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:
American Canyon
Chardonnay Golf Club & Vineyards now offers the Tempo Walk by Club Car which provides golfers who enjoy walking the course with a “virtual” caddie-like experience. The state-of-the-art wireless technology includes GPS yardage and a hands-free remote control to maneuver easily around the course.
Website: chardonnaygolfclub.com
PR Contact: Roger Billings, rogerbillings@chardonnaygolfclub.com
Napa
Gondola Servizio offers private tours for up to six people along the Napa River in an authentic gondola. Both 30-minute and 50-minute tours are offered, and each tour departs from the Main Street dock in Downtown Napa.
Website: gondolaservizio.com
PR Contact: info@gondolaservizio.com
DiRosa Center for Contemporary Art offers a new exhibit, Viola Frey: Center Stage, Feb. 23 through December 2019. Known as a fiercely independent artist up to her passing in 2004, Viola Frey is perhaps most widely known for her larger than life figurative ceramic sculptures. This marks the artist’s first major exhibition on the West Coast since 1981, and includes more than 100 works of art in ceramic, painting, drawing, photography, and bronze, offering a unique opportunity to present this important body of work to a new generation.
Website: dirosaart.org
PR Contact: marketing@dirosaart.org
True REST® Float Spa (Reduced Environmental Stimulus Therapy) is a zero-gravity environment that allows the mind and body to completely let go, relax, and reset. This spa-like experience is designed to allow for a minimal amount of sensory input providing several benefits and applications for health, personal development, and well-being. The state-of-the-art float pods feature optional lights and music, with the option to leave the pod door open or closed. True Rest also features a post-float lounge area with an Oxygen bar.
Website: www.truerest.com
PR Contact: Ross White, white@truerest.com
The newly opened Vista Collina Resort, a Meritage Collection property, has added a 40-seat Food & Wine Center offering unique culinary offerings. Led by Executive Chef Vincent Lesage and rotating guest chefs, the center features an exhibition kitchen for onsite baking and cooking classes for lunch and dinner.
Website: villagenapavalley.com
PR Contact: Alexa Watkins, awatkins@jpublicrelations.com
Sky & Vine® Rooftop Bar offers a selection of games available to kids of all ages. Games include Connect Four, Jenga, and Corn Hole. Sky & Vine® Rooftop Bar also features live music on Sundays at noon and Thursdays at 6 p.m., featuring a variety of local bands and artists.
Website: www.skyandvine.com
PR Contact: Evita McDaniels emcdaniels@charliepalmer.com
Yountville
The Napa Valley Museum Yountville presents Walt Disney’s Trains 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
The second annual Yountville International Short Film Festival (YISFF) takes place Feb. 7 – 10, 2019 throughout Downtown Yountville. Sponsored by the Town of Yountville and inspired by the annual Jessup Cellars Art House Short Film Series, the YISFF features a lineup of more than 100 short films from across the globe, shown over four days. The films are programmed into more than 20 screening blocks and include special events.
Website: YISFF.com
PR Contact: Tom Fuller, tom@fullerandsander.com
New Shopping Experiences:
Napa
First Street Napa, a 325,000-square-foot mixed-use development in the heart of Downtown Napa, opened Macbella in December 2018. Founded by Belgium fashion enthusiast Jo Van Meensel, MacBella features European brands that are exclusive to the U.S., bringing an eclectic mix of both casual and contemporary women’s ready-to-wear and designer fashion, in addition to handbags, shoes, and accessories at a wide variety of price points for every shopper.
Website: macbella.com
PR Contact: Kaetlyn Bartlett, kaetlyn@glodownead.com
Makers Market opened their new flagship location at First Street Napa in November 2018. Makers Market supports local artists and their endeavors by selling locally-made goods that are original, sustainable, and bring awareness to artisans, craftsmen, jewelers, and creative minds. The store carries home goods, jewelry, clothing, apothecary, bags and accessories in a variety of price points.
