Tour Vin – Yountville Has a New Restaurant to Try!

Published on: March 30th, 2021

There’s a new restaurant in the town of Yountville. Located next to North Block Hotel, North Block Yountville is now open for dinner! 

We stopped by TWICE on our last visit to Napa Valley to enjoy cocktails with locals and grab a copy of their upcoming menu. The interior is being remodeled (see pic) and should be quite nice when completed. Check it out – there are some great breakfast, lunch, and dinner options that everyone will enjoy. If you’re staying at the hotel, this is the perfect spot to enjoy breakfast before you begin your wine tasting tour.

The restaurant will feature cuisine created by Chef Nick Tamburo, known for his success at NYC’s Momofuku. The menu will feature California-inspired items prepared with locally grown ingredients and will change with the seasons. That said, following in the footsteps of Redd Wood (former restaurant), pizza will also be on the menu.

As Napa Valley is beginning to open up, now is the time to plan your wine country vacation. We are hearing that hotels are filling up for summer and fall, so contact us to help plan your next trip!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Napa Valley is Ready to Welcome You Back

Published on: February 25th, 2021

“We’re So Excited to Be Back!” 

“Napa Valley Welcomes You Back!” 

“Napa County on Verge of Jumping to Red Tier!”  

Current COVID numbers are at a four month low and, if this continues, venues in the valley will be ready to open up and host you indoors (with limits) in a few weeks! Yep, these are the headlines we are seeing.

Spring and summer are awesome for a visit to Napa Valley, so now is the perfect time to plan your trip. Are you tired of staying indoors and want to mix business and pleasure? Why not make Napa Valley your work station destination? Plan to stay for a week, work for four days and spend the other three visiting wineries, hiking, dining at your favorite spot or enjoy a hot air balloon ride over the valley. 

Check out or current views of the valley—truly breathtaking. Contact us to help plan your next Napa Valley vacation!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Napa Valley is Open for Business

Published on: January 26th, 2021

Napa Valley is now open and it’s the perfect time to start planning your next trip to the wine country! Wineries, tasting rooms, restaurants and hotels are now accepting reservations while assuring all COVID protocols are strictly enforced for your safety. 

Here are a few highlights of the enhanced hospitality experiences:

• Private, cozy outdoor settings with patio heaters
• Private tasting and dining appointments are required
• Face coverings are required until your party is seated
• Maintaining six-feet of physical distancing from those outside your party
• Breakfast at hotels and B&Bs may be modified from a traditional buffet to grab-and-go or contactless room service breakfast options
• Hand sanitation stations on the premises
• Transportation services are following strict sanitation procedures in all vehicles

The wine country is waiting – contact us through our website, or DM us to help plan your next Napa Valley vacation!

Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Cheers to a Happier New Year!

Published on: December 29th, 2020

In many ways, 2020 has been a challenging year for all of us. It’s been a tough time, to say the least. In 2021, Tour Vin looks forward to continuing to research and visit Napa Valley on your behalf, and recommend the best wineries, tastings and activities in the area for your visit.

Until then, we recommend you grab your favorite Napa Valley vintage to share with your close family and friends, and stay safe and healthy until we can all get back to traveling to the beautiful Napa Valley to experience it in person. New is the year, new are the hopes, new are the resolutions and new are the spirits. We wish you and yours happiness, health and prosperity in 2021!

Cheers,
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Finding the Perfect Holiday Gift

Published on: December 1st, 2020

Looking for a special holiday gift for the wine lover in your life? We have you covered! Napa Valley wineries, restaurants and gift shops are offering some amazing, classy gift ideas that are perfect for all the connoisseurs on your list.

Here are a few unique ideas to consider:

• An engraved champagne saber 
• A VORTEX somm aerating wine dispenser
• Cherry wood wine accessory gift box
• Make your own truffles class (virtual)
• Ultimate expression of sparkling wine and caviar pairing

There are many more possibilities to consider, including the perfect gift box of your recipients’ favorite wine. Contact us at ed@tourvin.net and we can help you navigate through all the possibilities.

