Tour Vin – A Visit to St. Helena, the Resort Town That Has It All
Published on: July 27th, 2018
Photo Credit – Biale Vineyards
The quaint, historic town of St. Helena is centrally located in mid-Napa Valley and seemingly has it all! Main Street, which runs along Highway 29, is filled with family-owned restaurants, wine bars and clothing stores, and is just minutes from the area’s luxury resorts, fine dining experiences, and wineries offering tastings and food pairings to exceed all expectations.
One of Tour Vin’s favorite resort destinations that our guests also love to visit is Meadowood Napa Valley. This iconic resort hotel earned Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel designation and is the perfect location for a romantic getaway, weddings, family gatherings, corporate retreats, a round of golf or the perfect spa day.
A short ride from downtown St. Helena is Sinegal Estate, owned and operated by David Sinegal. David and his family live on the property, and the casual vibe of the estate is welcoming and serene. During our tour, with wine in hand, we were led through their meticulously cared for gardens, which was a definite highlight. The cozy tasting room and the 6,500-square-foot underground caves are amazing.
If you’re looking for a true farm-to-table dining experience, check out Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch. Known for their American farmhouse cuisine (menus showcase items fresh from their farm and ranch), Farmstead changes their menu seasonally. We suggest guests order their favorite dish and share around the table!
Harvest time will soon be here, so don’t wait to plan your upcoming trip to Napa Valley. Contact us for more information about the latest hot spots you definitely don’t want to miss!
Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge
Tour Vin – The Wine Train Experience
Published on: July 2nd, 2018
The famous Napa Valley Wine Train has recently revamped their Valley Tours to ensure something for everyone. The Quattro Vino Tours offer four different tour experiences, which visit some of the most famous wineries in the valley. Each tour explores the art of wine making, wine tasting and fine dining.
This blog focuses on The Estate Tour, during which guests enjoy a six-hour rail excursion with tastings at three wineries and indulgence in a three-course dining experience. The day begins with sparkling wine and a light gourmet breakfast while en route to the first stop at the famous Domain Chandon. While at the winery, guests learn about sparkling wines and even get a sneak peek at the wine making facility.
The tour’s next stop is at HALL St. Helena to enjoy excellent wines in a tasting room with great views of the surrounding area. Lunch, a choice of braised pork belly or filet of salmon, is then served back aboard the train.
Next on the day’s agenda is a stop at Inglenook Winery. This iconic winery, owned and beautifully restored by Francis Ford Coppola is eye popping! After a tasting, guests return to the train to enjoy pastry selections by the on-board chef while taking in the scenery of the valley. Guests are then safely returned to the train depot.
As we enter the Napa’s high season, seats on these tours fill up fast, so don’t wait to book a reservation. Contact us to help plan your upcoming trip the Napa Valley!
Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge
Tour Vin – Returning From Our Recent Napa Valley Excursion
Published on: June 3rd, 2018
We just spent a week in Napa Valley with some of our wonderful guests. The valley is in full bloom, particularly the grape vines, many of which have begun to flower. Our guests couldn’t believe the beauty of the hillsides and vineyards.
Pictures are worth 1,000 words – check out our gallery of photos and enjoy!
During our trip, we also visited several unique wineries worthy of consideration on your next Napa visit. Some of the wineries we dropped in on were Arrow & Branch, Kelly Fleming Wines, Ashes & Diamonds, Gandona Winery and Amizetta Estate Winery. Contact us directly for more information on these great wineries and how to book your own visit.
Another quick note: Hotels and B&Bs are currently offering discounted mid-week prices, so plan your summer and fall vacations soon to take advantage of these great rates!
Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge
Tour Vin – Hiking the Napa Valley
Published on: April 30th, 2018
Napa Valley is well-known for excellent food, premium wines and a wide assortment of outdoor activities. Another fun activity that can be enjoyed by the entire family is hiking the hills surrounding the valley. We have two recommendations to consider when planning your Napa hike path!
The first hike is a 5.5 mile trek to the summit of Mount St. Helena. While standing atop the 4,343 foot peak, you can see the Sierra Nevada and, on a clear day, you’ll also be able to see the beauty of Mt. Lassen. To ensure good hiking weather, it is best to plan your hike in late winter or spring and leave as early in the day as possible. This is an all-day, 11 mile hike round trip, so take into consideration the stamina of your hiking group!
