Napa/Sonoma/Wine Country Archives - Page 4 of 6

Downtown Napa: Great Places to Sip, Savor, and Sleep!

December 12, 2013 by The Mom Jen 8 Comments

Tis’ the season to count my blessings, living in California alone is one of them. Another is living only a few short hours from the world-class destination of the Napa Valley. Last month I was treated to a 3-day press tour showcasing some of the great new restaurants, tasting rooms, and hotels in Downtown Napa, there is literally so much to see and do you’d need weeks and months to accomplish it! In a short visit I experienced some amazing food and drink and stayed in a lovely bed and breakfast, and I’m eager to go back again soon to enjoy more! Here’s a bit about my adventures in Downtown Napa!

SIP
With 20 wine tasting rooms in Downtown Napa (some free) you can try before you buy and find something you love that you may have never purchased without trying! We stopped in at Vermeil Wines, Dick Vermeil as you may know was a NFL coach and broadcaster with roots in the Napa Valley. His tasting room honors his love of football with photos, football brown leather seating on green carpeting, televisions, and we even got a peek at his Lombardi trophy. His 2010 Integrity was a red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and a touch of Petit Sirah that was memorable.Also in downtown, something new to me is olive oil tasting rooms. Just next door to Vermeil Wines, Lucero Olive Oil was just a week old at their 1st Street location and we were set up to have an exclusive experience. Olive oil is a great source of antioxidants and a little “shot” of olive oil a day can protect against heart disease, aid in digestion, and promotes healthy aging! I often cook with extra virgin olive oil, but we sat down and tasted some unique flavored and infused oils and balsamic vinegars, even enjoyed a ice cream sundae with ice cream, strawberries, lemon crush olive oil (lemons crushed with the olives), and mandarin orange balsamic vinegar! You would not believe how good it was! At the other end of the block, Napa Valley Olive Oil has complimentary tasting in Square One’s Tasting Room. You have to try the Harissa infused oil (flavor has been added after), it’s got a fabulous kick you’ll love if you like spicy! Just like at wineries, you can join olive oil clubs and get quarterly shipments that include the main products, recipes, tasting notes, and more!

SAVOR
80 restaurants can be found downtown including Michelin-starred locations, the culinary choices are abundant! Oenotri was recognized in 2011 by Food & Wine Magazine and well even Bizarre Foods has featured them! We enjoyed a salumi platter, delicious wine, pizza with squash and nettles, amazing pasta with braised rabbit, as well as salads with pickled sunchokes from their own gardens! Napa Valley Bistro is about 6 months new to the area. Chef Bernardo Ayala has cooked at Silverado, Domaine Chandon, and the CIA in Greystone and provides classic American homestyle with a modern twist. Wild mushroom and goat cheese flatbread is kissed with truffle oil and boast sweet carmelized onions, the calamari is joined by a fennel and ancho chile aioli, and the veggie rolls are filled with papaya, avocado, and asparagus. Are you drooling yet? I hear the ahi tuna was amazing as well.Bounty Hunter will NOT leave you hungry, that is guaranteed. Built in 1888 as a grocery store, Bounty Hunter now offers amazing BBQ with from scratch rubs and sauces, 16 herbed and spiced cajun beer can chicken, and $6000 bottles of wine among their lineup. With over 400 highly allocated wines on the shelves and 40 wines available by-the-glass, come in and take a peek at the 18 page wine list!We dined and the vibrant and busy-for-a-Tuesday evening Carpe Diem Wine Bar beginning with truffle popcorn. People couldn’t get enough of the earthy-woody flavor added to the popcorn, I need more time to adapt. I did enjoy some flavorful pulled pork tacos but the reason I will go back is for the dessert! I can never pass up chocolate and the Housemade “Twix Bar” over salted caramel ice cream was amazing. Not normally a tiramisu fan, I tried the BEERamisu that offers Guiness, Kahlua, butter toffee, and a chocolate drizzle and it too was phenomenal. Who’s ready to jump in the car with me right now?Spanish tapas are little plates ready for sharing, try out Zuzu to get your fix along with amazing sangria! Their dedication to local farms, ranches and organic purveyors of Northern California both satisfy and nourish the soul. Seasoned almonds, Mediterranean olives, ceviche, salt cod, mussels, Tunisian brik pastry stuffed with Dungeness crab, oh my, unique with stunning flavors, you have to come with a group to enjoy a plethora of platefuls!I enjoyed one breakfast at the Inn on Randolph and the second was enjoyed at Grace’s Table on Second St. On a cool sunny morning you can dine in or out or somewhere in between with this open air restaurant that offers the yummiest breakfast I’ve had in a while. Grandma Vold’s old fashioned donuts, muffins, cinnamon rolls, scones, and croissants melt in your mouth they are sweet and delicious! Prefer savory, try the house cured salmon gravlax or my personal favorite, chilaquiles! The Mexican in me knows this recipe slightly different, but delicious all the same with scrambled eggs, tortillas, cascabel chili sauce, avocado, tasso ham, cheddar, pico de gallo and lime creme fraiche. The iron skillet cornbread with lavender honey butter was just icing on the cake!

