ArchivesNapa Valley concierge Archives - Tour Vin

Tour Vin – The Valuable Insight of CIA at Copia

Published on: April 29th, 2025

The next time you are in Napa Valley, check out CIA at Copia. The venue offers insight into the history of food and wine in California, as well as activities that you can’t enjoy anywhere else in one space!

Visitors first experience the amazing gardens of herbs, fruits and vegetables, which showcase the essence of California’s culinary reputation. Walk inside the venue and explore the amazing kitchens where CIA Chefs hold cooking classes, or relax in the self-service wine bar, eat lunch at the Lunch Box and shop at the Marketplace at Copia.

For dinner, check out The Grove restaurant. And, on your way out, check out the Culinary Arts Museum and the display of historic vintage classic wines!

This is a great time to visit Wine Country, so be sure to plan your vacation as soon as possible. Contact us to help plan your next trip to Napa or Sonoma.

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Exploring Local Cuisine

Published on: September 27th, 2024

There are many wonderful restaurants in Napa Valley that offer cuisine that meets
everyone’s pallet. Sometimes however, you need to squeeze in a quick lunch between
wine tastings somewhere you don’t need a reservation. If you are in Napa, we suggest you
check out Oxbow Public Market!

There are many vendors and an abundance of choices to choose from. Here are a few
restaurants and quick bites to consider:

• C Casa

• Burgers-Gott’s Roadside

• Hog Island Oyster Co.

• Live Fire Pizza

• Eiko’s Fish Market

• Loveski

• Cheese and Wine Merchant

• MORO

If you enjoy sweets, try Anette’s Chocolates and Kara’s Cupcakes. Also, if you have time
take advantage of the wines offered by Hudson Vineyards in their self-serve wine
stations.

This is a great time to visit Wine Country – it’s less crowded, there are more affordable
accommodations and, of course, you can’t beat the fall weather! Contact us to help plan your next Wine
Country vacation.

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Von
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Experience Nightlife at Blue Note Napa

Published on: May 29th, 2024

Did you know that downtown Napa offers an amazing nightlife for all to enjoy after a long day of wine tasting and dining? If you are into live jazz music and gourmet food, we recommend you check out Blue Note Napa!

The building, featuring a historic design of the nineteenth century Napa Valley Opera House, provides a wonderful setting for great entertainment. Founded in 1981 and started in Greenwich Village, the venue features popular names in blues, Latin jazz and traditional jazz in an upscale club environment.

Just a few of the featured artists performing during the summer include Jiaoying Summers, Shelby Darrall, Dee Lucas The TWENTY Tour, Jazz Mafia, and many more! Check out the show calendar for even more information.

Things to know before you go:

• No reservations are required, but your ticket price will determine your seat location and is first come first serve
• Dinner is included in the price of the ticket
• There is a two drink minimum per person
• Casual attire is preferred.

Contact us at Tour Vin for more information!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

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Tour Vin – Upcoming Events in Sonoma County

Published on: February 28th, 2024

With more than 400 wineries, amazing restaurants and outdoor nature activities, there is plenty to do in Sonoma County!  Whether it’s a wine festival, art and wine fair, or other festive activities, the entire family can enjoy the Wine Country experience.

Here are a few spring activities to consider on your upcoming trip to Sonoma:

• February 23-April 26 – Lessons for Littles: Every Friday afternoon the little ones (children) can experience science guided fun in crafts and art
• March 8-9 – Winemaker Barrel Tasting at Emeritus Vineyards
• March 13 – A winemaker dinner hosted by Hugh Chappelle at the Bluewater Lounge in Bodega Harbour
• March 22-24 – Enjoy the 18th Annual California Artisan Cheese Festival
• March 20-24 – Sonoma International Film Festival: Great films, food and wine highlight this event

• Any Day – Try wine tasting on a bike tour – Ace It Bike Tours offers many options and is a perfect way to celebrate that special occasion. Or, if you enjoy hiking, explore a Russian River Valley hike through Redwood country. Options also include paddling down the river in a kayak or canoe.

Sonoma has a lot to offer and it’s never too early to plan your trip. Whether it’s Sonoma or Napa, we have you covered!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Start the New Year Right With a Trip to Wine Country!

Published on: December 18th, 2023

We hope everyone is ready for the upcoming holidays and that you enjoy some great times with family and friends!

It’s never too early to think about planning your next trip to Napa and Sonoma! Wine Country is wonderful in late winter and early spring when wineries and restaurants are fully staffed and usually offer great deals to entice early year visitors.

Whether it’s wine tasting, dining, hot air balloon rides, golfing, hiking, paddle boarding or a train ride, we have you covered! Accommodations can be difficult to sort out as well; hotels, B&Bs and private guest homes are in abundance, but we can help you through all the options.

To further tempt you to begin thinking about your next trip, take a look at some of the photos Tour Vin took on our previous trips to the wine country. We will be in Napa and Sonoma scouting out even more new venues for our clients soon, so watch for our posts on Facebook and Instagram in early February.

Again, have a great holiday season and don’t hesitate to contact us to help plan your next trip – cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – A Guide to Planning Your Trip to Napa or Sonoma

Published on: March 2nd, 2023

There are many things to consider when planning a trip to the wine country. We have created a list of important questions we ask all our clients before we create a preliminary itinerary. This helps us help you plan the best experience possible.

Here are some thoughts to consider for your next wine country vacation:

• When during the year would you like to plan your visit? High season is usually summer and fall (Harvest usually occurs late summer, early fall), while visiting during winter and spring you will encounter less crowds and the overall trips tends to be less expensive.
• What type of accommodations are important to you? Choices include: Full-service Hotels, B&Bs and Inns that offer complimentary breakfast, or an Airbnb rental that offers a “homey” experience that can be shared with multiple couples.
• What are your favorite styles of wine and what is your preferred tasting experience? Since there are numerous wineries to choose from, it is best to choose those wineries who offer the varietals you enjoy. In addition, many wineries offer food and wine pairings that enhance the tasting experience. There is much to choose from!
• What is your favorite cuisine? There are so many great restaurants in the valley, that in most cases, there is something for everyone!
• Are there other outdoor activities you would like to consider that can enhance your wine country experience? Consider an early morning hot air balloon ride, 18 holes of golf, kayaking or going on a hike.
• How do you prefer to travel between wineries? Transportation options are also important to consider since wine tasting all day can be overwhelming. Car services are usually a good option, as is a driving services that will drive your car on the tour. Uber and Lyft are usually not a good option because drivers are not always familiar with the wineries and they could delay you from getting to your tastings on time.
• Last but not least, what is your budget for this trip? This is important since the cost of wine tastings, car service and certain accommodations can be very expensive.

Tour Vin has been planning wine country trips for our clients for more than 10 years. Let us help plan your next Napa/Sonoma vacation!

Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Fine Dining at La Toque

Published on: October 28th, 2022

When it comes to dining, the wine country offers many incredible options from which to choose. Our clients have different cuisine preferences, so we at Tour Vin help them choose the best the wine country has to offer based on their individual tastes.

Whether its Italian, French, American, Mexican or Mediterranean, we make sure our clients’ dining experience is memorable. One of the things we pride ourselves on is that we have eaten at each and every restaurant we recommend, so we can properly communicate the dining experience to our clients.

Most recently our clients were in Napa celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary and were looking for that “special place.” We offered them three different options and they chose La Toque for their final night in the wine country. As always, La Toque didn’t disappoint!

With more and more wineries offering wine tastings paired with small bites, it is essential for us to consider the clients’ favorite foods and dietary considerations. Here again, we visit these wineries personally so we can accurately explain the tasting experience.