Website: makersmarket.us
PR Contact: Suzy Ekman, hello@makersmarket.us
Napastäk Napa Valley opened in early January 2019 on First St. in Downtown Napa adjacent to the Archer Hotel lobby. Napastäk is an epicurean boutique created by Lusine and Arthur Hartunian, co-owners of Napa Valley Distillery. Guests will find imaginative items to elevate cooking and home entertaining sourced from Napa Valley, as well as from far-away exotic lands.
Website: napastak.net
PR Contact: Lusine Hartunian, lulu@napastak.com
New Wine, Beer and Spirits Tasting Experiences:
Napa
Alpha Omega Collective, which opens in Downtown Napa in late winter/early spring 2019, will showcase wines from Alpha Omega, Tolosa and Perinet wineries. Wine may be enjoyed by the glass, bottle, or flight, along with bites prepared in the onsite kitchen by the Collective’s chef. The tasting room, located across the street from the Archer Hotel, includes sidewalk seating and an adjoining lounge with a fireplace. It will be open seven days a week; noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, as well as Sunday; and noon to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday.
Website: AlphaOmegaCollectiveNapa.com
PR Contact: Kelly E. Carter, kcarter@aocollectivewine.com
Clos Du Val’s new tasting room, the Hirondelle House, is a contemporary pavilion where guests may experience wines from the winery’s past, present and future. Clos Du Val has been making wine since 1972 and tasting experiences are an opportunity to experience Napa Valley’s history.
Website: closduval.com
PR Contact: Raquel Royers, Raquel@closduval.com
The Hess Collection Winery offers their new “Taming the Lion” blending seminar, where guests play winemaker for the day. The seminar, which is offered every day at 10:30 a.m., includes the opportunity to experiment with three varietals to learn their influence in winemaking and take home a custom blend.
Website: Hesscollection.com
PR Contact: Cesar Ramirez, Cramirez@hesscollection.com
Bouchaine Vineyards offer Happy Trails and Tails, a dog walk and wine tasting experience on select Sundays, January through June 2019, at the top of the winery’s Terrace Vineyard, which features a glimpse of the San Francisco Bay. The tasting, which includes a glass of Bouchaine Vineyards rosé and a dog treat bag, and is offered 9 to 11 a.m. Jan. 20; Feb. 24; March 24; April 14; May 19; and June 23, 2019. Each tasting is $20 per person and dogs must remain on a leash at all times.
Website: bouchaine.com
PR Contact: Monty Sander, monty@fullerandsander.com
Hyde Estate Winery, which opened in spring 2018 in the heart of Napa’s Carneros region, offers small-lot production Pinot Noir. The estate includes a state-of-the-art production facility with daily seated tastings 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring five single vineyard estate-grown wines.
Website: hydewines.com
PR Contact: Shannon Hyde, shannon@hydewines.com
Napa Native Tours new Craft Brew Tour starts and ends in Downtown Napa, and features stops at three breweries. The tour includes a brew and food pairing; tasting flights; an in-depth tour curated by a local brew expert; and a personal growler.
Website: napanative.com
PR Contact: Tyler Jackson, Info@NapaNative.com
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars’ Fire & Water Experience begins with a guided tour of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars wine cave and culminates with a seated tasting of their iconic, estate-grown wines, complemented by a sampling of small bites prepared by Chef Travis Westrope. The 90-minute experience is offered daily at 10:30 a.m. for up to 10 guests and is $95 per person.
Website: cask23.com
PR Contact: Jennifer Scott, Jennifer.j.scott@smwe.com
Every Friday from 5 to 6 p.m., Vista Collina Resort offers registered guests complimentary “sips” during Wine Hour at The Village. Additionally, the resort hosts a complimentary Lawn Hour every Friday and Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m., which is available to everyone to enjoy live music and lawn games during the sunset hour on the community lawn.