SLEEP
I reviewed the Inn on Randolph during the trip and among the 40 other beautiful and picturesque places to stay, we checked out a few close to downtown. The sophisticated boutique hotel Andaz Napa is the next place I’m going to stay when I visit downtown! The suites are gorgeous, the atmosphere in the lobby/lounge is dynamic, and the staff is top notch! WWe enjoyed a glass of Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs champagne that they’ve been serving at the White House since Nixon, and sampled burgers (the 777 chorizo and beef was the bomb) from the Andaz Napa Farmers Table restaurant with the general manager. The Mercantile Terrace is an outdoor area that both guests and locals can enjoy. It features multiple porch swings, comfortable lounge chairs and glowing fire pits for chilly evenings and cozy nights, bring your bottle of wine and favorite person to share it with! Plus enjoy local music each Wednesday evening, the singer we witnessed played a host of popular songs I was singing along with, he was fantastic!The Napa River Inn is located within the Historic Napa Mill and is a member of the prestigious Historic Hotels of America! In some rooms you can breathe in the mouth-watering scents of Sweetie Pies Bakery below, and with views of the Napa River, this is a wonderful spot to stay when you want to focus on downtown. Evening wine tasting, complimentary breakfast, and dining and entertainment options surround the property along with their newly renovated Spa!Whether you want a classic treatment, anti-aging remedies, couples massage, or even to pamper your pooch, packages are available with your stay at the hotel.

Napa is a destination unlike any other in California. With all that is new to the area combined with old tried-and-true favorites, there is something for everyone in the exciting downtown area. Each visit can be new and different and a one-of-a-kind experience and I’m looking forward to my next time!

My meals, lodging, and experience was a part of a media tour. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Inn on Randolph, Napa Bed and Breakfast

December 6, 2013 by The Mom Jen 19 Comments

With over 40 picturesque lodging properties in heart of Napa, finding the right one can be tough. Sitting on almost an acre of precisely trimmed landscape, the Inn on Randolph was recently renovated in 2012 from a 19th century bed and breakfast to a modern yet cozy place to rest your head. Only a few short blocks to the dynamic downtown area, owner Karen Lynch has made her dream a reality in this lovely Victorian with adjoining cottages. Travelers will be happy to learn that the Inn is unique in that their delicious hot breakfast service and incredible homemade evening treats are completely gluten free!

Pulling up to the Inn on Randolph you’ll find the beautifully manicured yard greets you as you approach the front steps. A keypad is on the doors to the main house, the rooms, as well as the cottages that offer a private code for each guest.

