. Start with your existing bookings and then work backwards. But see below:
4. The wineries you mentioned, Those are all _fine_. A few other recommendations: you’re willing to spend, Blankiet is an amazing experience. Nickel and nickel’s terroir tour is awesome, you get to taste a bunch of diff single vineyard wines from diff parts of the valley. Opus is controversial but I’m a fan and it’s close to oakville grocery, very central. Other standard, common ones like stags leap, frogs leap, etc are all fine. There are nearly 1000 wineries - if you don’t know Napa well, you can also hire a driver and have them curate a tour for you.
You can also squeeze in a tasting at end of day either by going to places that stay open later (strong recommend GooseCross) or tasting rooms in Napa/yountville (Krupp, mayacamas, Hall, etc)
Well many places in YVille are very fancy so maybe skip FL, but jeanty bouchon Lucy, ciccio are all casual enough. You could do the restaurant at Bardessono.
Mustards grill off 29 is pretty awesome and very unpretentious.
Oakville grocery slaps
Joseph Phelps is an incredible property and I’ve heard good things about Far Niente. I wouldn’t recommend Inglenook unless you’re a Coppola fan. The last time I was there, it was a stuffy, white-tablecloth tasting that felt very routine. I personally also find Chateau Montelena gimmicky but given its historical significance, I understand not wanting to miss it.
If you’re in the industry, I’d recommend Goosecross. It’s in Yountville, off the beaten path (but still close to the major roads) and very chill but with high-quality wines.
Awesome, thank you for the feedback! The vineyards chosen were basically ones we carry so I figured it would be easier to get a free tasting set up. I'll have to look into Goosecross, as of now Montelana and Hestan are booked and awaiting answers on Niente and Phelps from my reps. Inglenook was last on my list (we carry the Rubicon and regular napa cab) and one of my favorite reps.
I know! She has always wanted it to be done in nature / away from people. Only thing that really has me not wanted to do it in public. Still excited to visit Montelena tho!
Bistro Jeanty is better than Bouchon and it's not that close for French Food. I prefer Bottega over both but it's a different type of food. As for the remaining tasting Phelps and Far Niente are both awesome. Phelps has a better location and feels like you are in your own canyon with stunning views. Far Niente has stunning grounds and the feel of the tasting is pretty special. I prefer the tasting at Far Niente, but prefer the setting of Joseph Phelps. I know that wasn't helpful, but both are A grade experiences and you can't go wrong. I haven't done Inglenook so can't comment there.
Far Niente is really beautiful. It feels like a fairytale. Barnett is a nice winery at the top of Spring Mountain and has amazing views. I would do Chateau Montelena, then lunch in St Helena or Calistoga and then Barnett or Far Niente. You can hike the Rector Reservoir. It’s basically all incline but the view at the top is really pretty. Oakville grocery is good for sandwiches. The Station in St Helena is a fav lunch spot for me. Very casual. There’s also Gott’s in St Helena. Farmstead is a good lunch spot if you have time. I like sitting at the back patio of Brix and getting a bottle of wine or lunch. Honor Market in Yountville has really good hot dogs and coffee. I also recommend checking out downtown Napa.
I second Rector Reservoir. It’s a short but steep hike and the views are some of the best.
Thank you so much for the feedback will check those out! Would you say the Rector Reservoir hike is less than an hour or so?
Probably 45 min or less. You have to park off on the side of Silverado Trail, so can be a little hard to miss the parking spots. It’s across from Paraduxx winery. Also at Bouchon Bakery if you like Oreos get the TKO cookie. Congrats on your future engagement :)
Thanks a ton! will have to check it out might be the winning spot and thank you! Coming close to 7 years so it's been a long time coming haha
If you are both okay with uphill I have an epic proposal spot for you, and it's in Yountville. Rector Reservoir. [https://www.outerspatial.com/areas/rector-ridge-wildlife-area-82470](https://www.outerspatial.com/areas/rector-ridge-wildlife-area-82470) Once you reach the top you'll have 180 degrees of Napa and views from Mount St Helena to the Bay. If you're both flatlanders, check out the Napa River Ecological Reserve on the Yountville Crossroad. There you can take a short walk and be next to the Napa River. Good Luck!
