Luxury and Wine in Californias Napa Valley

Meadowood Napa Valley is an exquisite wine country property reminiscent of a grand country estate. Gabled cottages are nestled among the oaks, pines and gardens of the property's very private setting. Mossy stone walls define walkways and tame and wild landscape blend seamlessly. The service, which is attentive and professional, exemplifies wine country hospitality. Descriminating travelers will find an extensive list of amenities, activities and services including croquet, gol, tennis, swimming, a complete health Spa, a wine cellar, a cultural affairs program and fine dining.

Locals and tourists alike flock to this gourmet eatery to watch the chef concoct his excellent dishes. With a panoramic view of the Napa hillside and a decor of warm impressionist tones, Brix Restaurant makes for an elegant night out. You can order a five-course tasting dinner that comes Japanese-style in a bento box. The on-site wine store offers an extensive and eclectic variety, running the gamut in price.

Housed on a retired equestrian center, Black Stallion Winery is not just another small winery in Napa Valley. Nine different varietals of delicious wines along with well blended excellent quality wines like the Rosé, Merlot, Muscat and Chardonnay are created here. The Winery features a circular tasting bar, a terrace and two private tasting lounges for the visitors. The Black Stallion Winery is a must visit for tasting great wines—in a sophisticated and rustic environ.

For the last five years this designer has been taking the fashion world by storm, dressing celebrities and young America in his signature red, white, and blue logo. The brand that is usually only found in upscale department stores like Macy's sends its sale apparel and accessories to this Napa outlet. Men and women will find a wide selection of modern preppy apparel in casual styles marked at 20 to 75 percent lower than their original retail prices. Take Highway 29 to the First Street exit.

Visit this outlet and find a great selection of designer leather accessories. This manufacturer is known internationally for its collections of high quality handbags, luggage, briefcases, wallets and shoes in fabulous colors and classic cuts. Pick up nice gifts like fine leather photo frames and desk sets. Save around 30% to 75% off retail prices on past season and discontinued stock.

Running parallel to the oft-clogged Highway 29 through Napa Valley, the Silverado Trail offers visitors a chance to see a quieter side of Napa. Nestled against the foothills, the route, spirits travelers back to a slower time, a gentler pace and rewards them with peeks at some 30+ wineries of this definitely less-beaten path. As the president of the of the Silverado Trails Wineries Association says, "If Highway 29 is the heart of Napa Valley, the Silverado Trail is its soul." Signposts at every junction point to member wineries.

Van Der Hayden Vineyards holds its expanse in the south of Stags Leap District, on the Silverado Trail. The estate is truly proud of its Late Harvest Cabernet Sauvignon, the only one of its kind produced in the world. The long neat columns of plantation, spread across the vast greens provides a breath-taking glimpse of the wonder-fruit, the grapes, firmly peeping from beneath. Ground later, these grapes produce the Estate Bottled Chardonnay Wines, Cabernet Sauvignon, Late Harvest Desert Wines and many more.

Rutherford Hill Winery, a premier producer of Merlot, is perched in the eastern Napa hills and boasts a panoramic view of the valley. With a pleasant one-acre picnic area, shaded by 100 year-old olive and oak trees, it is also a popular spot for lunch. The tour includes a visit to the wine-aging caves, which are tunneled into the cliffs behind the winery and used for wine storage. Check the website for tour schedule and prices.

In 1976 the now famous Bicentennial blind wine tasting pitted California wines against French wines. The shocking result was that a California cabernet sauvignon proved best of all the bordeaux reds. The wine? The 1973 release was from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. That one event not only enhanced Stag's Leap reputation, it put Napa County on the international wine map.

San Francisco locals are ignoring the city's best restaurants to flock to this countryside jewel, considered to be one of the best establishments in America. According to reports, reservations should be made at least two months in advance. The exquisite American-French food defies description or convention. Appetizers include Poached Moulard Duck, Foie Gras au Torchon with Port-braised Mission Fig, and Adriatic Fig Salad. Entrees include Sirloin of Fallow Venison wrapped in Applewood and Smoked Bacon with sweet carrot puree. The French Laundry's extraordinary food is exceeded only by its excellent service. Patrons are always impressed by the breath and depth of knowledge of Master Sommelier Paul Roberts, whose recommendations are as tasteful as they are informative.

Napa Valley, north of California's San Francisco Bay Area, is the main wine-producing region of the U.S. and one of the top wine regions in the world. It is also known for its gourmet restaurants, cafes and spa-treatment centers.

Napa Valley is one of the most popular tourist attractions in California. More than five million visitors come each year, often overcrowding the roadways on summer weekends. Peak times are the summer months and the harvest "crush" during September and October. Napa Valley is home to more than two hundred wineries.

