By As a wine aficionado, you can only imagine how excited I was to enter the gateway of wine paradise, Napa Valley. This premiere wine region of California has always been on my bucket list and it definitely did not disappoint!
Napa was my final stop of our week long road trip up the coast and it was only 40 minutes from stop 2 (Dillon Beach) which made the last leg of the trip quick and easy. Prior to arriving in Napa, I had done a lot of research on my own about best hotels, yummiest restaurants and how to narrow down exactly which wineries to go to with limited time. So let me make it easy for you on exactly what you need to know about Napa, just read on.
Where to Stay
Carneros Resort is one of the nicest luxury hotels in Napa and my only regret was not staying there longer! Upon arriving, the concierge greets you with welcome wine in the lobby and then golf carts you to your cottage. Our newly renovated room came with its own wine machine, king bed, indoor bath and shower, followed by a patio with our own private outdoor tub, shower, fireplace and lounge chairs. It was the ultimate relaxing and luxurious experience.
Carneros is surrounded by rolling vineyards and a picturesque countryside with 3 restaurants, an adults only 24 hour pool and hot tub, complimentary bikes for guests and different trails to explore throughout the property. Not only is the hotel five star, the staff had excellent customer service and Carneros did a great job with safety precautions for Covid such as sanitizing stations throughout the hotel, limited capacity stays, and bellhop leaving bags outside your room. Carneros Resort truly provides its guests with the quintessential Napa experience and I would definitely go back to enjoy.
Must-See Wineries
Opus One – Pricey but worth it. One glass of Bordeaux is I think $65 , and I don’t regret it at all. It might have been some of the best wine I’ve ever had. Be sure to book an appointment in advance to this winery because they book up fast and are at limited capacity with Covid.
Domaine Carneros. I love the Chateau style of this winery, its a Parisian dream! We started our Napa adventure here and each got a flight for the tasting. They are known for their Pinot Noir and my favorite was the Famous Gate . I would highly recommend this place for a cute brunch/ photo opp.
Other places on my radar that I didn’t have time to make it too but came recommended from a wine sommelier.
Ashes & Diamonds– The new “cool” spot for late twenties/young thirties.
Prisoner Wine – Unique experience/winery with great red blends and other unique blends
Goosecross – Beautiful vineyard views on the patio with great wine
Turnbull – Classic Napa winery with amazing Cabernet
What to Wear
The dress code in Napa is casual but bougie. My ideal wardrobe. Girls also get really dressed up to go to wineries with heels and dresses. It was fun to finally utilize some of my new clothes on a trip since I’ve been a couch potato the majority of the year with quarantine. Below are some of my looks and where to shop them.
Shop My Looks
Food Exploration
Breakfast:
Boon Fly Cafe– One of the restaurants on the Carneros Property, we ordered room service one day which was healthy and delish and then donuts the next. This cafe is known for their made to order mini donuts and they were so worth it!
Lunch:
Guest Exclusive Hilltop Cafe – Another restaurant on the Carneros property, this one is only available to hotel guests and is located next to the pool. This one wasn’t my favorite restaurant but being poolside was a major plus.
Dinner:
We started with a delicious apertivo spread courtesy of the hotel consisting of savory and sweet snacks, followed by Italian in downtown Napa at Oenotri. I would highly recommend checking out the restaurant, the pizza was incredible.
Hope you enjoyed reading this one, if you have any other questions shoot me a comment!
XOXO, Catchmeeksifyoucan
