October 19, 2018 – Come discover what's new in the Napa Valley, including new and upcoming experiences, shops, wine tasting opportunities, restaurants and dining, wellness options and lodging.
New Things to See and Do:
Napa Valley Bike Tours new Electric Cruiser Bike Tour starts and ends in Downtown Napa, featuring stops at two wineries for tastings. This tour package includes $25 in “OxBucks” to spend at choice of merchants at Oxbow Public Market in Napa. After the tour, guests are welcome to keep the Pedego eBikes the remainder of the afternoon to explore on their own.
Website: napavalleybiketours.com
PR Contact: Kellie Macway, kellie@napavalleybiketours.com
In partnership with the CIA at Copia, the Rail Arts District (RAD) Napa commissioned San Francisco Bay Area artist Allison Tinati, who paints under the moniker ‘Hueman,' to create a large-scale mural at CIA at Copia. Titled “The Garden” to represent Hueman’s direct inspiration from the vegetable garden at CIA at Copia, the mural (130 feet long, 35 feet tall) is located on the south and west sides of the building at 500 1st St. in the heart of Napa. "The Garden" is the ninth mural commissioned by the RAD and curated by Thinkspace. The art installation was made possible through a generous donation from CIA Trustee Bob Muh and his wife, Berit.
Website: radnapa.org
PR Contact: Gabriela Markley, info@radnapa.org
First Street Napa is pleased to announce the completion of a mural commissioned by Andy Beckstoffer on the wall of the Beckstoffer Building which houses Overland Sheepskin Co. and Brown Estate. Painted by Bay Area-based artist Morgan Bricca and located at 1202 First St. in Napa, the mural is 11 feet tall, 70 feet long, and depicts the Beckstoffer Farm during fall.
Website: firststreetnapa.com
PR Contact: James O’Hagan, James@glodownead.com
Connolly Ranch offers a new Saturday Farm Camp, where adults are invited to spend some guilt-free hours exploring the Napa Valley while the kids have fun unplugging on the 12-acre Connolly Ranch. From 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., kids will get to know some of the ranch’s 86 animals, including goats, pigs, donkeys, chickens, horses, sheep and ducks while learning where food comes from in the educational gardens. Plus, seasonal crafts and a natural playground will ensure they have the best day ever while the grown-ups are in their own Napa Valley playground.
Website: connollyranch.org
PR Contact: Jennifer Fotherby, jennifer@connollyranch.org
Napa Bookmine celebrated five years in business with a new facade at its 964 Pearl St. Napa location and revamped its calendar of events, including book club hostings, readings, game nights, and story times. Napa Bookmine has also developed new partnerships with the Napa Main Library and the Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center to offer cultural programming to Napa residents and visitors.
Website: napabookmine.com
Contact: Elayna Trucker, elayna@napabookmine.com
The recently opened Vista Collina Resort in Napa is set to debut its Food & Wine Center this winter as the centerpiece of the resort’s Village which also features nine tasting rooms, an upscale artisan market, outdoor event lawn and more. The Food & Wine Center will allow at-home chefs and food enthusiasts of all levels to cook with Vista Collina’s culinary team, with classes designed by Chef Vincent Lesage.
Website: meritagecollection.com/vista-collina
PR Contact: J Public Relations, vistacollina@jpublicrelations.com
The Culinary Institute of America at Copia has unveiled the Chuck Williams Culinary Arts Museum, featuring more than 4,000 artifacts of specialty cookware, bread baking and culinary tools, appliances, and tableware that are part of the rotating exhibit. The CIA is delighted to be the recipient and steward of these pieces of culinary history. The museum is open daily 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. and is complimentary.
