Published by Academie du Vin, The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide to Napa Valley will be sold in bookstores worldwide on July 1, 2025.
NAPA, Calif., June 3, 2025—Visit Napa Valley is proud to support the release of a brand-new wine guide: The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide to Napa Valley.
The publication, produced by Académie du Vin and authored by California-based journalist Maria Hunt, highlights Napa Valley wine routes, tours and tastings, comprehensive maps, and regional history and geography highlights of our world-class destination – from Spring Mountain to St. Helena, Carneros to Coombsville.
Visit Napa Valley, the official destination marketing organization for Napa County, partnered with Académie du Vin and author Maria Hunt to develop the latest edition of the Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide series, focused on Napa Valley. The guide showcases the celebrated wineries and extensive wine history of the Napa Valley region, renowned tasting room experiences, wine routes to drive and cycle, and how to get to the places most tourists never see. Additional editions cover international world wine capitals, including Bordeaux and Rioja.
“Napa Valley is a modern marvel of the wine world, and a celebrated luxury destination,” says Linsey Gallagher, President and CEO of Visit Napa Valley. "Yet, it is equally vital that we uphold its welcoming spirit. Hospitality is in our nature; our wine culture is for everyone, and this ethos is at the core of the Smart Traveller’s Guide. It is pocket-sized Napa Valley empowerment for all types of wine enthusiasts.”
“I wanted to celebrate the real Napa Valley that I’ve come to know over the past 25 years. There’s so much more to Napa Valley than big Cabernets and Chardonnays,” says author Maria Hunt. ”There are plenty of other varietals and wine styles to discover, passionate people committed to nurturing the earth, and outdoor experiences that showcase nature and this beautiful place for wine.”
To uncover more recommendations for wineries and beyond in America’s premier wine country destination and learn more about the unique experiences that await in Napa Valley, visit www.visitnapavalley.com.
ABOUT AUTHOR MARIA HUNT
Maria Hunt is a California-based journalist, content consultant, and author specializing in cultural stories around drinks, food, design, and wellness. She has lived and worked in Napa Valley over the past 15 years. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, Esquire, Wine Enthusiast, Elemental, Dwell, Architectural Digest, The New York Times, House Beautiful, The Christian Science Monitor, and Forbes Travel Guide. Maria has been a guest entertaining and lifestyle expert on Better TV, Headline News, Martha Stewart Radio, KPBS Radio, and every television outlet in San Diego. She’s the sole author of The Bubbly Bar: Champagne Sparkling Wine Cocktails for Every Occasion (Clarkson Potter, 2009) and co-authored and edited Tanya Holland’s California Soul: California Recipes from a Journey West [A Cookbook] (Ten Speed Press, 2022).
ABOUT VISIT NAPA VALLEY
Visit Napa Valley is the official destination marketing organization for Napa County. The organization promotes the region as an attractive travel destination and works to continually enhance its public image as a dynamic place to visit, live, and work. Conveniently located within an hour's drive from the San Francisco Bay Area and the Greater Sacramento Area, Napa County is comprised of five distinct towns, including, from north to south, Calistoga, St. Helena, Yountville, the City of Napa, and American Canyon. In addition to these five towns, the areas of Rutherford, Oakville, and Angwin, along with the outdoor recreation area of Lake Berryessa, are also part of Napa County and add to its diverse and rich history. For additional information about Napa Valley or to plan your Napa Valley experience, please explore VisitNapaValley.com and follow social feeds @VisitNapaValley.
Media Contact:
media@visitnapavalley.com
