We recently spent one fantastic day in Napa Valley with our even more fantastic friend, Allie.
Now, I'm not trying to brag, but from start to finish, the day was perfect. We were lucky to have beautiful, sunny weather and avoid any traffic (a small miracle in California). Luck aside, we were inspired to compile a list of tips and tricks so anyone can enjoy Napa as much as we did - no matter how much time you have or what your budget is.
Tip #1: Start Early
The night before our day in Napa, we stayed at Allie’s place in Concord, CA, which is about 45 minutes southeast. When Allie suggested leaving around 9 a.m., we were surprised. "Isn't that a bit early to start drinking wine?" we asked. But to our surprise, she told us that almost all wineries in Napa Valley open at 10 a.m. and close in the late afternoon/early evening, typically between 4-5 p.m. So, to get a full day in (3-6 wineries depending on your pace), you need to start early.
Tip #2: Don't Forget Breakfast
The next morning, we left 30 minutes later than planned and rolled into St. Helena's Main Street around 10:30. Our first stop was the Model Bakery. Breakfast, which consisted of bacon, scrambled eggs and melted cheese on a homemade english muffin (amazing), turned out to be crucial, since full bellies meant we could drink for hours without getting too tipsy early on.
Tip #3: Get Some Local Advice
Having Allie as our own personal guide definitely made the day as effortless and enjoyable as it was. Because she had been a few times before, she knew all the secrets, including which vineyards are oldest and the places to avoid. She also knew about 2-for-1 tasting deals, which are super important if you're watching your spending! Even if you don't have a friend in the Napa/northern California area, there are many great resources online. We used the site Napa Tourist Guide to find out where deals were and plan our route for the day.
Tip #4: Share Tastings
Another way to cut costs and taste more wine (talk about a win, win) is to share tastings. Because there were three of us, we often used a coupon to buy one tasting and get one free, then split them both. It was a way for everyone to try all the same wines, compare tastes and, possibly most importantly, avoid getting smashed. Without using a 2-for-1 coupon, a couple could easily spend the same amount and share tastings at each winery, cutting their total spend in half.
Tip #5: Try Anything Once
This tip only applies to the super wine snobs or people who know nothing about wine. (In case you don't know us, Mike and I fall into the latter category.) Before visiting Napa, I didn't really know what I liked and didn't like. But of course I thought I did and claimed Chardonnay tasted like cat pee. It's embarrassing to admit that but I'll sacrifice my pride to share this important lesson. It turns out, a good Chardonnay is delicious. Even if you think you don't like a type of wine, you should go into your day(s) in Napa with an open mind and still try it - you never know what you'll discover!
Tip #6: "Just Looking" is Okay
Just because you aren’t going to buy a glass or tasting doesn't mean you can't stop somewhere to walk around and check out the beautiful grounds. This is especially true at some of the older wineries, like Inglenook. They have a small museum in the main house, where you can check out glass cases with historic motion picture machines, family trees, original guestbooks and more.
Tip #7: Designate a Driver
Whether you’re doing a day trip or staying at a hotel within Napa, be prepared to drive around because the wineries are spread out. Walking from winery to winery really isn't an option. So, before you're a few tastings deep, make sure you know who’s driving home!