Website: ciaatcopia.com
PR Contact: Anne Girvin, anne.girvin@culinary.edu
The Napa Valley Museum Yountville will present Walt Disney’s Trains Nov. 10, 2018 through March 2019. This family-friendly exhibition, organized with The Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio in San Francisco, explores the influence that railroad trains had on Walt Disney's life and work, and tells the story of how his railroading legacy lives on to this day in Disney films and theme parks around the world. The exhibition includes a wide variety of artifacts, firsthand accounts, archival videos, images of Walt and his trains, and one-of-a kind items, including Walt Disney's own Carolwood gondola railroad car, a light-up model of Disneyland, and a custom model train created in partnership with the Napa Valley Wine Train by the Napa Valley Model Railroad Historical Society.
Website: napavalleymuseum.org
PR Contact: Laura Rafaty, laura@napavalleymuseum.org
Light becomes art in the Napa Lighted Art Festival. The festival, now in its second year, creates a stunning walking display of artwork as installations are projected onto more than 15 buildings throughout Downtown Napa and the Oxbow District each evening from 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 12 through Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019. New festival highlights for 2019 include the Lantern Parade on Friday, Jan. 18 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Also new is the event’s “Night Bloom” experience where Napa Valley’s majestic hot air balloons will light up the sky at Oxbow Commons both weekends of the festival, starting at 7 p.m.
Website: donapa.com/lights/
Media Contact: Lindsay Moore, lmoore@augustineagency.com
New Shopping Experiences:
First Street Napa is pleased to announce the opening of Lululemon Athletica at 1220 First St., adjacent to State & First and Mecox. Lululemon is an athletic apparel company that aims to create stylish, functional products geared for a healthy, active lifestyle.
Website: firststreetnapa.com
PR Contact: Erin Wickman, FirstStreetNapaPR@GlodowNead.com
A first-of-its-kind, RH Yountville opened in October 2018 as a food, wine, art, shopping, and design experience. Comprised of three contemporary, yet classically inspired structures, RH Yountville also offers a dining experience 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. by celebrated restaurateur Brendan Sodikoff under the glass roof of the indoor/outdoor restaurant surrounded by heritage olive trees. Guests may also enjoy a glass of wine in the historic Ma(i)sonry building, which has been transformed into a two-story Wine Vault, or experience tastings of limited production wines and champagnes in the trellis-covered outdoor living rooms. RH Yountville also offers a boutique design gallery showcasing installations of home furnishings.
Website: restorationhardware.com
PR Contact: Alexandra McClure, amcclure@rh.com
New Wine Tasting Experiences:
Napa
Domaine Carneros opened its Jardin d'Hiver, an Art Nouveau conservatory-style addition to the north terrace of the château, in August 2018. With curved glass walls, skylights, white marble tables, indoor-outdoor fireplaces and new fountain, the Jardin d’Hiver offers guests an inviting and warm, yet elegant space to fully enjoy the sweeping views of the Carneros region. A new tasting experience, "The Art of Sparkling Wine Pairing: Asian Bites with Bubbles" is available in the Jardin d'Hiver Monday through Friday at 11 a.m. at a cost of $85 per person. Reservations may be made by calling (800) 716-2788 or visiting the Domaine Carneros website.
Website: domainecarneros.com
PR Contact: Kimberly Noelle Charles or Erin Hunt Moore - press@charlescomm.com
First Street Napa, the 325,000-square-foot mixed-use development in the heart of Downtown Napa, is pleased to announce the Fall 2018 opening of Mayacamas Winery’s new downtown tasting room. Adjacent to Charlie Palmer Steak Napa and below Archer Hotel Napa, Mayacamas’ location at 1256 First St. Napa is a multi-use venue with a wine boutique, sidewalk patio and private tasting space.
Website: firststreetnapa.com
PR Contact: Erin Wickman, FirstStreetNapaPR@GlodowNead.com
Chimney Rock Winery offers three new visitor experiences. The Single-Vineyard Cabernet Tasting features limited-production single vineyard wines in one of the winery’s tasting salons or on the shaded patio. The tasting begins with an overview of the history of Chimney Rock and the Stags Leap Appellation and is offered Friday through Sunday at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. by reservation. The Vineyards Odyssey Tour and Tasting is offered daily at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. by reservation (weather permitting). This guided excursion in a specially designed touring cart for an exploration of the Stags Leap District features Chimney Rock history, tasting two Cabernet Sauvignon wines in the very vineyards they are grown, gourmet cheeses and photo opportunities with sweeping views as the backdrop. The Estate Tour and Barrel Tasting includes samples directly from the barrel and a seated tasting of Chimney Rock wines along with select artisan cheeses. This tour is offered at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. by reservation.