Most wineries offer tastings and tours. The largest, most well-known wineries (such as Mondavi and Beringer) are open daily and boast large hosting facilities, guided tours of the operation and reserve rooms for tasting select wines. Some of the numerous smaller wineries offer tastings only by appointment, but you may get a tour or tasting conducted by the owner.

With so much fine wine in the area, great dining naturally emerged to compliment it. The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena supplies a steady stream of well-trained chefs, supplementing the already prestigious pool of chefs drawn by Napa Valley's reputation and locale.

When it comes to creating world class wines—Folie à Deux Winery seems to be the experts. Having the whole knowledge of the various micro climates that exist in Napa, giving rise to the distinct flavor for the grapes, vineyards across Napa are used to blend in and create a delicious varieties. Zinfandels and Cabernet Sauvignon are some of the exceptionally good varietals fermented here. Apart from Folie à Deux, the Ménage à Trois collection of delicious blended wines must be tried.

Robert Mondavi is one of the most renowned vintners in Napa County, producing affordable and complex wines. The Robert Mondavi Winery offers several tasting tours varying in depth and price. The Taste of Wine is a two-hour formal tasting dedicated to training your palate as well as learning about various wine characteristics. Reservations are required all tours and tastings. In addition, the winery hosts countless concerts, art exhibits and community events. Visit the website for details on tours, tastings and events.

This winery, has continuously produced wine longer than any other Napa Valley winery. It had a major impact on the industry by introducing small oak barrels for aging wine in the early 1900s. During prohibition, it produced sacramental wines. Today the winery produces several award-winning varieties from its wide holdings in the Rutherford, Napa Valley and Carneros viticultural areas.

Beringer Vineyards has been in the wine-making business for more than 125 years. With a combination of modern technology and traditional methods, it produces some great blends. Pinot Grigio, Sparkling White Zinfandel, Alluvium Blanc, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon are some of the wines produced. The store sells items such as two bottle wine boxes with handle, wine cellar tags, Beringer wine tasting wheel and much more. You can choose to join any of the four wine clubs.

Founded in 1973 by Moet and Chandon (the French makers of Dom Perignon), the Domaine Chandon winery was California's first large-scale sparkling wine producer. It was the first to introduce Pinot Meunier as a varietal for making sparkling wine. You can learn all about this on the winery's tour, which imparts all the fascinating details about the process of making sparkling wine. Tastings are conducted in the stylish, terraced Le Salon including hors d'oeuvres. Check the website for the operation hours of the visitor center and tasting salon.

This shop has, you guessed it, candles and gifts. For over 25 years this place has been providing all shapes and sizes of candles to restaurants, wineries, businesses and the general public. Whether wholesale or retail, the Napa Valley Candle Factory & Gift Shop has everything related to candles and candle making: votives, table lamps, factory seconds, candle holders and all sorts of other novelties. The staff is expert and can make whatever candle you desire with whatever fragrance you desire.

If the women in Napa have anything to say about, The Mustard Clothing Co., it is that it is the best place to buy clothing in the Wine Country. This independent boutique was been voted as the "Best Clothing Boutique in Napa Valley", for five years straight by locals. It is chic and girlie in an original way, that only a mature woman with style can truly appreciate. Find quality garb and accessories by big designers like Eileen Fisher and Tommy Bahama as well as more unique pieces by lesser known designers you will want to known better.

Meadowood Napa Valley is an exquisite wine country property reminiscent of a grand country estate. Gabled cottages are nestled among the oaks, pines and gardens of the property's very private setting. Mossy stone walls define walkways and tame and wild landscape blend seamlessly. The service, which is attentive and professional, exemplifies wine country hospitality. Descriminating travelers will find an extensive list of amenities, activities and services including croquet, gol, tennis, swimming, a complete health Spa, a wine cellar, a cultural affairs program and fine dining.

Napa Valley, north of California's San Francisco Bay Area, is the main wine-producing region of the U.S. and one of the top wine regions in the world. It is also known for its gourmet restaurants, cafes and spa-treatment centers.

Napa Valley is one of the most popular tourist attractions in California. More than five million visitors come each year, often overcrowding the roadways on summer weekends. Peak times are the summer months and the harvest "crush" during September and October. Napa Valley is home to more than two hundred wineries.

Most wineries offer tastings and tours. The largest, most well-known wineries (such as Mondavi and Beringer) are open daily and boast large hosting facilities, guided tours of the operation and reserve rooms for tasting select wines. Some of the numerous smaller wineries offer tastings only by appointment, but you may get a tour or tasting conducted by the owner.

With so much fine wine in the area, great dining naturally emerged to compliment it. The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena supplies a steady stream of well-trained chefs, supplementing the already prestigious pool of chefs drawn by Napa Valley's reputation and locale.