Napa Valley: a Disneyland for wine lovers
If you like fine wine, it would be difficult to find a vacation experience more enjoyable than the Napa Valley.
A visit to Napa is not just a chance to see where the wine is made, or to explore the luxurious shops and stores that now found its way for the tiniest of communities of Napa Valley. Instead, a trip to the valley is a spiritual journey that presents itself almost at once with the beauty of 63,000 acres of vineyards and industry, who brought a European elegance to the lifestyle of the Valley.
He's been pretty sleepy, but the city of Napa has forever changed their industry wine. With 75,000 inhabitants, Napa became a city in its own right, albeit with the feel of a small town. There are several major shopping centers new and you will also see that Napa Valley is to stay with one of the latest trends: wine bars of the center, allowing you to make your own, even without proof venturing into the landscape.
Above the valley of 30 km in length are much smaller towns, like Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga "each unit a easy and the Napa landscape, and they all offer their own unique versions of what a Napa Valley wine town should be all about. Taken together, the cities of Napa Valley offer a Disneyland for wine lovers whose E-ticket rides will include some of the most famous brands in the world. But even if you're just mildly curious about wine, castles, breathtaking views, educational tours that show each step of the winemaking process "all these things will make a visit to Valley penalty Napa Valley.
It is impossible to see more than a small sample of wineries on your weekend or trip, and we are told that the people of the area Bay just drive up to Napa week after week checking off a few more wineries on your list every time. Most wineries charge for tastings of wine, 'although we came across one that did and did not want in your pocket or your alcohol tolerance will probably limit the number of wineries that you can visit any day.
This tasting was free to V. Sattu Winery, where on a Sunday afternoon to shop and deli were buzzing with people, and lines were forming along the wine bar to taste the latest offerings. Located in St. Helena this winery is a popular stop for visitors who want to buy a bottle of wine and then picnic on the grounds landscaped. The winery also provides a buffet line out on the grounds, offering barbecue for those who do not bring their brown bags. Interestingly, V. Sattu not sell their wine anywhere other than the winery, by mail, or from the company's website.
While V. Sattva is typical of a relatively small winery, family-run, the other end of the scale is Domaine Chandon, which we find in Yountville. With park grounds spectacular and a gourmet four-star Just a few feet from where wine is made, Domaine Chandon is an example of a winery owned by a large conglomerate, which distributes its products worldwide. We decided to do the walk of 45 minutes of this great facility and found it well worth the time. Small groups are shown how wine is made, every the path of grape growing to final production. The tour helped explain to us many of the processes behind winemaking.
Most people who visit Napa Valley focus, of course, about wine and the many fine restaurants that chose to locate in the Valley. Shopping is also a big part of any holiday Napa. But elsewhere where the Napa Valley shines is in an amazing variety of accommodations for up and down the valley, from historic inns bed and breakfast exquisite boutique style resorts. Most are obsessive about providing more and better facilities and services. They know that some of the most demanding customers in the world to spend time in the Valley Napa, and these innkeepers want the accommodations for the same league as the world-renowned Napa wines.
We found that, indeed, be the case at Meadowood, a resort stunning folded along one edge of the valley near downtown St. Helena. Can you imagine going to a country estate – here you go through a security gate and enter a world of lush green lawns, winding paths and dense forests. Strategically positioned here and there are attractive office building, which seem to add the environment of the area rather than detract from it.
If this were the 1920s, it is easy to imagine that Jay Gatsby would have loved Meadowood. It's very chic, but every day workers will have fun too. Whether it was lounging by one of the inviting pools or enjoying breakfast in Meadowood stylish café, we met many families and couples who seemed to be enjoying the opportunity of luxury in one of the best resorts in the Valley.
We especially enjoyed our Meadowood suite, one of the accommodations Latest on the resort, situated in the wooded slopes. It gave us the feeling of being a luxury holiday home in the woods "Cozy but spacious with its high ceilings and open floor plan. The living room included a full fireplace, an attractive wall case, a sofa and chairs for extra guests. The room was specially decorative, with a window seat and bay windows. Thick white robes, quilts, state-of-the-art home entertainment 'these and many other amenities were first class all there.
A short walk from our suite was the recreation area, with its 25 meter pool, pool and lawn extended family – and the spa, where guests can enjoy the skin, body treatments and massage therapies. Fitness trainers and private yoga instructors are waiting for your call. Fitness is never far from his mind Meadowood, where you'll also find saunas, steam rooms, seven tennis courts, hiking biking / hiking trails and two croquet lawns championship.
You can find both fine and casual dining at Meadowood. The restaurant offers Meadowood in California, while the Grill offers light meals overlooking the golf course. We feel that the experience would simply be more relaxing to dine together and enjoy our luxury.
Even if it was not Napa Valley, Meadowood would be in your own as a premiere destination resort. But the fact that this was the Napa Valley meant that we could not just hole up and relax the whole weekend there was far too to see and do.
The shopping and wineries were great, but also enjoyed driving this scenic valley. Napa to Calistoga, we found communities that were each one slightly different and each with its own selection of panoramic views. We like to stop beside the road and in close-up pictures of vines, or fishing for the best view Valley and its vineyards.
Interestingly, the feeling you get from so much natural beauty is like the satisfaction you get from the perfect glass of wine. It's all part of the incredible power of the vine.
AT A GLANCE
WHERE: The Napa Valley is about 45 miles northeast San Francisco, or about 60 miles southwest of Sacramento.
WHAT: The Napa Valley has become famous because of the grapes grown on this site. Grapes grown in different climates, soils and locations have different characteristics and Napa Valley grapes are considered some of the best in the world to make several varieties of fine wines. Thus, more than 300 wineries are now located in the Valley. Great restaurants, lodging and shopping have also come to the Valley.
WHEN: Any time of year. A special bonus comes in August and September during the annual harvest. Sometimes you can see first hand how the grapes are crushed. Tip: Most of them do not like Lucy Ricardo did.
WHY: The valley has an almost mystical atmosphere that is hard to describe but easy to discern.
HOW: You can find more information about the Napa Valley, or going to www.napavintners.com www.napachamber.org. To learn more about Meadowood, call (800) 458-8080 or go to www.meadowood.com.
About the Author
Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer specializing in California and the Pacific Northwest. He is president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites on California travel and Northwest travel.
Yountville Inn