What to do in Napa

My husband and I are not really wine drinkers, but we do enjoy taking day trips to wine country to visit some of the beautiful wineries and sample the great food that the area has to offer. Here are some of our favorites spots…

Castello Di Amorosa

When we go to Napa, we usually go in search of the wineries that also provide a fun atmosphere, since we kind of don’t know what we’re doing in the wine tasting department. Castello di Amorosa definitely hits all the marks for atmosphere. It’s literally a wine castle made of stones imported from Italy. And randomly, there’s turkeys, emus and goats roaming around the fenced in area around the castle. It is pretty pricey, but the entrance fee does include a tasting and you can upgrade for a chocolate pairing. If you’re bringing kids, they even have a family tasting area with coloring tables.

Gott’s Roadside

We always hit up Gott’s Roadside before we head to Castello di Amorosa, since it’s about a 10 minute drive away. They serve everything from burgers to falafel salads. Their burgers, shakes, and fries are killer (be sure to ask for extra ranch…it’s garlicky and amazing). There’s open seating at cute red picnic tables, plenty of shade, and clean bathrooms.

Farmstead

Another great restaurant in the St. Helena area is Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch. Talk about farm to fork, this farmhouse style is one of our favorites. Try the meatballs and the cheddar biscuits with honey butter. They also do a great happy hour.

Domaine Carneros

Domaine Carneros makes you feel like you’re at an estate in Paris, sipping wine out on the terrace. They have a fun sparkling wine flight and their perfectly manicured gardens make a wonderful backdrop.

Chateau Montelena

Chateau Montelena also makes you feel like you’re wine tasting in a vine covered castle. But what’s fun about Chaeau Montelena is that they also have a gorgeous Chinese garden, apparently created by the winery’s former owners.