Chef Christoper Kostow, chef of the 3 star Michelin award winner, The Restaurant at Meadowood, has now created a unique family-style high-end dining experience in the heart of Napa Valley. There has been a lot of buzz about The Charter Oak Restaurant opening in Saint Helena. After the sudden closure of Tra Vigne, a well…
Tag: Napa Valley
Durant & Booth Tasting Salon – A Piece of Napa Valley History in Oakville
Durant & Booth has closed their Oakville tasting salon as of June 10th, 2018. However, their wines are still available on Vivino. Durant & Booth Tasting Salon is relatively new to the Napa Valley but the building that houses the tasting room is a historic gem. Located in the small town of Oakville, lies Oakville Grocery, a popular…
Gatehouse Restaurant – Culinary Institute of America Greystone Napa Valley
While in town for a week in Saint Helena a friend invited five of us for the soft opening of Gatehouse Restaurant at CIA Greystone The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone just outside of Saint Helena in Napa Valley has been lately going through many changes. The Wine Spectator at Greystone has been closed indefinitely…
VGS Chateau Potelle Tasting House & Gardens – Food & Wine Pairing
Last week I was invited to do one of my favorite things, a food and wine pairing. What could be better on a post-election Wednesday than some exquisite food bites from a Michelin-starred restaurant paired with elegant wines? After a rough week of political rants and a nation on edge, I was certainly looking forward…
Yao Family Wines in St. Helena – It’s Not Just a Name.
I was excited to get a chance to check out the fairly new Yao Family Wines tasting room located off Highway 29 in Saint Helena. If you are or aren’t a basketball fan, you would recognize Yao Ming. Standing a staggering 7ft 6in, Yao Ming played for the Houston Rockets for almost a decade, retiring…
Schramsberg Vineyards – Méthode Champenoise in Napa Valley
When friends come to town, I am always looking for a unique place to start the day; and three million hand stacked bottles of sparkling wine in a 2-1/2 mile cave is an excellent choice. Last Saturday was my second time at Schramsberg Vineyards. About 3-1/2 years ago, before I lived in the Napa Valley,…
Gourmet Buffalo & Asian-Inspired Wings in Napa Valley
As I was going from restaurant to restaurant in search of the perfect chicken wing, I found out not all wings are created equal or even remotely the same. And because like everything here, Napa Valley, finds a way to elevate its wings to a whole new level. I know what you are thinking, who…
Fantesca Estate & Winery – A Close Escape to Tranquility & World Class Winemaking
Not far from downtown St. Helena lies the less traveled path of Spring Mountain Road, encompassing off the beaten path wineries like Fantesca Estate. Only a few minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Highway 29 lies Fantesca Estate & Winery. Feeling a world away from the tour buses and crowds fighting for a space…
Visit to Venge Vineyards – Small Production Wines with a Relaxing Atmosphere
Venge Vineyards is a small production winery featuring many 90+ point wines and a nice quiet atmosphere for tasting by appointment only. Venge sits on 25 acres off the Silverado Trail about 1-1/2 miles south of Calistoga. The tasting room, located behind the production facility, is a quaint little cottage with a cozy sitting area…
Davis Estates – High Tech Innovation & Stylish Architecture Meet Traditional Winemaking
On May 14th 2016, the new Davis Estates tasting room and caves opened for business with three wine experiences, by appointment only. Two weeks ago while having lunch at SolBar in Calistoga, I decided to try the Davis Estates Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. It was so good, crisp and refreshing, I immediately thought to email them to get…