Upon entering you’ll find a sitting room and fireplace area that includes a before and after photo story of the Inn’s renovations. Just beyond, the dining room offers plenty of seating to enjoy your one of two breakfast hours each morning. I just love those barn doors that separate the room to the kitchen! There’s coffee and tea offered throughout the day beginning at 7:15 am and a refrigerator stocked with non-alcoholic beverage for your convenience. As I was on a media tour, I spent one of two mornings dining at the Inn and my Mexican medley was served hot and delicious and filling for my walking tour! Fresh fruit, homemade (gluten-free) granola, and yogurt are also available on the beverage bar to complement the meal. During the day, I would witness the staff available as personal concierge assisting in planning off-site activities including winery tours, spa treatments, sightseeing trips or dining reservations for guests. They really do it all here!

Guests have a choice of 5 rooms in the main 1860 Victorian or of 5 cottages about the property. Cottages offer a bit more privacy with much more room that include a television, refrigerator, separate entrance, and its own sitting area or garden. I stayed in the main house in the Union room with private entrance and outside balcony. My room like many had a King bed with linens that felt like butter glazing my skin, it made it hard to get out from under the covers each morning. The room was large and bright and I appreciated I had a desk with lamp (and wi-fi at no additional cost) so I could catch up with work early mornings with my coffee. A bottle of Frog’s Leap Zinfandel awaited me along with a bottle of cold water on the dresser, a perfect welcome gift fitting for wine country!The bathroom was spacious with a lovely whirlpool spa tub (for two) and heated floors that are a savior in the morning!

Outdoors, you can enjoy your meal on the large patio overlooking the gardens and gazebo which was lovely in early November! The days I stayed the temperatures were a mild 72 and 73, the fall colors were absolutely stunning on the property as well as around downtown Napa. The Neiman Room is a newer building open to guests to enjoy during your stay. Equipped with a large flat screen TV, Apple TV, Netflix, games, and a refrigerator of non-alcoholic beverages, there is also a patio area with chairs and firepit for cozy evenings outside.

There is plenty of free parking on the street along the Inn as well as a first come first serve parking lot behind the Laurel cottage. The Spa room is available for massage (inquire about schedule/pricing) and can double up as a private occasion or corporate retreat space that opens up to the Spa gardens and pergola.I’ve never stayed in such a modern bed and breakfast before. It’s a far cry from doilies and country-style, yet it’s charm, attention to detail, and care for the guest’s comfort and well-being is more apparent than ever. I enjoyed my stay immensely and you can literally park once and walk downtown to dinner, a show, wine tasting, or shopping in a matter of minutes! For more information, visit their website, http://www.innonrandolph.com/ or on Facebook.

My visit was a part of a Downtown Napa media tour, all opinions are 100% my own.

Napa Valley Wine Train: Castello di Amorosa Winery Tour

July 19, 2013 by The Mom Jen 10 Comments

Last year we had the opportunity to ride the Napa Valley Wine Train with our family that was a neat way to see wine country and taste some of the local varieties with a delicious meal! Something new available to wine lovers is the Castle Winery Tour. As you begin the tour with a relaxing train trip north, lunch and spectacular views are served. But on this ride you disembark at St. Helena and board a shuttle to the Castello, tour through a castle replica 6 years young but made so precisely to look like it’s been there for centuries, and ride a shuttle back to the station. You get the best of both worlds I believe.

Rising above the hills in the Napa Valley is Castello di Amorosa, which translates to the “castle of love” in Italian. Castello di Amorosa is an authentically-styled, 13th century Tuscan castle winery replete with high walls and five defensive towers and over 30 acres of estate vineyards. It was built over a 15-year period by Dario Sattui, a fourth generation winemaker and owner of V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena, California.

