Napa Valley is open for business! (For now.)
Just returned from a long-awaited road trip to visit my parents in Napa Valley. We had originally planned the trip for July unfortunately just as their COVID numbers spiked, and this time, we still weren’t sure we would be able to go because of the recent California fires wreaking havoc throughout the state. Thankfully, the smoke cleared and Napa County’s cases remained at a low 4-5/day to allow us after six months at home to get out of LA for a weekend getaway. A wrap-up of our experiences and recommendations in this COVID-era:
EAT
RH Yountville
I’ve been wanting to book a reservation at Restoration Hardware’s restaurant in Yountville because — let’s be honest — it’s so pretty and romantic to dine under chandeliers in olive trees! It was well worth it. Although the menu is simple, each dish we tried was incredibly tasty and fresh. The Summer Melon and Prosciutto was delightful and perfect after a long hot day of wine tasting (I want the recipe!). Take a stroll around the multiple open spaces to take in the entire design experience. And book an appointment at the Wine Vault if you have the time!
RH Younvtille Restaurant
Angèle Napa
My boyfriend is French so I thought it would be fun to take my parents to a French restaurant one night and hope that it was somewhat authentic. Thankfully Angèle is! Napa County is the only county in the Bay Area as of now that is allowed to open indoor dining, so we were able to snag a cozy corner table. Their outdoor patio is actually larger than the indoor space, and situated right on the Napa River, it’s quite pretty (especially at night with white string lights, my fave). We enjoyed trying new-to-us / old-to-my-BF dishes (Escargot! Steak Tartare!) that made him feel a bit homesick.
Angèle Napa
DRINK
Charles Krug Winery
The wineries in Napa Valley as of now are still not allowed to accommodate indoor tastings, so most are appointment only for outdoors. Charles Krug is one that recently opened a large outdoor area with private cabana tastings. And if you don’t necessarily need the VIP treatment (we lucked out with a connection through my mom), you can certainly take advantage of their other tasting options on their patio and their wood-fired pizzas in six different recipes — that Truffle Oil Mushroom pizza is to die for! Pro tip: take a stroll in St. Helena afterward to walk it off!
Wine pick: 2017 Limited Release Cabernet Franc
Charles Krug Winery
Hagafen Cellars
Hagafen is a much more relaxed experience with casual seating overlooking the vineyards along Silverado Trail, a long list of (kosher) varietals to try, and even a chicken coop! The winery is family-owned and the owner/vintner used to be the vineyard manager at Domain Chandon. They almost lost the winery in the 2017 fire (only the 2017 Syrah survived!) and you can still see some of the damage and resulting rebuilding happening at the back of the property. (Side note: my semi-retired dad works in the tasting room 1-2 days a week!)
Wine picks: 2018 Hagafen Cabernet Franc and 2017 Hagafen Brut Rosé
Hagafen Cellars
STAY
Vintage House Inn Yountville
On our way to RH Yountville, we walked past Vintage House and it was so pretty I had to stop and take a photo. I couldn’t quite capture the essence in a photo, but the design *feels* like wine country — you really feel like you’re on holiday somewhere chic. Being luxury boutique (and in Yountville, i.e. the home of French Laundry) it’s pricey, but with COVID and few visitors flying into the area, most hotels are offering deals. In other words, now is the time to go if you can!
Vintage House Inn Yountville
Archer Hotel Napa
We decided to stay in downtown Napa this time and found a great deal at the fairly new Archer Hotel. I had only gone to the rooftop lounge in the past with my parents and loved the decor and ambiance. We felt safe, it was quite clean, and that rooftop (with wading pool) is quite the scene — my parents looked as if they felt a bit out of place so I would say this is for the younger crowd, or those looking to have a more lively experience. The downtown area was hopping that Saturday and night, but by Sunday it was pretty quiet again.
Archer Hotel Napa
Check out these other articles on Napa Valley for more recommendations!
Top photo via visitnapavalley.com; all other photos via each business’ social media or website
