Napa is such a beautiful place to visit with your significant other, friends, wedding party, etc. Its relaxed vibe is the perfect setting to enjoy a glass or two of wine…or the entire bottle! The toughest part is deciding where to eat, which wineries to visit, and who will be your chauffeur so you can fully enjoy yourself. Last fall I met a few of my closest girlfriends in Napa for a quick weekend getaway. We did our research and made an itinerary. The trip was stress-free, which is why I wanted to share our schedule with you all!
First Day –
Checked in to Napa Valley Lodge (book early to get the best rates). It’s a beautiful boutique, luxury hotel. Our favorites were the complimentary champagne breakfast and pool/spa. Check out more info here – http://www.napavalleylodge.com/hotel ◾Napa Valley Bike Rental – We decided to rent bikes to take to different wineries since we didn’t have a rental car. Plus, you get to really take in your surroundings while getting a little exercise. Win, win! The cost was only $45/day per person. I will admit I was a little scared biking from winery to winery after a few wine tastings. If you are down for an adventure this will be right up your alley! http://napavalleybiketours.com/bike-rentals/ ◾To end the day we ordered take out from the restaurant across the street (R+D Kitchen) then brought it back to the hotel poolside. We enjoyed the rest of the evening in the hot tub! http://rd-kitchen.com/
Second Day –
Wine Tour – how did we decide on a chauffeur company? A lot of research and calling. We wanted the right personality; someone laid back, that understood what kind of wineries we wanted to go to, that matched our itinerary, etc. Based on rates and availability we went with James Matuszewski at Flex Wine. His ratings/reviews on Tripadvisor also helped us make our decision. He catered to our every need. He knew the staff at the wineries which made us feel like locals and was very informative teaching us about the different wines and food pairing ideas. I highly recommend using their services and will use them again when I return. http://flexwinetours.com/
Here was our schedule –◾Mumm Napa 10am – Terrace views and exceptional champagne tasting. https://www.mummnapa.com/ ◾Frogs Leap 11:15am – Organic gardens where the food pairings were on point. http://www.frogsleap.com/ ◾Oakville Grocers 12:30pm – Historic 1881 Napa icon artisan deli landmark. Local, fresh food. Great location for lunch. http://www.oakvillegrocery.com/ ◾Goose Cross 1:30pm – Contemporary vineyards. My favorite cabernet sauvignon tasting. http://goosecross.com/ ◾Reynolds Family 3:00pm – Small boutique family estate vineyard. http://www.reynoldsfamilywinery.com/ ◾Rutherford Grill – a local favorite and ideal spot to enjoy your last night in wine country. rutherfordgrill.com
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