Autumn is a great time to visit the wine country. Smaller crowds and lower hotel/B&B rates makes the visit more affordable. Contact us to help plan your next wine country visit – Napa and Sonoma are waiting!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Tasting All There Is to Enjoy at Costeaux French Bakery

Published on: September 29th, 2022

While walking through Healdsburg, we came upon the famous Costeaux French Bakery. The popularity of this wonderful establishment is evident by the huge crowd that forms early in the morning.

Established in 1923, these folks offer breakfast, lunch, cakes and boxed lunches. They open at 7:30 a.m., so we advise getting there as early as possible. Also, if you are wine tasting in the area, we recommend ordering a boxed lunch (order two days in advance) that can be enjoyed in between wine tastings! If you are stopping in at the Santa Rosa location, they suggest ordering lunch three days in advance.

Here is a sample of the menu:

Breakfast:

• French toast
• Eggs and bacon
• Costeaux deep dish quiche
• Costeaux

Lunch:

• French onion soup
• Grilled chicken, breakfast or Costeaux salad
• Chicken panino, Monte Cristo, French dip and cranberry turkey sandwiches

Boxed lunches include a sandwich of your choice with a sweet treat, seasonal fruit salad and kettle chips.

If you are planning a trip to the wine country in the next few months, we suggest making reservations as soon as possible. Fall is a popular time to visit Napa and Sonoma, so contact us to help plan your next wine country vacation!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Sampling the Local Cuisine

Published on: June 27th, 2022

Most everyone is aware of the fabulous cuisine offered in Napa Valley, which provides visitors with a lot of restaurants from which to choose! If you prefer Italian, French, Mediterranean, vegetarian, American, Mexican, seafood, Asian, a good steak, tapas or just a great burger, we have indulged in them all and can provide you many recommendations. We take pride in having visited, and tasted, many of the dishes offered at some of the best restaurants in the valley.

Since many of the top restaurants are scattered throughout the valley, from Napa to Calistoga, Tour Vin can help you choose the dining establishments that align with your personal preferences and tastes. We are also sensitive to the fact that most of our clients prefer dining somewhat close to their hotel, VRBO or B and B, so we make sure their choices are “in the neighborhood.”

Our complete concierge service (wine tasting, accommodations, dining, hiking, kayaking, hot air balloon rides, golf, etc.) assures that our clients receive the best experience – we take care of everything! If you are planning a trip to Napa or Sonoma, give us a call so we can help assure you have a wonderful Wine Country vacation!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Upcoming Events You Shouldn’t Miss!

Published on: May 26th, 2022

There are some very exciting events planned for Napa and Sonoma you should know about before planning your next Wine Country vacation. Here are just a few to keep in mind:

Napa Events

June 8-11: Napa Valley Jazz Getaway music festival

June 21: Texas legend Lyle Lovett at the Uptown Theater

June 25: Pine Ridge Vineyards – Morning Hike at the Ridge

June 25: Nora Jones at the Oxbow Rivers Stage

July 15-24: Festival Napa Valley – The Ten Best Days of Summer

July 16: Wine Shine Half Marathon

July 4: Calistoga Fourth of July Parade

August 6   Lobster Feed at Merryvale Vineyards

August 19-20 Main Street Reunion Car Show

Sonoma Events

June 11: Beerfest: The Good One, Sonoma

June 12: Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Cup Race

June 13: Healdsburg Jazz Festival

June 17-19:  Country Summer Music Festival

June 25: Taste of Sonoma, Kendall Jackson Wine Estates and Gardens

July 9:  Tower of Power at the GMC, Sonoma State University

July 15-17 Gay Wine Weekend – Out in the Vineyard

7/16  Dutton Wine Class – Barrels vs Tank vs Egg

These are just a few of many events planned in the Wine Country during the summer months. The high season in the valley is fast approaching, so contact us through our website, www.tourvin.net or email us at ed@tourvin.net to help plan your next wine country vacation!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge