My husband and I were invited to a wedding out in northern California when my daughter was 6 months old. I was hesitant to leave her at first, but with some encouragement and the promise of tacking on Napa as part of the trip, it was hard to say no. I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to reconnect with my husband without the baby and taste some great wine in the process!
It was so lovely to have some alone time with my husband—sleeping in, taking long walks through the town of Napa, eating great food and drinking great wine. We fit a lot into our two days in wine country and these are my top recommendations.
Auberge Du Soleil, Rutherford
After an afternoon of slightly disappointing wine tastings, we stopped at Auberge Du Soleil, which sits at the top of a hill in St. Helena. We didn’t have reservations and we had no trouble getting seated at a cozy table for two on the terrace of their Bistro, with a spectacular view of the sun setting over the valley below us. The menu was uncomplicated, which my husband appreciated as he is not very adventurous when it comes to food. We shared a Margherita Pizza and the House-made Campanelle with Asparagus, English Peas and Ricotta. We also enjoyed a local wine—the Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc, which was crisp and delicious. It was the perfect way to start our trip!
R + D Kitchen, Yountville
Following dinner on Sunday night, we stopped off at a very hip bar in Yountville called R + D Kitchen. Their website promises “outdoor seating with relaxing Adirondack chairs clustered around fire pits,” and they did not disappoint. It was a beautiful, clear night and we ordered drinks—another glass of wine for me and a beer for my husband—and sat in front of a blazing fire under the stars.
Old World Inn, Napa
We stayed at The Cabernet House near Downtown Napa and were really pleasantly surprised by how lovely the room was and how private the whole experience seemed. My husband’s biggest concern about a bed and breakfast was having uncomfortable conversations with the other guests over breakfast in the morning, but the way the tables were arranged you were able to have a bit more privacy (and silence) if you wanted it.
As for the breakfast—it was magnificent! Perhaps the best breakfast experiences I have ever had. The food was so fresh and the combination of foods each morning was magnificent. Our first morning there, we enjoyed personal egg and vegetable soufflés with fresh fruit and a chocolate chip scone. The following morning we ate egg and cheese “bread pudding” with the most delicious, buttery croissant and a side of fresh fruit. We savored every bite and were ready to start the day with energy afterwards.
Ma(i)sonry, Yountville
Ma(i)sonry was a recommendation from my mother, who raved about this charming art gallery/winery collective. It’s remarkably unassuming, located in a beautiful stone building that almost looks like an old farmhouse, Ma(i)sonry showcases a rotating collection of wines from winemakers and art installations from artists. We sat in the open air garden in the back, surrounded by conversation-inspiring sculptures, sipping wine. It was so beautiful and lovely!
Domaine Chandon, Yountville
My husband isn’t much of a wine drinker, but loves champagne. So when we saw that Chandon Moet had a vineyard and tasting room in Yountville, we had to go check it out. Domaine Chandon was set up like a regular bar and the room was bustling. We did ordered a champagne flight, my favorite of which was the Chandon Rose. We decided to buy a bottle of champagne and went to sit on the grass in back of the main tasting house. The grounds were beautiful—plush grass, gorgeous old trees providing shade to sit in, and interesting sculptures to gaze at. It was incredibly romantic and a really unique Napa experience.
Domaine Carneros, Napa
Of all the places we visited during our stay in Napa, this was by far the most reminiscent of being in Italy. As you drive up to the Domaine Carneros, which is a beautiful Chateau that sits at the top of a hill, you are immediately taken in by the beauty of your surroundings. Rows and rows of grape trees line the area around the property and in the distance you can see the rolling hills that surround Napa Valley. We requested to sit on their outdoor terrace, taking in the views of the magnificent landscaping around the property and listening to the soft hush of cars whizzing by on the main road in the distance. Having been impressed with our selection of Rose Champagne at Domaine Chandon the previous day, I ordered another glass and we toasted to the end of a very successful trip.
While we were able to find romance in Napa Valley, after two and a half days of drinking, we were ready to go home and snuggle with our baby.
