Napa Valley Uncorked
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tasting that placed California wine beside respected French bottles and changed the international perception of Napa Valley.
A modern visitor center frames the vineyard views through stone and glass. Tastings focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and the distinctions among the estate vineyards. Parts of the visit may enter caves maintained at approximately 50 to 55 degrees, so carry a light sweater even on a hot a ernoon. Cashmere has never had a more responsible assignment. Lunch follows at Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch in St. Helena. e kitchen’s menu draws on estate-grown wine, olive oil, honey, produce and grass-fed beef and lamb. Depending on the season, lunch might involve burrata with estate olive oil, wood-grilled vegetables, meatballs with creamy grits or a grass-fed cheeseburger. e a ernoon appointment is Joseph Phelps Vineyards, reached along a winding road east of St. Helena. e estate’s historic Guest Center looks across vines and hills, and its tastings range from a seated introduction featuring Insignia to library-wine programs with seasonal food pairings. Reserve the Collector’s Tasting for access to current and library selections, including Insignia, accompanied by two culinary pairings. Guests who want a more food-centered appointment can choose Taste of Place, built around seasonal ingredients and estate wines. Two substantial tastings are enough. Napa may be one of the few destinations where spitting is regarded as evidence of excellent judgment. It is also acceptable to leave wine in the glass. e goal is to appreciate the a ernoon, not defeat it. Dinner is at e Charter Oak in St. Helena. e restaurant serves family-style food built around local ingredients, including vegetables grown at its own 3.5-acre farm nearby. e hearth anchors the kitchen, sending out grilled meats, seafood and vegetables with little unnecessary decoration. Start with the restaurant’s bread and cultured butter. Add raw farm vegetables, a salad and something from the hearth. e dining room’s warm wood, brick and open re suit a day spent
among vineyards and stone cellars. A glass of wine is optional. At this stage, sparkling water may arrive with the emotional force of Champagne. Day Five: Napa on Two Wheels Wine tasting benets from an occasional day o. It resets the palate, creates room for appetite and reminds the legs that they were invited too. A er the inn’s breakfast, walk or take a short ride to the St. Helena location of Napa Valley Bike Tours. Reserve the Vine Trail Discovery E-Bike Tour, a guided four-hour ride that does not include winery visits. e route travels north along the Vine Trail toward Calistoga and includes time to explore town. An electric bicycle provides enough assistance to make the outing enjoyable without removing all evidence of exercise. Pedaling through vineyard country gives the landscape a scale that disappears behind a windshield. e air changes near shaded trees. Irrigation lines, old barns and vineyard workers become visible. Even the rows of vines feel less decorative and more agricultural. e guide handles the route, leaving riders to concentrate on scenery and the occasional debate over how much assistance the electric motor is providing. Everyone is still pedaling. e denition of heroism can remain exible.
Return to St. Helena for a late lunch, a walk through town and an
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Coastal Pearl Living - TOGETHER
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