Executive Chef Kelly Macdonald prepares an amazing meal on the ride to St. Helena. We shared a table with a couple from Florida and it was so nice to chat and learn more about our new friends. The food arrived beginning with a Potato Leek soup and Baby Lettuce Salad. I would suggest you don’t eat breakfast for this trip, lunch is promptly served at 11am for this large meal that includes one glass of red or white wine.For our main entrees, I enjoyed the Roasted Beef Tenderloin with a Black Tuffle Potato Cake and Parsnip Chips, while my husband had the Coriander Mustard Encrusted Chicken with Endive and Radicchio-Feta Salad. My meat was sublime and the potato cake was a nice side. The crunch of the parsnips were delightful. My husband is fond of mustard so the coriander blend that encrusted the chicken was a nice flavor. Dessert was an amazing chocolate cake/brownie with pecans…I’m at a loss of the name but it was rich and substantial that we took the second one home with us, oh so good!

When you arrive at Castello di Amorosa, it’s pretty spectacular! A working winery and stunning showcase of Dario Sattui’s dream. With 30 acres of vineyards surrounding the hand-chiseled walls, gates, and guard towers, you’ll find Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon in low yields for intense flavored wines.The Castello can only be viewed by tour, and as part of the Wine Train package a VIP tour takes you around the medieval castle through some of it’s unique 107 rooms across 8 levels (4 underground). Here you also amble through 900 ft of caves, a hand-painted Great Hall, dungeon, torture chamber, watchtowers, a wine barrel room constructed with ancient brick Roman cross-vaulted ceilings, and SO much more! The tour concludes with a private tasting held in a dungeon cellar tasting room. The wine tasting was so informative and thorough. We enjoyed both reds and whites plus reserve wines like Il Barone that was so complex and delicious it will knock your socks off. My ultimate favorite was La Fantasia that I will purchase online (Castello di Amorosa wines are ONLY available at the Castle or online) as a gift to myself!

The tour is an education, a history lesson, and a feast on the eyes and palate!When choosing your next Wine Train adventure, consider the Castello di Amorosa Winery Tour, it’s really remarkable!

Wine Train “Castle Tour”
When – Every lunch train (10:30 am – 4:00 pm)
Cost – Prices Range from $189 – $234
Purchase at Winetrain.com

Our tour was hosted, gratuities and wine purchases, and all opinions our own.

Sonoma Valley: Romance is Evident at Kenwood Inn and Spa, Resort Review

July 9, 2013 by The Mom Jen 13 Comments

From the outside of the property, off highway 12 in gorgeous Sonoma Valley you think, Kenwood Inn and Spa is a lovely resort. But, step beyond the lobby and you’ll find yourself transported into the Mediterranean and lovely just isn’t strong enough word to describe the atmosphere. Though I’ve never been to Italy, the old world charm I felt definitely explains why they are consistently recognized by Conde Nast Traveler, offering luxurious accommodations, exqusite cuisine, and allowing your body and soul a pure relaxing experience.

I was delighted to learn that the resort is adults-only, as my husband I were looking forward to a romantic getaway (we recently celebrated 17 wedded years). Our tour of Kenwood Inn and Spa excited us both and we were in awe of such beauty, hopefully the photos of our stay will excite you to book a stay.

With 25 guestrooms and 4 suites, the courtyards are full of flowers and vines, with special touches like the bucket chains that collects and trickles rain water gave us inspiration. The gardens that are planted exclusively for the guests-only restaurant are lovely and you appreciate the resorts’ farm-t0-table approach.

Restaurant
Chef Steven Snook offers an Italian inspired menu at Kenwood Inn and Spa, bringing his expertise from London and New York. Enjoy a meal with fare from the best local farms indoors near the fireplace or in the courtyard, even poolside meal service is available. We enjoyed a appetizer together of Pizza e Focaccia, I ordered Bruschetta that included arugula from the garden, and my husband ordered the Pappardelle. The flavors lingered, the spice in the sausage just right, the food was fresh, each bite better than the rest. Breakfast is served in the same indoor/outdoor courtyard as dinner with juices, mimosas, house made granola, yogurt, baked pastries, and artisan coffee. Many savory entrees are also available, you will savor each bite!

