MATT TRAVEL
  • Why Matt?
  • About Matt
  • Contact Matt
  • Corporate Travel
  • Inspiring Destinations
  • River Cruises
  • Ocean Cruises
  • Blog
  • COVID-19

Napa Getaway

  • ​Itinerary
  • Accommodations
  • Experiences
  • More Info
<
>
Thursday, October 21st: Head to St. Helena

Hop in your car and make your way north to Napa Valley from San Francisco.

Consider making a few stops along the cheese trail on your way to Napa. It's not the most direct path to Napa, but well worth the detour. 

My favorites cheese stops are:
  • Marin French Cheese - My favorite cheese is their Petit Breakfast, but don't be shy. Try them all and take your favorite back to your hotel room and enjoy with a nice glass of wine.
  • Achadinha Cheese Co.​ - Be sure to make reservations in advance. The owner will give you a tour of the cheese making process and let you try cheeses at various stages in their aging process. She also has butter which is amazing and her Bavarian cream is to die for. Let me know if this interests you and I'll make reservations on your behalf.
  • Petaluma Creamery - This is the perfect lunch stop set in old downtown Petaluma. They have a self serve cheese tasting experience with many different kinds of cheeses to try.  They offer tasty sandwiches, but be sure to save some room for the homemade ice cream.​

Dinner @ The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil
​
Start your first night off right. They offer the best views of the valley. 

Friday, October 22nd: Wine Tasting (boutique vineyards)

Breakfast Recommendation: Stop by Model Bakery for their famous English muffins. 

Recommended Activity: Consider a morning bike ride through the valley.

Lunch Recommendation: Head to ​Napa Valley Olive Oil Company for picnic style lunch before enjoying tastings at three small woman-owned wineries.
​
You won't find these wines in stores. These are only available for purchase directly from the winery.

Redmon Wines @10:30am
$55 per person payable on arrival (waived with purchase of 3 bottles)
​

Each year we produce no more than 1,000 cases of wine. Our signature St. Helena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is limited to about 300 cases per year. To put things in perspective, each year the Napa Valley produces millions of cases!
 
We love making handcrafted, limited-production wines. Our hands do the work, not machines. Each Fall at harvest, we hand-sort the fruit from our vineyard early in the morning when the grapes are cool to the touch. We pick out raisins and any fruit that is imperfect. We do this by hand, and we do it twice!
 
Best of all, because we are small we have the opportunity to genuinely connect with our customers. Newcomers love to hear our story, and we love to hear about the journey that brought them to us. Together, we form friendships, and the Redmon wine family grows.

Amizetta Estate Winery @ 12pm
$75 per person payable on arrival


We are currently offering a private, outdoor tasting of our small-lot, estate red wines.​
​
Amizetta and Spencer Clark moved to the Napa Valley with one dream: to grow and make world class wines. They recognized that many of the world’s top wines were produced from hillside vineyards in Europe. With this knowledge, they scoured the Napa Valley for hillside property and in 1979 Amizetta and Spencer found their perfect vineyard site.

Their property is a steep, south-facing rocky 40-acre parcel at the base of Howell Mountain in the Conn Valley region of Napa Valley. With an elevation reaching over 1,000 feet, the vineyard has panoramic views of Lake Hennessey, Pritchet Hill, and the San Pablo Bay.  The soil consists of red and grey rock strata called "sobrante loam." Amizetta and Spencer knew right away, this was the ideal location for growing world class Cabernets and Bordeaux varieties.

Spencer decided that the best way to compliment his new vineyard site was to name it after the love of his life. They named the property Amizetta (pronounced am-ah-zet-uh) Vineyards. Amizetta is a name passed down through the family over five generations. The root of the name is "ami" which means friend in Latin.
​
Fortunati @ 3pm
$50 per person payable on arrival (waived with wine subscription)

​
Our Estate Vineyards & (NEW!) Winery is located at 980-986 Salvador Avenue, between Silverado Trail and Hwy 29 in the heart of the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, just north of the City of Napa. There is a u-shaped driveway with gates at each, please enter at the east driveway at 980 Salvador Avenue (nearest Big Ranch Rd) gate code is #4321, park in front of our new winery barn - two story building, directly ahead.

Our $50 per person tasting fee covers the seated, private tasting experience  lead by either our highly experienced Wine Educator, or Vintner and on occasion our very own winemaker.  We taste five of our handcrafted, ultra-premium wines + our dessert wine (6 total), accompanied by gourmet cheese/dried fruit/nut pairings plate. We enjoy customizing the tasting for the guests since, as noted above, we make several different varietals which is highly unusual for such a small producer. Many of our wines are only 100 to 250 cases of each lot! For those electing to join our Wine Subscription (Club) Program at the time of the tasting, we offer the ability to customize their wine selections in their first and any subsequent shipments  and when doing so, two (2) guests visitation fees are waived for each, one (1) subscription membership sign up. Our initial membership commitment lasts one year, and offers the ability to renew annually. Our wines are only available from us! We have opted to distribute our wines “directly” to customers – we ship throughout the country (where permissible), and we do not sell via wine distributors or brokers to wine shops or restaurants which allows us the ability to offer world-class wines at “exceptional values”.

We offer a private, outdoor seated 75 – 90 minutes tasting amongst the vines! We’ve been living and producing wines in the Napa Valley for over 17 years now, and our winemaker, Gary Anthony Luchtel has been creating ultra-premium wines commercially for more than 20+ years. We’re thrilled to share we’ve recently built our own, new, very small, micro winery in the heart of the Oak Knoll District (southern portion of the valley easily accessible from downtown Napa).  Our estate property offers an expansive up valley view surrounded by the Mayacamas Mountains to the west, the Vaca Range to the east and Mount St. Helena directly north! All from our private, outdoor plaza where guests are exclusively hosted.

Being a small, boutique winery available only by reservation, and with the diversity of wine offerings – which include 3 whites and 8 different red wines + a dessert wine, we’ve found we typically please all discriminating palettes. Our wine offerings include estate, multi-award winning Rosé and Viognier, neutral oaked Chardonnay. Our reds line up has really nice diversity with Zinfandel from Mt. Veeder, Pinot Noir sourced from Santa Rita Hills (one of the top 3 growing regions in CA for Pinot Noir), our estate Malbec and estate Syrah are always wine pleasers grown right here in the Oak Knoll District! Moreover, we also offer 3 different tiers and price points for our delicious Cabernet Sauvignon include Reserve Cab. And lastly, our lineup is complete with an estate port-style dessert wine! 

Today, we reflect the charm and feel of how Napa Valley come into being many decades ago. We’re truly a “farm-to-table” producer.

Dinner @ Goose & Gander for great food and beautiful cocktails!
Picture

Saturday, October 23rd: Explore Calistoga
​
Head north to Calistoga to taste wine at a couple of unique wineries. Calistoga is a picturesque town famous for mud bath's and spring water.

Tamber Bey @ 11:15am

Click here for your reservation confirmation. $90 + taxes due on arrival.

Vineyard Series Tasting
Enjoy a flight of five Tamber Bey Vineyards wines from our Vineyard Series portfolio, including:

  • Sauvignon Blanc, Lizzy's Vineyard, Oakville
  • Chardonnay Sans Chene (without oak), Yountville
  • Rosé, Fore Family Vineyard, Red Hills Lake County
  • Cabernet Sauvignon, Deux Chevaux Vineyard, Yountville
  • Rabicano red blend, Deux Chevaux Vineyard, Yountville

$45 per person
Add our Savory Cookie Pairing for $15 (optional).

Tamber Bey is located at Sundance Ranch, an equestrian facility for performance horses, and the tasting room is tucked in the spectacular original barn clubhouse designed by Napa Valley architect Howard Backen. Seriously, it’s smack in the middle of the training grounds, amidst the paddocks and opening onto a courtyard surrounded by the palace-worthy 16-stall barn. There’s horse art on the wine labels, and horse art as a mural overlooking the rich wood-paneled tasting room. And, if you’re lucky, when you sit on the lushly landscaped patio there will be some horses for you to watch in the posh stalls framing the courtyard. Merlin, the black horse usually found in the pasture, is always happy to pose for photographs. Pack a few carrots for him in your picnic.​

Castle Winery @ 2:45pm
​

Click here for your reservation confirmation. It is paid in full.


General Admission & Reserve Tasting
Explore the Castle on your own with roaming access of the two main levels. Including:

• 6 tastings including our reserve wines
• A map of the winery
• Access to the Courtyard, Truncated tower, Chapel, Great Hall, Knights Hall, Main Tasting Room and Gift shop

Price: $45 per person

Chocolate Upgrade: +$6 - Let our handmade Belgian chocolates enhance your wine tasting experience (optional)

The most beautiful wineries in Napa Valley simply must start with the most epic Castello Di Amorosa, the only authentic medieval (13th-century) Italian Tuscan castle and winery built in America, officially lowered its drawbridge for business in April 2007. Castello di Amorosa is nestled in the western hills on 171 acres just minutes south of The Napa Valley town of Calistoga.