Happy Holidays!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Where Would You Like Us to Visit?

Published on: October 29th, 2020

It’s that time of year when we at Tour Vin make our regular trip to Napa Valley to search out new wine tasting venues, restaurants and accommodations for our clients. We will be updating our Tour Vin website on a regular basis (beginning November 8), so you can track where we have been and review our comments. 

If you have particular venues you would like us to visit, send us a message through our website, Facebook or Instagram, and we will report back directly to you.

Hope you are enjoying the fall weather, and that you and yours are happy and healthy – cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Supporting Napa Valley in a Time of Need

Published on: September 29th, 2020

As many of you have already heard, Napa and Sonoma Valley have again been hit with wild fires. Many residents have had to evacuate their communities, and a few wineries have already been destroyed.

Firefighters on the front line need as much support as possible, and residents and their pets are seeking shelter to escape the devastation. Here are a couple of funds that will support those most in need.

California Wildfire Relief Fund: Supports firefighters, low-income families and animals by providing emergency food, water and medicine.

Red Cross: Provides food, shelter and relief supplies to all families in need who have been displaced.

Let’s do what we can in this time of need.

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Outdoor Dining and Tasting Re-openings

Published on: August 28th, 2020

Napa Valley is looking forward to seeing you just in time for the 2020 harvest! Our firefighters have again done an incredible job gaining containment of the fires we have been reading about. After closing due to potential smoke-related issues, wineries have started to reopen for outdoor tastings. As of now, strict protocols remain in place due to COVID-19.

Here are a few of the many wineries that are open and ready to serve guests: 

• Domaine Carneros
• Alpha Omega
• Italics Winegrowers
• Modus Operandi
• Round Pond Estates
• Amizetta Vineyards
• Charles Krug Winery
• Hudson Ranch
• Progeny
• David Arthur Vineyards 

Restaurants continue to be open, but will only serve guests outdoors with limits on group size and, of course, appropriate distance between tables.

Contact us to help you navigate the ever-changing protocols at restaurants and wineries during your next Napa Valley excursion. 

Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Napa Valley Creativity During COVID-19

Published on: July 30th, 2020

Though these are difficult times in California, Napa Valley wineries have been very creative in offering guests wine tastings on their premises (outdoor seating), as well as virtual tastings that can be enjoyed from the comfort of your home. 

Tour Vin has participated in a few of these virtual tastings, and has thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Winemakers and wine educators walk you through the history of the winery and provide valuable information about their wines. In some cases, these wineries offer wines from their library to be purchased. 

Here are two unique experiences we want to share:

• Meteor Vineyard offers a virtual blending session guided by the winemaker. Each guest purchases three different Cabernet clones, as well as the Coravin System, which keeps the bottle sealed and allows participants to enjoy the entire bottle at a later date. During the session, participants blend the wines to their taste!

• We just heard about a 2020 Napa Valley Harvest STOMP! No details have yet been provided, but we will keep you abreast of the details as they unfold. Check out the Tour Vin Facebook page for updates!

We hope you are staying healthy during these difficult times. Contact us for up-to-date happenings in Napa Valley!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Plan Your Next Napa Trip in Time for Harvest

Published on: June 29th, 2020

If you are looking forward to witnessing the Napa Valley 2020 harvest, now is the time to plan your trip! Harvest will probably begin in about three months, which is also the high season in the Valley. That said, hotels, wineries and restaurants are all set up and looking forward to seeing you soon.

With COVID-19 protocols in place, the wineries allow you to safely experience sipping great wines while taking advantage of the warm sunshine and dining outdoors, enjoying your favorite cuisine. If the indoor experience is what you prefer, wineries and restaurants are set up for that as well. Almost all venues have strict social-distancing guidelines in place when dining indoors, so it’s best to make reservations in advance. 

Contact us to help plan your 2020 wine country visit to Napa Valley – cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge