Napa,+CA

**Susan Sewald - November 2014:**
====Recently took a trip to Napa Valley and wanted to pass along wineries to visit and things to do since many have asked me what wineries we visited and where we stayed. We flew into San Francisco, rented a car and drove to Napa. Napa is a busy town and has lots of shopping, boutique stores and great restaurants around and along Main Street. There is also the Napa Visitors Center downtown and they have lots of great information and brochures to help plan your trip. We stayed at the Riverpointe Resort, a 5 star trailer park resort, as a timeshare trade. I do believe they will rent nights individually to non members. Very nice, clean and convenient. If you are looking for a sports bar, we highly recommend Downtown Joe’s (Website: [] ). They are a bar/restaurant and have several TV’s. For a quieter atmosphere sit outside on the patio.==== ====Along Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail (they run parallel to each other), there are many, many wineries. Do your research before you go so you know which ones you want to visit. Here are a few wineries along Hwy 29 we visited:==== ====Napa Cellars – Trinchero Family Estates – Sell many different wines including Menage a Trois – Join their wine club for great discounts on wine, shipping and shop purchases as well as free wine tastings (we stopped there each day and had a free tasting). Website: []====

Mondavi– Nice winery with some history to it. They do offer tours and tastings for a fee. Website:
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Beringer – Beautiful winery with quite a few buildings, grape fields and the original home. They offer tours and tastings for a fee. Website:
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Charles Krug – Owned by Peter Mondavi. Specialize in white wines. Offer tastings and a tour for a fee. Website:
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====Mason – (downtown Napa) – This is a tasting store and they have several whites and a few reds. We weren’t charged a tasting fee here but the clerk was drinking right along with all of us and maybe forgot to charge us? Website: []====

====Waterstone – Tasting store next to Mason Winery. They have several wine tastings and food pairings to choose from. I have coupons for 2 for 1 tastings – see my mail folder gate side and grab one from the envelope. If they don’t offer it, ask to taste “Study in blues”. A great red wine. They will also offer a discount if you have a few bottles shipped back home. Website: []====

====Castello di Amorosa – This is known as the Castle Winery. Quite a place and located north of St. Helena on Hwy 29. We did the tour with a tasting and it was one of the best tours we did. Their wines are good too! Website: []====

====Chateau Montelena Winery – Located outside of Calistoga. The movie “Bottleshock” is a true story based on this winery. If you haven’t seen the movie and have the time before you go watch it and you will learn the history behind this winery and why it is so famous. We even got to speak with the owner Bo Barrett. Also located on the winery property is Jade Lake which has two very small islands. For a fee, you can rent an island for a romantic catered lunch/dinner. Website: []====

Other things to do:
====End your trip with a stop at the mud/mineral baths in Calistoga. There are several spas offering this volcanic mud bath. We went to the Golden Haven Spa which had a coupon in the Napa Magazine. Make a reservation before you go. Website: []====

====Take a day trip to San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf via the Vallejo (or Valley Joe – as the locals call it) ferry. There is ample parking at the ferry station and it is about 30 minutes from Napa. The ferry stops at the Ferry Building (which is a 20 minute walk to the wharf) or Pier 41 at Fishermen’s Wharf. Website: []====

====Culinary Institute of America at Greystone Castle – If you are looking for a nice dining experience with exceptionally good gourmet food, this is the place to dine. The students of CIA are your waiters/waitresses and chefs for the evening. The food is wonderful! Price wise you will pay around $140 per couple (including tip). The students are not allowed to accept tips so a 17% tip is added to the bill and goes towards their scholarship fund. You will need to make a reservation 2-3 weeks in advance. Website: []====

====TIPS – When asked if you want to revisit a wine, always says yes!, this is code for a free drink; If you purchase wine most wineries will waive the tasting fee; bring a larger suitcase than needed to pack single purchase wines in for the trip home (make sure you don’t go over the 50 lb limit). Also pick up Wine Skin’s sold at most wineries to package those wines in for the flight home.====