Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley Pool View— Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley
About an hour north of San Francisco is California’s coveted wine country, with 16 different appellations, more than 375 wineries open for tasting, and several Michelin-starred restaurants.
Napa has all the ingredients for the perfect weekend getaway: nice weather, delicious food, and world-class wines. Whether you choose to eat and drink in the valley (or both!), if you only have 48 hours, we’ve put together a guide for you with some of the best things to do in Napa.
how to get there
The appearance of the JSX plane — Photo credit to JSX
Napa is about a 75-minute drive from San Francisco or a 6.5-hour drive from Los Angeles—perfect for a road trip.Alternatively, semi-private airlines like JSX A direct flight from Burbank to Concord can easily reach Napa in just 1.5 hours. JSX offers a private terminal to avoid long lines and crowds, so you can check in 20 minutes before your flight.
Once in Napa, you can rent a luxury car to rent, which provides seamless transfers to JSX endpoints. From there, Concord is a 45-minute drive from Napa.
where to live
Four Seasons Resort Napa Valley Room— Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley
In Calistoga, the highly anticipated Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Napa Valley Finally opened as the first and only resort within a working winery in Napa. Surrounded by mountain and vineyard views, this intimate 85-room hotel features two swimming pools, a holistic spa, a fully supervised kids’ club called Kids for All Seasons, and celebrity chef Erik Anderson’s restaurant TRUSS Living Room.
Villagio Hotel Lobby — Photo credited to The Estate Yountville
Yountville is known for its cuisine, so foodies might consider looking for a highly concentrated selection of Michelin-starred restaurants at hotels in the area. Yountville ManorConsisting of two independent boutique hotels a few meters apart, it is a good choice. For a more contemporary stay, consider Hotel Villagio; for something more rustic and chic, choose the Vintage House, where wood-beamed ceilings, wood floors and fireplaces turn the bedrooms into cozy living rooms.
The Spa at Domaine Yountville— Photo credited to The Estate Yountville
After a long day of wine tasting, unwind at the convenient spa in the heart of Yountville, which features 12 treatment rooms, five private suites with soaking tubs and fireplaces, and three couples suites. Choose from a range of spa treatments, such as the 4-hour Mire Spa Wrap, which includes a detox exfoliation and scalp massage.
where to go for a wine tasting
It can be hard to pick a few wineries to visit when there are so many wonderful wines in one region. But Napa is best known for producing big, bold Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, as well as Sauvignon Blanc. Whether you’re looking for an intimate tasting room or prefer a larger wine cellar, here are some great wine tasting options in Napa.
Darioush Sensory Sessions Olive Oil Experience – Photo credit to Darioush
From the moment you walk through the gorgeous door Darioush Wine Estate And notice the Roman-style columns, it’s clear that the winery is influenced by the Iranian heritage of owner Darioush. But contrary to what many people think, the winery is named after Dariush, the Persian king of the Roman Empire, also known as Darius I or Darius the Great.
Choose from several wine tasting options or a guided tour that takes you through the vineyards and shows you how Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz wines are made. The Fine Wines, Artisan Cheese Tasting is a group tour that ends in the cellar and includes four wines paired with Iranian-inspired snacks such as barbary bread, pistachio jam, and candied apples.
Yuannian Special Winery— Photos courtesy of Yuanniante
Yuannian Special Wine Estate is a charming Oakville winery that focuses on two grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The 116 acres feature 65,000 plants, oaks and redwoods, creating lush grounds and beautiful outdoor tasting spaces, weather permitting. There are four different tastings at Far Niente, but we recommend the 90-minute group tour and tasting, which includes a visit to the owner’s wine cellar and vintage car collection, and ends with a seated tasting at $115 per person.
Quintesa Harvest— Photo credit to Quintessa
Set on 280 acres surrounded by oak trees, Quintesa Wine Estate An intimate winery known for its blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Bordeaux-style wines. The name “Quintessa” is derived from the Latin “quinta essentia”, which means the five basic elements that represent the natural elements on earth. The intimate Rutherford Tasting Room offers two group tasting experiences – the Salon and the Estate Experience – the latter of which includes a walking tour of the estate.
where to eat
Napa Valley has no shortage of great restaurants. Whether you’re looking for a refined tasting menu or a more casual cafe experience, Napa is home to some of the best restaurants and most talented chefs in the country. Here are some restaurants to explore.
French LaundryLed by Thomas Keller, one of the culinary pioneers bringing California cuisine to life. Reservations at Yountville’s famous restaurants can be hard to find, but worth it.French Bistro if you can’t make a reservation cork (and the bakery next door), also run by Thomas Keller, is a good choice for a lively restaurant. Pro tip: Stop by the bakery in the morning and grab a croissant or two.
Your one stop shop for all your picnic needs, Oakville Grocery Store Been around since 1881, serving ready-to-eat farm-fresh salads and side dishes, as well as coffee, wine, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and other artisan products that pair perfectly with wine. But most people come to Oakville grocery stores for custom sandwiches, including chicken Gruyere, turkey pesto and muffin sandwiches made with prosciutto, salami and bologna bread.
PRESS Restaurant Outdoor Terrace— Photo courtesy of Eric Wolfinger
Led by Chef Philip Tessier (formerly The French Laundry, Bouchon, Per Se, Le Bernardin), resume news Showcasing California cuisine and seasonal menus, including favorites like sweet and sour pig ears, seafood, and grilled chicken. The entire Napa Valley wine list also happens to be the most extensive Napa Valley wine collection in the world.
The centerpiece of the dining room is decorated with a large terracotta Union Station clock, high-beamed ceilings and leather banquettes in a modern farmhouse-style dining room. You can also dine al fresco on the garden terrace with fairy lights and fireplace.
what to do
If you’re looking for something other than wine tasting, Napa Valley offers a variety of outdoor activities. Most Napa roads are flat and well-paved, so cycling through the vineyards is a fun way to experience Napa. Getaway Adventures A variety of bike and kayak tours are available in Napa and Sonoma counties. You can choose from self-guided tours, group tours or private tours. The Sip ‘n’ Cycle Tour is a scenic 12-mile ride along the Calistoga trail, including stops at two wineries and a picnic lunch for $250 per person (wine tasting extra).
Explorers will be interested in booking a sunrise balloon ride Elevation of Napa Valley, won 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Watch the sun rise as you float over the verdant hills and enjoy aerial views of the wine country on a 45-minute hot air balloon flight.After landing, you will enjoy a champagne brunch at the hotel OtimoChef Michael Chiarello’s casual dining restaurant.