Website: Chimneyrock.com
PR Contact: Megghen Driscol, driscolm@twg.com
Cornerstone Cellars opened two tasting rooms in late August 2018. Their new Downtown Napa and Vista Collina Village tasting rooms offer insight on the small winery with deep roots that source its grapes from some of the region’s most lauded vineyards.
Website: cornerstonecellars.com
PR Contact: Sonyia@cornerstonecellars.com
Materra | Cunat Family Vineyards is offering a new Right Bank Retrospective tasting experience. Their position on the Napa River’s “Right Bank” inspires the winery’s house style of Merlot-based blends. This guided tasting takes guests through the winery’s 10-year history on the property in the Oak Knoll District, from old vines to new. Advance reservations are required.
Website: materrawines.com/visit-us
PR Contact: Vanessa Maykel, vmaykel@finemanpr.com
Yountville
Domaine Chandon offers two new guest experiences: Brunch in Bloom and Sip & Snack Happy Hour. Brunch in Bloom is offered each Sunday at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., where guests are seated around a communal table, featuring a seasonal menu with a choice of entrees and glasses of Chandon sparkling wines. Advanced reservations are required. The Sip & Snack Happy Hour is every Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. in the winery lounge and patio, featuring wines by the glass and a menu of small bites and oysters. Guests may also make custom sparkling cocktails at the DIY garnish bar. No reservation required.
Website: chandon.com
PR Contact: Aliye Melton, aliye_melton@chandon.com
Rutherford
In celebration of their 50th harvest anniversary, ZD Wines recently completed the renovation of their Vineyard View Tasting Room, featuring a sleek, modern design with glass walls that create unobstructed views of the valley floor, as well as open views of the barrel room and sliding doors that create an indoor/outdoor space for tasting. The ZD Reception Lounge is the next renovation phase and will include a 14-foot glass door designed in Portugal that will encase an entirely new private experience area. This warm and inviting space will also feature a modern fireplace and elegant patio garden, where guests can enjoy tastes of ZD wines. Additional renovations will include a custom catering kitchen and entirely new sustainable landscaping surrounding the property. The renovated Reception Lounge will open in spring of 2019.
Website: zdwines.com
PR Contact: Ashley Teplin, ashley@teplinnuss.com
Round Pond Estate has introduced “Vino & Olio,” a new wine and olive oil tasting experience. Guests will enjoy a private guided tour of the Round Pond olive grove and learn about olive cultivation, harvest, and artisan methods of pressing olives into liquid-gold at their estate mill. At the winery, guests will taste fresh olive oils and wine vinegars paired with estate wines and seasonally-inspired small bites. The two-hour experience is offered at 10 a.m. daily, beginning Nov. 18, 2018.
Website: roundpond.com
PR Contact: Parasol Marketing, RoundPond@ParasolMarketing.com
St. Helena
Long Meadow Ranch Chef's Table Food & Wine Tasting is a one hour experience hosted at the historic Logan Ives House at Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The LMR culinary team has developed a food and wine pairing experience featuring an assortment of canapés paired with award-winning Long Meadow Ranch wines.
Website: longmeadowranch.com/eat-drink/chefs-table
PR Contact: Paige Siegall, psiegall@colangelopr.com
Calistoga
Amici Cellars Heritage Blend Experience, offered Nov. 1, 2018 through April 1, 2019, daily between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. with advance reservation, features a sneak peek at a day in the life of a winemaker with a half-day, behind-the-scenes look as the winemakers work to craft the estate’s wines. Under the tutelage of Amici’s Winemaker Toni Biagi, guests begin with a barrel tasting to help uncover the flavor profiles that are most pleasing to the palate. After selecting preferred samples from barrel to beaker, the real work begins as guests help craft the final blend. Afterward, guests are invited to relax in the winery’s private tasting room for a flight of Amici Cellars’ reserve and single-vineyard wines paired with seasonal bites. Advanced reservations are required.