The Castello has evolved to include over 136,000 square feet, including 107 rooms (90 of which are devoted to winemaking and wine storage); an enormous Great Hall with 2-story replica Tuscan frescoes painted by Italian artists and a 500-year old fireplace; 8,000 tons of hand-chiseled stones; 8 levels (4 above ground and 4 below); a drawbridge, dungeon and torture chamber; medieval church; and arguably the single most impressive wine barrel room in the U.S., with ancient Roman cross-vaulted ceilings.

Covid19 disclaimer: 
  • All guests must follow CDC social distancing guidelines including but not limited to, keeping 6 feet apart from other guests and wearing face masks. Depending on further developments, changes/cancellations of reservations may be necessary. Thank you for your understanding.
  • Please arrive 15-20 minutes prior to your scheduled tour departure time to allot enough time for parking and checking in.
  • Adults over the age of 21 must provide a valid form of photo identification upon arrival.

Dinner @ Calistoga Inn Restaurant & Brewery
​
Feel free to arrive early for drinks.
Picture
 Sunday, October 24th:  Wine tasting (popular vineyards) 

First, you'll enjoy wine tasting at several of the more popular vineyards.
​
Grgich Hills​ @ 10:30am

We offer a beautiful flight of five estate wines for you to enjoy at our Ranch House patio.
Seated Miljenko’s Flight – $45

Don’t forget to add a cheese plate to enjoy during your experience! Cheese Plate – $20 (optional)

Grgich Hills offers a cornucopia of experiences for visitors, including a variety of tours. Still, there’s something to be said for their decidedly old-school tasting bar. With a wide variety of menus available, there’s a tasting for basically every palate. Their Cabernet Sauvignon vertical offers visitors to Napa the rare opportunity to taste six vintages back-to-back, allowing you to grasp the nuances of each year. During crush season they often offer a grape stomping experience. Don’t miss the Chardonnay and their dessert wine “Violetta”.

We will be open for reserved tastings beginning Wednesday, June 10th. We look forward to welcoming you back to the winery! Tastings will be conducted on our Ranch House patio with increased health and safety procedures designed to promote a safe environment for our staff and guests.​

Robert Mondavi @ 1pm

Vintner's Tasting
Join us on our airy patios for a one hour seated tasting experience with our friendly and knowledgeable hosts. Elevate your tasting with a cheese or charcuterie platter designed to pair with our flights.

Duration: 60 Minutes / Flight of 4 wines
​
Robert Mondavi established his namesake winery in 1966 with a vision to create Napa Valley wines that would stand in the company of the world's finest. He chose To Kalon Vineyard in the heart of the Napa Valley as the home for Robert Mondavi Winery. This first-growth vineyard, located in Oakville, California, is renowned for producing some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon wines in the world, as well as for its Sauvignon Blanc grapes, from which Mr. Mondavi crafted his signature wine, Fumé Blanc.

Two tasting rooms feature the winery's limited production and reserve wines by the glass and also by the flight and gives visitors the opportunity to discuss wines with very knowledgeable wine educators. Also on view is the permanent art collection throughout the winery grounds.

Ruthorford Hill @ 3:15pm

Oak Grove Tasting 
Our Oak Grove picnic area offers a serene setting and one of the best views high above the valley floor. Enjoy a tasting of our Winemaker's selection outdoors while overlooking Napa Valley.  Our knowledgeable wine educators will share the history of Rutherford Hill, the uniqueness of our winery-exclusive wines and lend insight into the vision and winemaking style of both the Terlato Family and Winemaker Marisa Taylor.  You are welcome to bring a picnic lunch of your own to enjoy after your tasting!​

  • 45-minute experience | 90-minute table reservation 

Founded in 1972, Rutherford Hill Winery is a pioneer in the development of California Merlot.The grape growers who founded Rutherford Hill carefully studied the geography of the region and capitalized on climate and soil conditions that resembled those of Pomerol, the small but distinctive Merlot-growing region of Bordeaux. What a promising discovery that was - one that was borne plenty of fruit - specifically, the lush, purple-black grapes that have contributed so much to Rutherford Hill’s success. Today, Merlot remains the flagship wine of the company with 75 percent of Rutherford Hill’s production dedicated to this varietal, one of the leading Merlots of Napa Valley.

