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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.

Photo Credit: Krupp Brothers

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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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

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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

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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