Summer in Napa Valley vineyards

What's New in Napa Valley

Spring/Summer 2022

Discover what's new in Napa Valley, including new and upcoming experiences, shops, wine tasting opportunities, restaurants and dining, wellness options and lodging.

In Napa Valley, the vines have sprung back to life, which means growing season 2022 is officially here! As the landscape becomes greener and lusher, it is a great time to visit Napa Valley.

Oenophiles will delight in the range of new wine tasting experiences, plus the arrival of the hotly anticipated Stanly Ranch, an Auberge Resort Collection, which is set on 700 acres of ranchland and vineyards. Meanwhile, a wave of new education-centric activities will appeal to travelers of all ages, tapping into a larger “edu-vacation” trend. Planning a wedding or another special event? There’s no setting more magical than the vineyard backdrops at Carneros Resort & Spa and Auberge du Soleil, the latter of which just debuted a newly renovated private dining venue.

Here's what’s new and noteworthy in Napa Valley for the seasons ahead:

 

 

Lodging


The name on everybody’s lips: Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection, debuting April 29, the expansive resort is one of the year’s most awaited openings. Wellbeing is a focus at the property, which comprises 135 cottages and guestrooms. Guests can sign up for immersive retreat experiences, meditative morning walks through the vineyards, and go on bike rides along the banks of the Napa River.

Another new and under-the-radar offer – Cambria Hotel Napa Valley – is located at the base of Silverado Trail and offers Wine Country style for the modern traveler at a competitive rate.

Alila Napa Valley is celebrating 1 year and countless wine country memories. Stay now through May 26, 2022 (subject to availability) and receive 15% off room rates, plus $50 daily resort credit.

Looking for more boutique hotel luxury? Out of the 120 properties in Napa Valley, 70 accommodations have fewer than 30 rooms.
 

Stanly Ranch resort in Carneros
Stanly Ranch

 

Tasting Rooms and Wineries


The newest crop of tasting rooms seriously up the ante, with stylish indoor-outdoor spaces, panoramic views, and inspired culinary pairings. Last month, the Clif Family Enoteca Private Tasting Salon swung open its doors, giving visitors the chance to sip small-production Howell Mountain estate wines with organic seasonal produce from the Clif Family Farm. Sit on the outdoor terrace, sampling a flight of single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon wines, or retreat to the stylish indoor salon where you can enjoy your vino next to a fireplace.

In downtown Napa, cocktail lovers should check out The ArBARetum by Napa Valley Distillery. Visitors can huddle around a working 65-gallon copper-and-stainless steel still, learning about the art and science of distillation. Afterwards, enjoy hand-crafted cocktails, premium spirits, and a selection of small plates.

In St. Helena, the historic Heitz Cellar just debuted an exclusive new tasting room that can accommodate up to 90 guests with plenty of outdoor space. Among the historic winery’s experience options is the $1K Vineyard to Bottle package, a multi-hour experience that includes being shuttled around some of the winery’s vineyards in the valley, then being transported back to the tasting salon to sample wines from those blocks.

This spring, Levendi will unveil an elegant tasting room in downtown Napa, where visitors can taste high-scoring Cabernet Sauvignons, among other bottles.

Last year, Bread & Butter Wines opened a tasting room on the Silverado Trail, featuring a mural by Bay Area artist Maxfield Bala and a wishing wall.

The boutique Elusa Winery—located on the grounds of the new Four Seasons Resort in Calistoga—offers tasting and tours of the vineyard and the winemaking facilities, including a wine library and tasting room overlooking the barrel cellar.

ONEHOPE unveiled their first tasting room last summer and offers visitors a taste of their most exclusive Cabernet Sauvignons.
 

Clif Family Enoteca interior
Clif Family Enoteca

 

Connolly Ranch
Connolly Ranch

Summer Edu-Vacation for Adults and Kids


Adults aren’t the only ones with Zoom fatigue—school-aged children are also suffering from excess screen time. Now “parents, eager for lesson plans that can supplement learning, are seeking experiences with an education bent when they travel,” reports the New York Times.

And while wine country may not seem like the most obvious choice for a family getaway, Napa Valley has it all: wide-open spaces and abundant nature for kids, and educational tastings and wine blending sessions for adults.

At Baldacci Family Vineyards, wine lovers can brush up on their technical knowledge of viticulture and enology by enrolling in the Behind the Cellar Door experience. During the 90-minute session, visitors sip wine while learning from wine educator and Napa native Andres Plancarte, as he delves into subjects such as the philosophy behind organic farming, the difference between American oak and French oak barrels, and the nuts and bolts of pruning.

If your visit falls on a Monday, swing by the Napa Valley Wine Academy for their new hour-long workshop. A Master of Wine candidate will guide your tasting, teaching you and a group of WSET students about wine structure and grape varieties as you sip three wines.

More hands-on learners can master the art of blending at wineries including Conn Creek, Raymond Vineyards, and Judd’s Hill. After getting briefed on the basics of blending, you’ll create a custom blend to take home. Raymond Vineyards will even save your unique recipe in their system, so you can always place orders from afar!


While parents are perfecting their blends and upping their wine knowledge, younger travelers can sign up for fun, educational activities and day camps that combine learning and immersion in nature.

At Carneros Resort, the complimentary Little Great Thumb Garden Tour—offered every Sunday afternoon in the culinary gardens—gives kids the opportunity to get their hands dirty. Young guests will tour the organic garden, feed the resort’s flock of chickens, and learn the basics of farming. Starting in May, the resort will also host Sunday movie nights on the vineyard lawn, with blankets, Adirondack chairs, and complimentary popcorn.

Art-inclined youngsters can opt for the Di Rosa Art and Nature Camp, which runs Saturday, April 23 and 30 from noon to 4 pm. Curated by the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, the program is designed to awaken a deep love of art and nature while improving social and emotional learning skills.

Up the road, children ages 6 through 12 can take part in one of Silverado Resort’s three-day golf, tennis and swim camps offered on select dates June through August.

The mission of the 150-year-old, family-owned Connolly Ranch is to “instill children of all ages with a deep respect for the environment; a strong understanding of farming and sustainable agriculture; and a love for the natural world.” To that end, the ranch offers a variety of educational programs and camps for young visitors, with outdoor and classroom activities that change with the seasons and combine hands-on learning and “discovery-based curriculum.”

 

Weddings in Napa Valley


Napa Valley’s mild Mediterranean climate and breathtaking scenery makes it easy work planning picture-perfect weddings.

The area is home to more than 130 hotels, with 200,000 square feet of event space, with options ranging from historic landmarks like Francis House and The Ink House to top resorts like Carneros Resort & Spa and Auberge du Soleil. Couples can also widen their search to include wineries like Beringer Vineyards, the oldest continuously operating winery in Napa Valley, and Charles Krug, California’s oldest winery and first tasting room.

Not sure where to start? Visit Napa Valley can help point brides and grooms in the right direction.

Auberge du Soleil just unveiled a full renovation of the private dining level. Exchange your vows with panoramic vistas of valley-floor vineyards and the Mayacamas Mountains in the distance.

Carneros Resort & Spa recently debuted a 10,000-square-foot venue, perfect for intimate wedding receptions and grand dinners under the stars. Indoor spaces feature high ceilings and an abundance of natural light, while outdoor spaces are well-manicured and sustainable, with eco-friendly lawns and views of scenic vineyards and rolling hills.

 
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