I was in Napa this weekend and had such a great time. I really wasn't sure what to expect. Part of me expected really fancy restaurants (think cocktail attire) and wineries. The other part expected a rustic, cozy countryside. Considering the price of hotels, restaurants and wine tastings, I was actually pretty suprised by the low-key, rustic vibe. I thought I would give you a recap of our trip, what I loved and what I would do differently next time.
Hotel: I need to preface this by saying that we decided on this trip really last minute. None of us had a clue it was harvest season (our luck!) That meant that everything was more expensive and booked. We wanted to stay at a hotel in Yountville but the prices were insane!! (I'm talking about over $800 per room). So we settled on a B&B called Candlelight Inn. It was charming but even that was way more expensive than we would normal pay. So, if I had to do it again, I would try and visit in May or June rather than September.
Wineries: On the first day we visited Duckhorn, Rombaurer (had a picnic there), Schramsberg (did the cave tour) and Silver Trident. The cave tour was really informative. Silver Trident is a boutique, smaller winery but is really cool to visit because all of the decor is Ralph Lauren. I picked up some amazing candles. The second day we visited Domaine Carneros and Artesa. Domaine Carneros was probably my favorite. The grounds are beyond beautiful and the bubbly is so good. By the afternoon we were all a bit over drinking, if that's possible. It's not so easy tasting all day! We were dying to go to a spa but everything was booked! It was crazy. We headed to the B&B and rested for dinner. Sunday we visited Caymus (highly recommend) and then got massages.
Restaurants: The first night we ate at Farm at Carneros and it was my favorite. The food was delicious and the ambiance was great. The second night we ate at Bottega. I had heard so many good reviews and the food did not disappoint. The third night we ate at Mustards and I wasn't a fan. There wasn't a lot of options for me and the food came out cold. I would suggest going to Redd or Redd Wood.
Style: I overpacked, as per usual. I basically lived in jeans (brought my high waisted GRLFRND, skinny blue AG and black Rag and Bone), with a fitted shirt and sweater from Zara. At night I paired the look with heels (brought my new Diors) and a black jacket. I thought the restaurants would be a bit fancier so I brought a dress and some fancier alternatives but the vibe was pretty casual. I also brought two exercise outfits but didn't exercise once, oops!
Photography by Felicia Lasala