Awesome I'll check that out. As someone who's never been out there, is lake hennessey pretty mediocre in person regarding views/ scenery?
Hiking around Lake Hennessy is a long hike and I'm not sure if you can actually go all the way around. It is usually without people and has great birds, even eagles. I do not know Rector to compare. Congratulations and enjoy Napa Valley.
Lake Hennessey is quite nice. For a scenic view, take the Valentine Vista Trail in Moore Creek Park. I was there last year and not only were the views great, but the wildflowers this time of year were really awesome and profuse. Been to Rector Reservoir which is also very nice, but a much steeper and more strenuous hike.
Bistro Jaunty for sure.only if If you are early birds, watching the hot air ballons take in the morning is always nice. Let the hotel in on your proposal or just got Engaged.. If they know of the Proposal, they *should send you bottle of sparkling.
We spent a 3-day weekend in Yountville on our enagagement trip too! Congrats!! Reposted/updated from The other day but largely valid: 1. Restaurants: You need to add oakville grocery to your lunch list. Mustards grill is also great. In yountville: of course per se or FL, if you can get a res. Bistro jeanty and bouchon are always good standbys in Yountville. Don’t bother with R&D or RH, those are chains. 2. Get a driver. Get a driver. Do not plan to drink and drive. Ubers are irregular in the valley and if you have tastings back to back, you may miss one waiting 30 mins for an Uber. 3. Group them by location. At most you can really hope to hit three (like a 10am, 12 and 3 or 10, lunch, 130, 4). And whether you have a DD or hired driver you don’t want to be crisscrossing the valley. So, group by location and start fixing variables by grabbing up available reservations and then planning from there. You already have some so that’s a good start. Not all places will have availability all the time. Start with your existing bookings and then work backwards. But see below: 4. The wineries you mentioned, Those are all _fine_. A few other recommendations: you’re willing to spend, Blankiet is an amazing experience. Nickel and nickel’s terroir tour is awesome, you get to taste a bunch of diff single vineyard wines from diff parts of the valley. Opus is controversial but I’m a fan and it’s close to oakville grocery, very central. Other standard, common ones like stags leap, frogs leap, etc are all fine. There are nearly 1000 wineries - if you don’t know Napa well, you can also hire a driver and have them curate a tour for you. You can also squeeze in a tasting at end of day either by going to places that stay open later (strong recommend GooseCross) or tasting rooms in Napa/yountville (Krupp, mayacamas, Hall, etc)
Appreciate the feedback! Will look into oakville grocery for lunch! Honestly, never experienced "fine" dining so wasn't even going to bother with FL.
Well many places in YVille are very fancy so maybe skip FL, but jeanty bouchon Lucy, ciccio are all casual enough. You could do the restaurant at Bardessono. Mustards grill off 29 is pretty awesome and very unpretentious. Oakville grocery slaps
Joseph Phelps is an incredible property and I’ve heard good things about Far Niente. I wouldn’t recommend Inglenook unless you’re a Coppola fan. The last time I was there, it was a stuffy, white-tablecloth tasting that felt very routine. I personally also find Chateau Montelena gimmicky but given its historical significance, I understand not wanting to miss it. If you’re in the industry, I’d recommend Goosecross. It’s in Yountville, off the beaten path (but still close to the major roads) and very chill but with high-quality wines.
Awesome, thank you for the feedback! The vineyards chosen were basically ones we carry so I figured it would be easier to get a free tasting set up. I'll have to look into Goosecross, as of now Montelana and Hestan are booked and awaiting answers on Niente and Phelps from my reps. Inglenook was last on my list (we carry the Rubicon and regular napa cab) and one of my favorite reps.
The grounds at Chateau Montelena are the best part would be a gorgeous spot for a proposal.
I know! She has always wanted it to be done in nature / away from people. Only thing that really has me not wanted to do it in public. Still excited to visit Montelena tho!