Website: villagenapavalley.com
PR Contact: J Public Relations, vistacollina@jpublicrelations.com
Each Tuesday, Sky & Vine® Rooftop Bar offers Tiki Night Tuesdays, featuring Tiki cocktails at special rates. Each Wednesday, the staff at Sky & Vine® Rooftop Bar hand picks a bottle of wine, brown bags it, and pours in a blind tasting format where guests have the opportunity to guess the “three Vs”: Vintner, Varietal and Vintage. Those who guess 1 of 3 correctly receive 10 percent off the bottle; 2 of 3 correctly, receive 50 percent off the bottle; and, if they correctly guess all 3, the bottle is only $1.
Website: www.skyandvine.com
PR Contact: Evita McDaniels emcdaniels@charliepalmer.com
Angele Restaurant, along the Riverfront in Downtown Napa, now features a Happy Hour, Monday through Friday 4 to 6 p.m. with special prices on signature cocktails, house wines and beer along with small bites from the kitchen.
Website: Angelerestaurant.com
PR Contact: Kelly Mitchell-Jacks, kelly@angelerestaurant.com
Rutherford
Inglenook, Napa Valley’s first estate winery founded in 1879, offers a new food and wine pairing to celebrate Cabernet Season Wednesday afternoons through March 2019. The experience allows guests to taste a variety of Inglenook’s Cabernet Sauvignon wines, paired with bites from Chef Alex Lovick, in an intimate setting. The Food & Wine Pairing is $165 per person plus tax, and parties are limited to 10 guests.
Website: inglenook.com
PR Contact: James O’Hagan, Inglenook@glodownead.com
St. Helena
From January through March 2019, Clif Family Winery offers special wine and food pairing experiences. In January, guests will experience a Sweet & Spicy, Savory Nut Mix and Wine pairing, featuring savory nut mixes created by Executive Chef John McConnell; in February, “The Perfect Pairing, Wine and Chocolate Tasting Experience,” will feature dark, milk and white chocolates paired with small-production Napa Valley wines; and in March, Chef John McConnell offers a Spice and Wine Tasting, where guests may discover tips and secrets on the best herbs and aromas to match the wine. All tastings are $30 each and are available daily between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. No reservations are needed and walk-ins are welcomed.
Website: www.cliffamily.com
PR Contact: Patricia Denci, pdenci@double-forte.com
Louis M. Martini Winery is approaching the completion of a historic restoration, offering new spaces and experiences that reflect the winery’s Cabernet Sauvignon legacy. Featuring a timeless design with 30-foot-high glass walls that integrate indoors and out while celebrating the rich Napa Valley history, the winery will offer tastings, food-and-wine pairings, and wine education opportunities, as well as al fresco wine service; private cabanas; a culinary pavilion; and more in the expansive Martini Park. The projected opening is March 2019.
Website: louismartini.com
PR Contact: Lon Gallagher Lon.Gallagher@ejgallo.com
The Prisoner Wine Company, which opened in St. Helena in November 2018, features two tasting areas; “The Tasting Lounge” and “The Makery.” The Tasting Lounge offers “The Line Up Tasting,” a seated tasting of four wines offered daily 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for $45 per person. The Makery, a private wine tasting gallery featuring innovative local makers and craftspeople, offers a 75-minute “Makery Journey: Tour & Tasting” daily at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. for $65 per person. The experience follows the makers’ journeys through the vineyard, the culinary garden, and The Makery itself, including a tasting of five wines. Lastly, "The Makery Experience: Wine & Food Pairing,” features an assortment of small seasonal dishes paired with a limited release wine, and is offered Thursday through Sunday at noon for $125 per person. Reservations are required.
Website: theprisonerwinecompany.com
PR Contact: Kristen Green, KGPR, kgreenpr@kristengreen.com
Calistoga
Brian Arden Winery offers First Friday Socials, every first Friday of the month from 5 to 7 p.m. Guests may enjoy wines by the glass and small bites prepared by their executive chef.
Website: Brianardenwines.com
PR Contact: Amanda Lusk-Harlan, Amanda@brianardenwines.com
Girard Winery’s new tasting room in Calistoga is now open by reservation only. Girard Winery began in 1975 as the dream of a father-son duo. The two shared a pioneering spirit, passion for high quality wines, and respect for the Valley's rich history. Twenty-five years later, another vintner with the same passion for winemaking and roots deep in the Napa Valley is continuing the Girard legacy.
