I tasted and drank the MOST FORKING AMAZING things in Napa California. I’ve been to Napa many times over the years and have been to many of the restaurants and many of the wineries. But Napa doesn’t stay the same. Wineries and some restaurants come and go. Many smaller wineries are getting sold to large wineries. I also noticed that there is a new more hip Napa now. Tasting have gone up dramatically in prices in Napa. Not all but many tasting rooms now are lounges with servers instead of bars you taste at.
This isn’t your grandpa’s Napa Tasting Room (The Prisoner). They seat you here and serve you some dip with crackers. (tasting was around $45.00)
Even old school wineries like Trefethen have converted to the new hip modern way.
(Clos du val)
Some tasting rooms are also show rooms for goods. We did a tasting at a Ralph Lauren Showroom. I did my tasting sitting on a $7,605.00 leather chair. (Trident Wines)
But not every tasting room is multi million dollar building.
The finest wine I tasted came from this bare bones shack and it was called Pina. Not only was the wine the finest the tasting fee was also the cheapest ($20.00 a tasting)
The Food
Protea a casual Caribbean-Latin-Global order at the counter restaurant with a daily changing menu.
Torc – a new American restaurant. Highly recommended by the locals but what drew me in was that truffles were on the menu.
The Silverado Trail is without restaurants so if one is doing those wineries chances are that you will do a stop at the Oakville Grocery.
Bistro Jeanty serves classic French Foods.
The Acacia House by Top Chef Master Chris Cosentino is in a renovated victorian mansion. They serve Californian Cuisine that’s bold yet refined.
La Calenda is a casual Oaxaco Mexican Restaurant that is part of the Thomas Keller Group.
Gott’s Roadside is a casual American Eatery with several locations.
Bottega is an Italian Restaurant by celebrity chef Micheal Chiarello.
Addendum is only open Thursday – Saturday for lunch (11:00-2:00) and is by Chef Thomas Keller. They only serve three different boxed lunches with changing sides. It has been said by many publications that the fried chicken is the best in the country.
That was just a taste….here are some pictures to savor.
This was just a little taste of where the FORK I’ve been……..Napa California.