The second hike to consider is in Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. This well-located park is off Highway 29 between St. Helena and Calistoga. There are seven trails to choose from and range from easy to more difficult experiences depending on the length of the hike and the elevation. A popular trail among the locals is the Upper Ritchey Canyon Trail that takes you to an elevation of 1,900 feet. If a running trail is more your style, try the Vineyard Trail loop, which, of course, circles a vineyard.
Tour Vin – Upcoming Spring Events in Napa Valley
Published on: March 20th, 2018
Spring is fast approaching, and we want to tell you about some exciting events scheduled in Napa Valley. It’s a popular time to visit the valley, and sometimes reservations are required; don’t worry, we can help coordinate your trip!
- Eighth Annual Napa Valley Arts in April: This month-long event showcases art, music and culture, and features artists working with a variety of mediums. Venues in St. Helena, Yountville, Calistoga and Napa will host art and music programs paired with excellent food and wine.
- 2018 Lobster Fest: Do you enjoy lobster? If so, plan to head to V. Sattui in St. Helena on April 21. This food extravaganza includes fresh Maine lobster, large prawns, Italian sausage, corn on the cob, artichokes and a surprise dessert. Reservations will go fast for this feast!
- Sixth Annual Art, Sip & Stroll: Offered in conjunction with the Napa Valley-wide Arts in April, Yountville hosts this annual event on April 28. Touted the largest visual arts event in the Napa Valley, visitors can walk along Washington Street and view the work of 40 different artists, sip wine from 10 different wineries and tasting rooms, and enjoy live music at the town’s parks and main plaza.
- Grand Barrel Party at Castello di Amorosa: Barrel tasting, anyone? On May 4, Castello di Amorosa hosts their Grand Barrel Party, which features more than 40 Castello wines paired with fine Italian food! There will also be a blind-tasting challenge and a barrel making demonstration you will not want to miss. Reservations required!
As we enter the high season in Napa Valley, reservations at popular venues can be difficult to secure. If you are thinking about staying at the new hot spot in the valley, the Archer Napa Hotel, or would like to attend an upcoming event during your trip, contact us soon, as rooms and reservations are selling out fast!
Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Tour Vin Highlights Krupp Brothers Winery
Published on: February 19th, 2018
Tour Vin’s January 2018 trip to Napa Valley was a great success! Many of our guests have asked us about specific venues, so we made sure they were on our list to visit.
This month, we’re highlighting Krupp Brothers Winery in Napa. Two brothers, Jan and Bart, founded the winery in 1999, and produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Syrah and a Tempranillo-based red blend. Krupp Brothers wines can be enjoyed at their downtown Napa tasting room or at the Krupp Brothers Estate, which is nestled at the foot of the Vaca Mountains, just off the Silverado Trail. We chose the latter.
Upon our arrival on the Estate, we were met by Nikki Lincoln, Regional Sales Manager and Director of Hospitality. Glasses of wine in hand, we toured the property with her and learned a little history about the Krupp brothers. Then, she treated us to a 60-minute wine tasting.
Nikki also took us into the barrel room where she used the wine thief to sample several excellent wines straight from the barrel. Fun fact: A wine thief is a glass or food-grade plastic pipette used to remove a small amount of wine from a cask for testing (or, in this case, tasting).
If you are planning a trip to Napa Valley in spring or summer, we recommend taking a moment to sit on the Estate’s back porch that overlooks the sprawling vineyards and beautiful lake. The view is breathtaking. With advance reservations, Nikki can arrange lunch for you and your group coupled with, of course, a bottle or two of their fantastic wines!
It’s never too early to start planning your next trip to Napa Valley – give us a call and we’ll get you on your way!
Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Tour Vin – Exploring Beautiful Napa Valley
Published on: January 25th, 2018
Tour Vin just returned from a week in Napa Valley where we searched out new and exciting venues to recommend to our clients. We tasted wines on Atlas Peak and Spring Mountain, as well as in the hills of Calistoga, on the top of Soda Canyon and, of course, on the Valley floor. We also enjoyed wonderful cuisine at new restaurants and visited the downtown Napa’s new Archer Hotel.
In coming months, we will post in-depth reviews on many of the places we visited. The focus here is the beautiful scenery we experienced while driving through the Valley. Many of our friends and guests remain concerned about whether or not the Valley is ready for visitors. We say, YES, it is! And, we feel the best way to convey that the Valley is as wonderful as it has ever been and open for business is through photographs. Enjoy!
As always, contact us to help plan your next trip to Napa Valley.
Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Tour Vin – Napa Valley Winter Fun
Published on: December 28th, 2017
The hustle and bustle of activity in Napa Valley doesn’t slow during the winter months. In fact, events with focus upon wine tastings, excellent food and music abound. There is, no doubt, something for everyone – take a look at what’s in store for you!
- Calistoga Winter in the Wineries, December 2, 2017 – February 4, 2018. Offering special Winery Passports, 17 Calistoga wineries present passport holders with complimentary wine tasting flights. Some participating wineries include Castello di Amorosa, Bennett Lane Winery, Madrigal Family Winery, Chateau Montelena, Sterling Vineyards, Tamber Bey and Strasser & Lava Vine Winery.
- Napa Truffle Festival, January 12-15, 2018. Where else can you purchase all the fresh black truffles you want? Local restaurants will be offering special truffle menus, hands-on black truffle cooking workshops, a special winter feast at CIA at Copia, and free admission to the Oxbow Public Market so you can browse and purchase a la carte truffle fare.
- Napa Valley Restaurant Week, January 21-28. This event is a great opportunity to dine at restaurants throughout the Valley at remarkably low prices! Multi-course, prix fixe menus will be offered for lunch ($20) and for dinner ($35-$46). Participating restaurants include Auberge du Soleil, The Grill at Silverado Resort, The Restaurant at CIA Copia, Brasswood Bar & Kitchen, Solbar at Solage Calistoga, Torc and Charlie Palmer Steak Napa.
- Yountville Live, March 15-18, 2018. This four-day event is a celebration of food, music and wine, and features acclaimed musicians, award-winning chefs, and, of course, Napa Valley’s finest wines. Some scheduled activities include:
- The Grand Tasting, which includes 100 food and wine tastings
- Grand Cru Wine Tasting in the VIP tent
- The Grand Tasting Experience, which allows access to the chef demonstration stage
Yes, winter is an excellent time to visit the Valley. Contact us today to help plan your next trip!
Happy New Year!
Cheers,
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Tour Vin – 2018 Regional Best of Wine Tourism Award Winners Worth a Visit!
Published on: November 19th, 2017
A beautiful view seen at Davis Estate.
Each year, San Francisco and Napa Valley recognize regional hospitality leaders by presenting awards in seven Best of Wine Tourism categories. The 2018 San Francisco/Napa Valley Best Of award categories include accommodations; art and culture; architecture and landscape; innovative wine tourism experience; sustainable wine tourism practices; wine tourism restaurants; and wine tourism services.
We wanted to share the winners with you – drum roll, please!
- Accommodations – The Napa River Inn, a boutique hotel on the downtown Napa Valley river site.
- Art and Culture – The Hess Collection in Napa Valley, which provides free public access to its Contemporary Art Collection
- Architecture and Landscape – Davis Estates, located in Calistoga with design inspired by a historic barn built in 1916.
- Innovative Wine Tourism Experience – Shadybrook Estate Winery, a Napa Valley historic ranch property located in the Coombsville AVA.
- Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices – Etude Wines, located in the Carneros Appellation in Napa Valley.
- Wine Tourism Restaurant – The Napa Valley Wine Train, which offers a three-hour, 36-mile roundtrip excursion from Napa to St. Helena, as well as freshly-prepared lunch or dinner, on a fully-restored 1917 Pullman dining car or 1952 Vista Dome car.
- Wine Tourism Service – The Napa Valley Wine Trolley, a motorized replica of a late-1890s San Francisco cable car offering six-hour tours of four wineries and lunch.
These award winners offer something for everyone! If you would like more information, please contact us and we’ll help you with any aspect of your next Napa Valley vacation.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Cheers,
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Tour Vin Reports: Napa Valley On Road to Recovery
Published on: October 24th, 2017
* Photo Credit: Azur Wines
Napa, Sonoma and surrounding areas have just begun to recover from the unprecedented Valley fire and the disaster left in its wake. Finally, only hot spots remain, but many residents have lost their homes and businesses, and continue to need help. Of course, both monetary and personal item donations are needed, but the best way to help the Valley in its recovery is to VISIT and enjoy great food and wine at your favorite venue!
The folks at the Napa River Inn say, “Napa is ready for visitors! Tasting rooms and wineries have re-opened; balloons are flying again and restaurants are ready to take your reservation!”
Tour Vin recently discovered that some travelers are reluctant to visit the Valley to enjoy themselves after what everyone has experienced. To that, James Cole Estate Winery said, “The opposite is quite true. We need you, the Valley needs you now more than ever!”
Contact us to help plan your next trip to Napa Valley!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
* Photo Credit: Azur Wines
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