Tour Vin – Napa Valley’s Buzz

Published on: May 31st, 2019

Napa Valley is buzzing with excitement because of the upcoming 2019 events – you don’t want to miss any of these! With a focus on food, wine and art, here are a just a few coming up soon:

Napa City Nights Summer Concert Series: June 7-August 23 –  

Free family entertainment in the heart of Napa, this annual tradition highlights well-known artists and up-and-coming bands at the Veterans Memorial Park Amphitheater each Friday evening. Genres include jazz, pop, folk and country. With terraced seating, the views are amazing and this venue is within easy walking distance of many well-known restaurants.

50th Annual Mondavi Summer Concert Series: June through August – 

Enjoy great musical artists while sitting on the lawn or patio in the middle of the highly acclaimed Mondavi Winery. Wine and food are also available at the winery!

Napa Porchfest: July 28 – 

Ready for a free Napa community event for the entire family? Stroll through the residential streets of Napa, specifically the Fuller Park area in Old Town Napa, and enjoy great music on the porches of various homes. Bring along lawn chairs, blankets and coolers, and food vendors will be stationed at Fuller Park.

Calistoga Harvest Table: September 8 – 

What better time to celebrate harvest season in the middle of Calistoga’s downtown district? Approximately 12 local restaurants and 40 wineries will be serving guests who are seated at 1,000 feet of tables in the center of town. Calistoga AVA wines will be served at the 4:30 p.m. social hour, which is open to the public. Advance purchased dinner tickets are a must for a seat at the table. 

This is the perfect time to plan your summer or fall trip to Napa Valley – contact us and we’ll guide you to all the hot spots!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – The 2019 Growing Season is Under Way

Published on: April 30th, 2019

Bud break is in full swing in the Napa Valley! This year, growers say the grape growing season is about a week later than last due to the chilly weather and late winter rains. The good news is that all the water that fell between November and February (35 inches to be exact) has been absorbed into the ground, and adds to the water table to better the grow.

Cover crops throughout most of the valley are in full bloom, and some AVA’s (designated wine grape growing regions in the United States distinguishable by geography) are beginning to plow these plants under, which will replenish the soil with valuable nutrients. 

Peak season in Napa Valley is between May and October –  crowds will increase and hotels will book up fast. Visitors vacationing in Napa in the next few months will be treated to the sights of vineyard managers pruning the vines (primarily in May), tilling the soil and ensuring the vineyards stay healthy throughout harvest. Now is the perfect time to plan your next Napa Valley trip!

If you’re planning on visiting Napa during harvest time, which is usually September/October, it’s a good idea to make your travel and accommodation plans as soon as possible. Since the valley considers this time “high season,”, crowds will be at their peak. However, also during this timeframe, many wineries host harvest parties and you don’t want to miss these special food and wine-based events.

We at Tour Vin visit all Napa Valley venues before recommending them to our clients. Contact us to help plan your next trip!

Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – The CIA at Copia

Published on: March 28th, 2019

There are many unique venues in Napa Valley, but few offer an experience that combines food, wine and a historical perspective of the wine region like The CIA at Copia. On our most recent visit to Napa, we toured Copia in downtown Napa and want to share our discoveries!

Restaurants

The Restaurant at CIA Copia is open for lunch and dinner. The menu changes based on the season and centers on a farm-to-table experience. The wine list is expansive, as is their offering of signature cocktails. Guests can choose to dine in the restaurant or sit outside adjacent to beautiful flower and vegetable gardens.

If you’re looking for breakfast or a quick lunch stop, check out Contimo Provisions. Everything is made from fresh, quality ingredients and prepared to order while you wait. Need something to go? They do that, too!

Wine Tasting

A must-stop for a distinctive wine tasting experience is K. Laz at Copia. These folks offer premium wines that are rarely offered by the glass, including Hundred Acre, Realm, Screaming Eagle, Harlan. If you’d like to partake in a wine pairing, they also offer dim sum, cheese and charcuterie or oven pizza to complement the wines. Reservations are required.

Cooking Classes

Some of our guests like to experience a hands-on cooking class while visiting Napa Valley. Copia offers a classic experience in a professional kitchen environment. A few upcoming classes include:

• Chefs CIA Farm-to-Table
• Family Fun-Dim Sum
• Healthy Cooking
• Mastering Mole

While strolling through this amazing complex, stop in The Store at CIA Copia, which focuses on the home and kitchen, and features cookware, linens, home and garden accessories, and pottery.