Website: amicicellars.com
PR Contact: Keely Garibaldi, keelygaribaldi@gmail.com
Chateau Montelena Winery offers a new Vineyard Tour, allowing guests to learn about the terroir, climate, soils, farming practices of Chateau Montelena. Established in 1882, Chateau Montelena features a stone castle built into the hillside overlooking a Chinese garden, lake, and vineyards that reach to the base of Mt. St. Helena. The tour is offered Monday through Friday at 10 a.m., and takes approximately 60 minutes. Reservations are required.
Website: montelena.com
PR Contact: Olivia Mannix, omannix@montelena.com
New Dining Experiences:
Charlie Palmer Steak Napa now offers a prix fix lunch Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Chef Charlie Palmer showcases artisanal American beef and local wine country flavors, and guests may enjoy three courses for $25 per person with a featured glass of wine. Charlie Palmer Steak is located at Archer Hotel in Downtown Napa.
Website: charliepalmersteak.com
PR Contact: Evita McDaniels, emcdaniels@charliepalmer.com
New Lodging & Lodging Amenities:
Hotel Villagio in Yountville reopened in October 2018 as part of the second phase of the reimagined and designed Estate Yountville. Joining sister property Vintage House, which opened in Fall 2017, Hotel Villagio features redesigned guestrooms with fireplaces and terraces. The 22-acre estate includes V Marketplace, a lifestyle retail and dining complex, and the newly renovated and recently opened spa, The Spa at The Estate. Hotel Villagio will also debut The Villa, a 3,600 square-feet free-standing five-bedroom private space inclusive of the only accommodations in Napa Valley furnished with Hästens 2000T king size beds.
Website: villagio.com
PR Contact: Ariel Cohen, TEY@magrinopr.com
Following a spa refresh in July 2018, Carneros Resort and Spa in Napa finalizes a second property-wide renovation of 86 cottages and suites in late October 2018. Each private cottage, ranging from 400 to 1,200 square feet of indoor living space, with 400 to 800 square feet of outdoor living space, received extensive interior and exterior enhancements. Bathrooms have refurbished showers and white splashed tile, new vanity sinks with stone tops, and indoor tubs. Additional renovations include contemporary lighting and furniture with additional storage space, new bed frames, and bi-fold doors on an entire wall of the cottage to create a spacious, indoor-outdoor living space. Outdoor terraces now feature chaise lounges, new dining tables and gas fire pits. Cottages also received upgraded technology, including Bluetooth speakers, enlarged HDTVs and faster WiFi.
Website: carnerosresort.com
PR Contact: Danielle Logan, dlogan@wagstaffworldwide.com
The Francis House in Calistoga opened Sept. 7, 2018. Initially a family home for prominent local merchant, James H. Francis, The Francis House is a landmark building steeped in history and prestige. Built in 1886, The Francis House is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and has been carefully restored, rehabilitated and redesigned as an exclusive five-room luxury inn.
Website: thefrancishouse.com
PR Contact: Monty Sander, monty@fullerandsander.com
New Wellness Experiences:
Candlelight Yoga Social returns to Spa Terra at The Meritage Resort and Spa Sunday, Oct. 21, Nov. 18, and Dec. 16, 2018 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. End the weekend centered with a deeply relaxing, 45-minute gentle form of yoga offered in the candlelit Estate Cave. After yoga, continue the relaxation with a healthy smoothie prepared by Spa Terra’s culinary team. The Yoga Social includes a $20 certificate toward a future treatment at Spa Terra.
Website: meritageresort.com/events
PR Contact: Andrew Bradley, abradley@meritageresort.com