​Dinner @ Dine at Brasswood this evening.
Ask for their fresh pulled mozzarella. It's usually not on the menu so feel free to ask for it.​​

Monday, October 25th: Final Night in Napa Valley

Free day to explore on your own.

Experiences
  • Explore Yountville's and dine at one of their many Michelin rated restaurants.
  • Enjoy tastings at many wineries via the Napa Wine Train. You may also enjoy lunch or dinner on this elegant vintage style train.
  • Consider visiting Healdsburg which is a quaint town in Sonoma Valley.

Consider dinner @ 
Bottega 
​
Tuesday, October 26th: Return home and think about all the wonderful memories you made!
Picture
Harvest Inn
4.5-star
1 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574
1-707-963-9463

Room: View (Collection Spa)

​Located in St. Helena, in the heart of Napa Valley, Harvest Inn captures the charm of vineyard life, mixing California contemporary living with storybook charm.  Walk under redwood trees, dine on farm-to-table creations, relax poolside and savor wine and sweeping views of the vineyards from a bench or Adirondack right on our property grounds.  Recognized by Condè Nast Traveler as one of Napa Valley’s top hotels, Harvest Inn has set the stage for an alluring Napa Valley getaway.
Hotel Yountville
4.5-star
6462 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599
1-707-967-7900
​

Rooted in Yountville history, we welcome our guests to experience a luxury spa resort inspired by a quintessential wine country home and anchored by a Heritage Valley Oak. Hotel Yountville beckons guests with buildings constructed of stacked Napa river rocks, heavy timber beams and copper accents. With charming service and genuine comfort, Hotel Yountville creates the perfect escape for the adventurous traveler and wine country lovers.​
Napa Valley
Hike and Wine tour in Napa Valley
​Not included. Let me know if you'd like me to reserve this experience on your behalf.
​
​Overview
Avoid the busy wineries owned by the big wine companies and enjoy an authentic Napa Valley experience on this full-day tour around the region. Spend the morning hiking through the Valley’s lush redwood forests, discovering the scenic secrets of the local mountains. In the afternoon, visit a number of boutique wineries and sample their premium wines – all tasting fees covered in advance.
  • No need to worry about rowdy strangers on this private tour
  • Hotel pick-up and return provided as part of your tour package
  • Option to enjoy a delicious food and wine pairing at a local winery for lunch

Napa Valley

One of California's two major wine regions (the other being the Sonoma Valley in neighboring Sonoma County), the Napa Valley is among the most colorful getaways in California, combining fine wines, extraordinary natural beauty, rich history, and fabulous lodgings and dining.

Click here for more information

In Napa you'll find a lot of the large estate wineries. These are the wineries you're probably already familiar with and drink at home. 
​You'll want to visit the large estate wineries during the week and stay away on the weekends as it can get very crowded. Take a closer look and you will fine some unique boutique wineries as well.

Matt's Picks

Beringer: Beringer Vineyards is a large winery in St. Helena, California. Founded in 1876, Beringer Vineyards is "the oldest continuously operating winery in the Napa Valley", and is listed under both the National Register of Historical Places and as a California Historical Landmark.

Opus One
Naming a winery Opus One sets some seriously high expectations. A musical term that comes from the Latin oper, Opus One is attributed to a composition generally considered to be a composer’s first masterpiece. Launched in 1979, when interest in Napa winemaking was still nascent, Opus One is an ambitious joint venture between two of the world’s most esteemed winemaking figures. It achieved near-overnight critical acclaim, matching the lofty aspirations of its name. Nearly 40 years on, Opus One remains one of the most sought-after bottlings in Napa Valley “Violetta”.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
​​
 ​Click here to schedule a free consultation about your next trip! 
​​
​​(408) 718-4872​
matt@matt.travel
Affiliate of KHM Travel Group
California Seller of Travel Registration # 2089491-50. Registration as a seller of travel in California does not constitute the state's approval. Agent is not a participant in the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund. Florida Seller of Travel Registration # ST37113. Hawaii Seller of Travel License # TAR 7231. Washington Seller of Travel UBI # 602 775122.
Terms
Privacy Policy
​Accessibility Statement
Managed by Voyager Websites
  • Why Matt?
  • About Matt
  • Contact Matt
  • Corporate Travel
  • Inspiring Destinations
  • River Cruises
  • Ocean Cruises
  • Blog
  • COVID-19