Website: girardwinery.com
PR Contact: Erin Luby, info@girardwinery.com
New Dining Experiences:
Napa
Charlie Palmer Steak Napa offers a seasonal Cut of the Week menu, featuring a hand-selected, unique cut of meat paired with a first course and family-style sides, presented with "bottomless wine pairings" for $58 per person. Guests may enjoy wine pairings with their meal until the Cut of the Week entrée course is cleared by the server. Note: This secret menu must be requested as it won't be offered otherwise.
Website: charliepalmersteak.com
PR Contact: Evita McDaniels, emcdaniels@charliepalmer.com
Beginning March 1, 2019, Thursday through Saturday evenings, the CIA at Copia will introduce a new interactive 3D dinner show, “Le Petit Chef™ in the Footsteps of Marco Polo,” in collaboration with the world-renown artists of Skullmapping™ and presented by TableMation™. Using groundbreaking technology, the dinner experience brings guests on a culinary journey around the globe through regions visited by the legendary traveler. The two-hour dining show will feature six courses with optional wine pairings, complemented by a unique gastronomic experience full of fun and surprises, with dishes incorporating spices found along Marco Polo’s route with a Napa Valley-twist.
Website: ciaatcopia.com
PR Contact: Kira Cooper, kira@glodownead.com
Every Monday, Sky & Vine® Rooftop Bar offers $1 oysters 3 to 6 p.m., and on Sundays, a Bottomless Brunch Buffet is available for $38, which includes unlimited Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas (for up to two hours). Their “Reverse Happy Hour” is 9 p.m. to closing Sunday through Thursday, featuring half price drinks (beer, wine, and select cocktails) and a reduced-price bar snack menu.
Website: www.skyandvine.com
PR Contact: Evita McDaniels, emcdaniels@charliepalmer.com
Yountville
La Calenda, by Chef Thomas Keller, opened in Yountville in early January 2019. The new restaurant offers authentic Oaxacan cuisine, with the culinary program led by Chef de Cuisine Kaelin Ulrich Trilling. The menu, which draws on fresh and artisanal ingredients, and employs traditional cooking methods, features dishes from Chef Kaelin’s native Oaxaca while casting a glance across a range of Mexican regional cuisines.
Website: lacalendamex.com
PR Contact: prconsulting@tkrg.com
St. Helena
Join Tra Vigne Pizzeria for “Cioppino Tuesday's” every Tuesday evening beginning at 5 p.m. through April 30, 2019. Enjoy a bubbling bowl of Chef Nash's San Francisco-style Cioppino with mussels, clams, calamari, and fresh fish in a spicy tomato sauce; served with grilled bread and mixed greens, for $ 19.95 per person.
Website: pizzeriatravigne.com
PR Contact: Cynthia Ariosta, cynthia@pizzeriatravigne.com
New Lodging & Lodging Amenities:
The Four Seasons Resort and Residences, situated at the northern end of Napa Valley off the Silverado Trail in Calistoga, is projected to open in summer 2019. The resort offers 80 guest rooms and 20 residences featuring two-to four-bedroom properties ideal for longer-term stays. The farmhouse-inspired resort is scattered amidst a six-acre vineyard and will feature an on-site restaurant; general store; spa and fitness center; and meeting spaces. The resort will also have its own on-site winery by award-winning winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, where guests will be able to blend their own wines.
Website: napaluxuryliving.com
PR Contact: Laura Fairweather, laura.fairweather@fourseasons.com
Pet parents may pamper their furry friends with Hotel Yountville’s new pet-friendly offerings. Dogs will enjoy a special culinary menu, complete with gourmet treats for dessert; monogrammed bedding; dog bowls; and ropes and frisbees to ensure playful adventures and a restful sleep. There is a $150 per pet cleaning fee.
Website: www.hotelyountville.com
PR Contact: Hannah Lambert, hlambert@mayfieldpr.com
