VINO TO GO 3 P.M. Check into Auberge du Soleil Napa Valley, your
headquarters for the weekend. Think private terrace, sweeping valley views, California King beds, fireplace, steam shower, and soaking tub. In short, you’ll be hard pressed to leave. 4 P.M. Work off your Fremont lunch with a stroll
through the Auberge du Soleil Sculpture Garden. Curated by ÆRENA Galleries & Gardens, this inspired natural space is one of the country’s top outdoor sculptural exhibitions. 6 P.M. Sunset cocktails at The Restaurant at Auberge de Soleil. Views here can’t be beat. Instagram envy? A given. Order the Kona Kampachi Crudo, served with Daikon, Sea Urchin, Wasabi, and Apple Jus, from Chef Robert Curry’s Mediterranean-inspired menu, and pair it with vino from the property’s 15,000-bottle cellar. Cheers! 8 P.M. Dinner at PRESS.
This perennial Napa favorite never disappoints. With an emphasis on locally sourced fare from the area’s most coveted vendors, menu highlights include Butcher Bryan Flannery’s dry-aged beef grilled on almond and cherry wood, sustainable seafood, and vegetables grown at PRESS’s own Rudd Farms on Mt. Veeder.
LIVE LIKE A LOCAL
A Napa Hit List AUBERGE DE SOLEIL
aubergeresorts.com MEADOWOOD NAPA VALLEY SPA
meadowood.com RAM’S GATE WINERY
ramsgatewinery.com MA(I)SONRY
maisonry.com OXBOW PUBLIC MARKET
oxbowpublicmarket.com THE FREMONT DINER
thefremontdiner.com PRESS RESTAURANT
DAY 2 6 A.M. Early to rise, and
pressnapavalley.com MUSTARD’S GRILL
mustardsgrill.com
for good reason. Your KEPLINGER WINES morning is kick started keplingerwines.com by a hot air balloon ride CARTE BLANCHE WINE over Calistoga, followed carteblanchewine.com by a champagne toast ANGÉLE RESTAURANT & BAR angelerestaurant.com and breakfast served NORTH BAY FIRE RELIEF FUND from the field. One of redwoodcu.org/northbayfirerelief the most desirable areas to balloon over (with low winds and ideal morning temperatures), get a birds-eye view of famous vineyards such as Clos Pegase, Sterling Vineyards, Charles Krug Wineries, and Napa Valley’s Castello di Amorosa. 10 A.M. It’s never too early to wine taste in Napa. A
visit to Ma(i)sonry should top any oenophile’s hit list. Located in the heart of Yountville and listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the tasting room’s local wine consultants will greet you with a glass of
still white or rosé, followed by a meticulously curated local wine flight or reserve tasting in the outdoor garden or private room. After sipping, check out the inhouse local art and design gallery. 12 P.M. The best indicator of
a Napa hot spot? Where local chefs dine on their days off. Such is the case at Mustard’s Grill. This Napa mainstay was opened in 1983 by owner and Executive Chef Cindy Pawlcyn. Her barbecued baby back ribs are legendary, paired with a glass of Pinot sourced from the Petaluma Gap. 2 P.M. The afternoon is capped with a “From the Vines” spa treatment at the new Meadowood Napa Valley Spa. Inspired by the Napa landscape and local ingredients, this treatment is decadent, utilizing vinotherapy and grape extracts rich in anti-oxidants to fight free radicals. Oxidative stress is reduced, and the journey includes a full massage and facial.
Book a day trip to Walnut Creek or Morgan Hill. BUON VINO (WALNUT CREEK). Buon Vino’s concept? Visit their boutique, reveal your wine preferences, and then sample the goods. Once you’ve hit the jackpot, Buon Vino fills your wine bottles, corks them, and off you go. --buonvinoinc.com
GUGLIELMO WINERY (MORGAN HILL). This thirdgeneration, family owned winery produces award-winning varietals from more than 80 acres of Santa Clara Valley estate vineyards. Ship your favorites directly home. --guglielmowinery.com
BLACKBOOK
BottleRock Napa Valley Returns May 25-27
6 P.M. Next up, a private barrel
tasting with husband-and-wife wine stars Helen Keplinger and DJ Warner, owners of Keplinger Vineyards and the dynamic duo behind Carte Blanche Wine. Sample current releases and learn about local viticulture at their Carneros tasting room. Dinner at Angéle Restaurant & Bar. Located in the heart of Napa, the dining room graces the historic 1890s ship chandlery—today coined the Hatt Building. Celebrating the romance of the classic French brasserie, menu standouts include Cassoulet Duck Confit, Moules Frites Steamed Mussels, and Boeuf Bourguignon. End your trip with an indulgent, robust red. Until next time, Napa!
8
P.M.
Pairing vino with live music is always a good idea. As such, BottleRock Napa Valley is coined “the first taste of summer.” Held in the heart of downtown Napa, the festival’s all-star musical cast includes Bruno Mars, The Killers, Earth, Wind & Fire, Billy Idol, Thievery Corporation, and much more. The epicurean lineup is equally of note, featuring such celeb chefs as Martha Stewart, Jose Andrés, Masaharu Morimoto, and standout Napa wineries. --bottlerocknapavalley.com
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