Along the way: Fuel your tastebuds with these gems
HALL WINES
We went for a private (group size is maintained below 15) Appellation Exploration at HALL Rutherford, the estate of Hall Wines. The gorgeous tasting room was built with bricks from the Austro-Hungarian empire, and centered on a stunning tree of life chandelier features amazing acoustics and art from around the world. The 90-min experience is $125 per person.
DOMAINE CARNEROS
The imposing entrance to Domaine Carneros resembles that of a French chateaux. The Napa Valley winery is noted for its sparkling wines and pinot noir. Order the ‘grand tasting’ with the smoked salmon and cheese plate to enhance your experience.
LUCY AT BARDESSONO
Lucy at Bardessono in Yountville, California provided one of the best meals of the entire trip. Expert wine pairings by sommelier Anani Lawson was a special treat, as was our chat throughout the evening. Executive Chef Nate Lindsay has a deft touch, focusing on clean, simple flavours that makes the local California produce shine. From the perfectly seared Ora King Salmon and diver scallops to the creamy and delicious parsnip and carrot soup, every bite was one to savour.
BOUCHON BISTRO
A trip to the renown Thomas Keller restaurant, Bouchon Bistro in Yountville is a must. The Lyonaise style bistro and seasonal menu highlight the best California ingredients. Start with the salmon rillette and try a few fruits de mer from the raw bar, sommelier Erin is a master at pairing wine with food. Stop next door at Bouchon bakery to pick up some sweet treats.
GLORIA FERRER CAVES AND VINEYARDS
We learned about the history of the Ferrer family and estate before sipping a selection of sparkling wine with host and educator Samantha Williams for the ‘Bubbles and bites’ tasting. Our favourite? we couldn’t help take more than a few sips of the Gloria Ferrer demi sec reserve cuvee and brut rose.
HERITAGE EATS
A great new casual dining concept from a young and talented group Heritage Eats in Napa, California takes inspiration from around the world and allows you to customize your meal with a build-it-yourself menu. First, you choose your meat, then your starch (including bread, rice, bao), then toppings and finally sauce. So the choices are endless. (pictured: Horchata, Vietnamese Iced Coffee, Jamaican Bao, Bánh Mì Dutch Crunch and a few sauces). A must-try are the Pineapple Habanero sauce and Lemon Tahini sauce.
Read more awesome adventures on CSL’s roadtrip to California. The original article first appeared in the Spring 2016 issue of City Style and Living Magazine.
