Napa Valley Uncorked
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polenta bites, local produce, seafood, handmade pasta and a dessert called the Hot Mess. e name is frank. e plate is more organized. For a resort setting, Sam’s Social Club at Indian Springs serves seasonal American food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its bar, lounge, re pit and outdoor tables make it a polished nal-night option. Day Seven: Sterling Above the Valley Begin with breakfast at e Francis House before driving to Sterling Vineyards for an early reservation. e white stucco winery sits atop a 300- foot hill, its Mediterranean architecture inspired by the Greek island of Mykonos.
Sterling Vineyard
e visit begins aboard Sterling’s aerial gondola, rebuilt a er the 2020 Glass Fire. Panoramic cabins travel nearly half a mile along the northern hillside, rising as high as 105 feet above the ground. Vineyards, country roads and the Napa Valley oor unfold below, with the Palisades Mountains in the distance. Reserve the 90-minute Tour & Terrace Experience. A er arriving at the hilltop winery, follow a self-guided route through the property while sampling three wines and learning about Sterling’s winemaking. e tasting concludes with two additional wines and a cheese board on the Southview Terrace, weather permitting. For a more formal option, the Hilltop Experience includes ve winery- exclusive wines paired with local cheese and charcuterie. Every tasting includes the round-trip gondola ride, as ride-only tickets are not oered. Book well in advance and choose a morning appointment during warmer months. e gondola closes when temperatures exceed 100 degrees. A er descending the hillside, spend the a ernoon at Indian Springs Calistoga. Four thermal geysers supply mineral water to the resort’s pools and steam rooms, while its famous mud baths combine geothermal water with volcanic ash. Reserve a treatment, then enjoy the historic mineral pool dating to 1910.
of four vintages of Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. e exercise demonstrates how the same wine changes with age and vintage conditions. For additional movement, book the Estate Walking Tour or Vineyard Tour. e pairing of Schramsberg and Chateau Montelena creates a satisfying progression from underground caves to a hilltop château. It also provides enough visual material for an entire travel feature before anyone photographs lunch. Return to e Francis House for the pool, sauna or salt room. Dinner is two blocks away in walkable downtown Calistoga, allowing the rental car another quiet evening. Lovina serves dinner in a historic house and operates as a tip-free restaurant, with menu prices supporting employee compensation and benets. Its kitchen gives familiar dishes an eccentric streak, including mushroom
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Coastal Pearl Living - TOGETHER
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