Pools
The absence of extra noise is a gift to parents, also appreciated when we enjoyed the pools and hot tub, open 24 hours a day. The lovely waters were saline which makes your skin feel so silky, look at this gorgeous pool.

The heat and power of the waterfalls provide a massage on weary shoulders along with the soothing sounds. Sensation and sounds put you in the right mood, after a day of amazing food and wine, I can’t see a better way to wind down. We pool hopped during the evening and then spent some time in the hot tub, bathing suits optional for some guests late in the evening.

Rooms
Though the property is so lush and beautiful, the 29 villa-style rooms will entice you to never leave, they exude romance! Ever so soft feather beds, fireplaces, soft music playing upon arrival, large tubs and marble showers complete with candles. Our Bellissime Stanze, or Beautiful Room had special unique touches that you’ll love, mostly the views of sunrise from the windows or the sweeping hillside with vineyards as far as the eye can see.Open House
Kenwood Inn and Spa hosts an annual Open House that offers the best of the property along with tempting your palate with Chef Snook’s hors d’oeuvres, Patisserie Angelica provided delectable desserts, meats and breads, and lovely red and white wines from HKG Estate Wines andVineyards. Mini spa treatments and a 3-piece band treated your soul, all poolside and amid beautiful landscape.

Though my next trip will include a spa treatment, you must take a look at their wellness menu, http://www.kenwoodinn.com/spa_treatments.php and vinotherapy..it is like it sounds!

Kenwood Inn and Spa is memorable and beautiful and will leave you yearning for more time in wine country. Look into additional summer activities on property like their Garden to Glass events which are fun as well as educational. It’s a spot I want to come back to to celebrate a special occasion as we did for our anniversary, you’ll find yourself falling in love all over again!

Our stay was part of a media event, our stay was hosted, opinions and gratuities were our own.

California Wine Country: Garden to Glass Summer Events at Kenwood Inn and Spa

July 1, 2013 by The Mom Jen 4 Comments

Kenwood Inn and Spa introduces Garden to Glass, an event series offered select Thursday evenings now through September that provides an educational and delicious peek into the hotel’s award-winning food and wine program.

The “Garden” events invite guests to walk the Kenwood gardens to select fresh ingredients with Executive Chef Steven Snook while enjoying a glass of HKG Sparkling Rosé. Following the tour, Chef Steven utilizes the freshly picked fare to demonstrate the creation of select Kenwood Inn and Spa signature menu items to be enjoyed immediately. On our most recent visit to Kenwood, we witnessed Chef Steven clipping rosemary in one of the resorts’ many gardens. The gardens around the property are lovely examples of one resort’s commitment to Farm to Table cooking!

Wine Director Ann Davis hosts the “Glass” events designed to provide firsthand knowledge on how the basic tactile sensations from food and wine can either create an affinity or conflict with one another. Aspiring aficionados will swirl and sample wines from boutique wineries in the Sonoma Valley and beyond paired with bites from the Kenwood kitchen.

My husband and I participated in the Glass event, the inaugural class if you will. Ann was so personable and full of knowledge, no question was too simple for her. We learned that it was all about balance when it comes to food and wine, you want to bring out the best qualities of your wine with the right bites. You learn that it’s simple science (Molnar Chardonnay bitter/sour when you pair with strawberries, sweet when paired with salty green olives. Merlot with 100% cocoa was bitter and chalky, paired with peppered brie, balanced and lovely!) and you probably have been doing it all along and don’t realize it!

Garden events will be offered Thursdays, July 11, August 1, September 5 from 4 – 5 p.m. and includes a garden tour, cooking demonstration and tasting with Executive Chef Steven Snook. Glass events will be offered Thursdays, July 18, August 15, and September 12, from 4 – 5 p.m. and includes wine tasting, education and light bites.

Tickets are $40 per person or $70 for a couple per event, with 10 percent of ticket sales going back to the Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 1.800.353.6966.

I participated in a media event, all opinons are my own.