One visit is never enough. Satisfy your curiosity and zeal for living well. Within one week, Napa Valley went from bud break to grape leaves. Now is the time to visit, if you close your eyes – you’ll miss it! Private Estate Stays to Adults Only Resorts It is true, overnight stays in St. Helena can be hard to come by and sometimes pricey, but it’s for good reason. Oenophiles exclusively choose St. Helena because it’s home to the most prestigious AVAs in Napa Valley and boutique wines you won’t find in a grocery store. The only overnight stay with a 360-degree birds eye view of Napa Valley is the ultra-lux Ink House Napa Valley. A private estate that has a basement speakeasy where Elvis Presley played, is just the icing on the cake. If an adult-only vineyard view pool and private outdoor soaking tub sounds enticing, make your way to Alila Napa Valley,a Forbes 5-star luxury resort, just an arm’s reach from St. Helena’s Historic Shopping District. Get down and “dirty” at Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Spa. Doc discovered the healing powers of mineral baths and mud soaks before it was cool, and no one does it better. The ABCs of St. Helena Wineries There are more wineries in St. Helena than the number of letters in the alphabet. So let’s start at “A” with ACME Fine Wines. SF Chronicle describes ACME Fine Wines as “a secret society for oenophiles”, and this appointment-only wine shop and tasting room is highly recommended for those looking to expand their cellar and bring home something that will impress a crowd. “B” is for Brasswood Cellars, one of very few custom crush facilities in Napa Valley, with a noteworthy cave, and captivating winery complex that’ll have you canceling your next appointment.... read more

From the order in which we pick our grapes, to each step after that. Here’s a go-to guide about how the wines you love leave the vine and make it to bottle. Making wine is no easy feat, and a great deal of science and institutional wisdom is required. Chandon recently kicked off its 50th harvest! For a limited time, guests can have one of the most unique harvest experiences at Chandon.  A sunrise breakfast with the team, accompanied by wines from the vines that surround you, and a fascinating tour of the vineyards.     Come late September onward, and it’s all hands on deck for most St. Helena wineries, often known as “cab country.”  Winemakers have been checking their fruit daily, monitoring brix levels, color, size, and tracking weather.  Many consider timing the single most important decision a winemaker makes each year.  With 40 years of winemaking experience in Napa Valley, Merryvale Vineyard’s harvest also began this week and guests can taste from the barrel at their infamous annual harvest party on September 25th.   Once all the grapes are in, it’s time to sort them.  While some wineries use fancy technology like optic sorters, many continue the tried and true method of hand sorting their fruit.  Every grape that goes into the bottle is carefully chosen to make the finest Napa Valley wines. Voted “winery of the year” by Wine and Spirits Magazine, Whitehall Lane Winery is one of the most recommended tours and tastings during the season.  Following grape sorting, comes crush.  This is the moment you can see and SMELL wine being made.  2023 is the year that Grgich Hills Estate brings back its iconic grape stomp.  Relish in your Lucille Ball moment as you jump in a barrel and stomp your way through harvest.  If you miss out at Grgich Hills, mark your calendar for the September 30th and October 7th “CRUSH IT” Festival at The Estate Yountville.    The... read more