Now is the time to start planning your next Napa Valley experience. Hotels are currently offering discounts for early bookings, so don’t wait. Contact us to help plan your next trip to Napa Valley!

Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Exploring the Unique Venues of Napa Valley

Published on: March 8th, 2019

Restoration Hardware is more than just a luxury lifestyle furniture and accessory store. In fact, at RH’s Yountville location guests can also enjoy an upscale restaurant that integrates food, wine and art. Tour Vin visited this unique venue and it is truly magnificent! RH incorporates their design into three different experiences: The Gallery, RH Restaurant and the RH Wine Vault, which is located in the historic Ma(i)sonry Building.

The restaurant is truly exceptional. RH has done an outstanding job combining outdoor lifestyle and art into the restaurant’s ambiance. Surrounded by 100-year-old olive trees, crystal chandeliers and two large water fountains, we enjoyed a wonderful meal.

The staff was very attentive and responsive, making it clear the establishment’s goal is to always put the customer first. The broiled salmon is cooked to perfection and served with brown butter, lemon and wild mushrooms. Everyone must try the banana split!

Spring is upon us and Nap Valley is vibrant with color, so it’s time to start thinking about your next trip. Contact us – we know all the hot spots.

Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Springtime in Napa

Published on: January 29th, 2019

There are so many wonderful Napa Valley events coming up that you don’t want to miss! This is a great time for a visit – crowds are small (probably skiing), hotels and B&Bs offer discounted room rates, and wineries are geared up with expanded food and wine experiences!

Here are a few special events you should know about:

February 21 – DoNapa Culinary Crawl: Begin at the Andaz Hotel and experience a walking food and wine tour through downtown Napa. A culinary guide will take each group to pre-designated culinary spots where guests will enjoy food and wine pairings offered by your favorite restaurants.

March 14-17 – Yountville Live: Enjoy world-class music, food and wine while strolling through this wonderful town. The VIP experience includes special events held in restaurants, caves and wineries, and each feature some of the world’s best chefs, premier wineries and award-winning musicians.

April – Arts in April: For the entire month, the Valley will showcase arts and cultural events from Napa to Calistoga. Guests will enjoy music, art fairs, theatric performances and culinary arts. Napa County will also host four city events to celebrate the specific town’s cultural heritage.

We know all the hot spots in Napa Valley – contact us to help plan your next visit!

Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Cheers to a Great New Year!

Published on: December 30th, 2018

Each turn of the New Year offers the occasion to appreciate the good things that the past 365 days have given you, and anticipate all the good things that are yet to come. As 2018 comes to a close, cheers to the successes, cheers to the failures, and cheers to those who helped make your year what it was.

With the new year ahead, filled with new hopes and new dreams, Tour Vin wishes you and your family peace and joy to carry you through all of 2019. And remember, friends don’t let friends drink bad wine! So, break out the “good stuff” – every day is a special occasion.

We look forward to working with you in the new year to further expand your Napa Valley adventures. Cheers to a happy, healthy 2019!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Napa Valley Holiday Events

Published on: November 29th, 2018

The Harvest is over, wines are in tanks or barrels, and now Napa Valley is getting ready for the holidays! There are many events planned throughout the holiday season that can be enjoyed by the entire family that you don’t want to miss. Here are a few to consider:

• Holiday Light Trolley Tours – For three weekends in December, the entire family can hop aboard a light-decorated trolley and tour Downtown Napa and its Victorian neighborhood. The cable car will take visitors on a fun ride complete with classic holiday music and spirit! Guests can also enjoy great food at the Oxbow Public Market and CIA at Copia.
• Ice Skating with Santa Claus – The city of St. Helena presents their inaugural event – St. Helena Jingle All the Way – at local Lyman Park. The entire family will enjoy food served from gourmet food trucks, music, wine, holiday festivities and a visit by Santa!
• Twelve Days of Christmas – Beginning December 7, the famous restaurant at Meadowood Napa Valley will host the Twelve Days of Christmas featuring exquisite cuisine prepared by world famous chefs for all to enjoy. Reservations are a must as this event sells out very quickly!
• Holidays in Yountville – Between November 19 and January 1, the town of Yountville hosts the annual Holidays in Yountville events, which are a “must visit” for all visitors in Napa Valley. This year’s calendar features carriage rides through the town coupled with holiday music, holiday movies, photo opportunities with Santa, Nutcracker performances and a Broadway play. Don’t forget, there are also many wine tasting rooms throughout town and excellent restaurants offering your favorite cuisine!

Christmas is a great time to visit Napa Valley, so contact us to help plan your trip. Happy Holidays!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Completing the 2018 Harvest

Published on: October 30th, 2018

Harvest in Napa Valley is almost complete and the feedback from those in the know is that they are thrilled with the quality and quantity of this season’s yield – the berries look and taste amazing, and are evenly ripened.

Most of the juice is resting (fermenting, actually) in tanks, which means the yeasts are feasting on the sugars that will eventually turn to alcohol. However, when grapes or grape bits are left in a fermentation vessel, the solids—grape skins, seeds, stems, pulp—rise to the surface and is called a “cap.

To integrate the cap back into the wine, pump-overs and punch-downs become the priority to ensure maximum contact time between the skins and the juice to encourage development of the wine’s proper color and structure. A pump-over circulates, or pumps, the fermenting juice over the cap. This process doesn’t break up the cap, but helps to keep it submerged. A punch-down is when a mashing device pushes the cap down to break it up and submerges it again.

The crowds have thinned and accommodations are more affordable, so now is a great time to visit Napa Valley and learn about the winemaking process of your favorite vineyards. Tour Vin is here to help plan your next Napa Valley excursion!

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – The CIA at Copia

Published on: September 27th, 2018

We just returned from a week-long trip in Napa Valley where we revisited The CIA at Copia. This culinary space has become a popular go-to for guests who want to enjoy great food and wine tasting, as well as participate in cooking and wine pairing classes. Originally planned by Robert and Margrit Mondavi and Julia Child, The Culinary Institute of America at Copia had its grand reopening in 2016 after an eight-year closure.

We were quite impressed with the new venue.

Surrounded by beautiful vegetable gardens, comfortable outdoor seating and casual eateries for breakfast or lunch, the CIA is the perfect place for weddings and corporate events. For lunch, we stopped in at Contimo Provisions and ordered delicious sandwiches and salads made fresh on the spot with ingredients from local purveyors. If a more formal dining experience is to your liking, the food and ambiance at The Restaurant at CIA Copia is exquisite, and indoor and outdoor seating is available.

After lunch, we went upstairs to check out the CIA kitchen, which is known as the Hestan Teaching Kitchen (check out the photo). Interactive cooking classes, as well as basic food and wine pairing classes and baking classes, are offered here. We were amazed at this state-of-the-art facility and you will be, too!

A highlight of our Napa wine tasting experience was at K. LAZ at Copia. Their mantra is: We make the inaccessible available just for you. It’s the only place in the valley that I know of where you can taste elusive and highly-coveted wines, including Hundred Acre, The Maiden (Harlan), Bond, Keever, Second Flight (Screaming Eagle), O’Shaugnnessy, Keplinger, Realm, Pulido-Walker and Rudd, all in one place. Reservations are required for this experience.

Please contact us for more information on this wonderful venue and its offerings – you won’t be disappointed!

Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

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Tour Vin – It’s Time for the Napa Valley Crush!

Published on: August 27th, 2018

That’s right, the Napa Valley harvest season is underway with Sauvignon Blanc grapes being picked in St. Helena. August through October keeps winemakers busy assessing and planning the entire winemaking process, which includes determining when the grapes will reach peak ripeness; scheduling the harvest; and pressing, fermenting and resting the grapes in oak barrels or stainless-steel tanks.

When guests visit Napa Valley during this time they can observe, first-hand, the entire winemaking process! After a tour of a winery’s operation, guests can spend time with the wine educator in the tasting room and learn some particulars about their wines and winemaking techniques. Always amazing to our guests is the history of the winery, how the owner became involved in the wine business, why certain grape varietals are chosen and from where are the grapes sourced.

Certain wineries go all out this time of year and offer wine, food and music at their harvest parties. In addition to the actual party, visitors may partake in grape stomping and wine blending.

This time of year in Napa Valley is the most popular, so don’t wait to reserve your harvest vacation. Contact us to help plan your trip – we know all the hot spots Napa Valley has to offer!

Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

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