Tips for planning your trip to Napa Valley

Make your schedule and plan ahead
Be sure to make advance arrangements with the wineries that you simply must visit. Some wineries offer special tasting or tour experiences that are only available by appointment. For example, guests to HALL St. Helena are welcome to drop-in any time for a tasting of our latest releases, however for a tour of our HALL St. Helena or HALL Rutherford wineries, you must make an appointment ahead of time. 

Check the wineries websites for special tasting offers and events. We host numerous events throughout the year that offer unique experiences for our guests. Another great idea for day trippers - bring a cooler to keep in the car to keep your wine cool.

Things to Do in Wine Country

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ART GALLERIES 

I. Wolk Gallery			Contemporary painting, and sculpture	St. Helena
Gallery 1870			V Marketplace	Yountville
Blue Heron Gallery			V Marketplace	Yountville
Di Rosa Preserve			Gate House Gallery	Napa
Napa Valley Museum				Yountville

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GOLF

Eagle Vines Golf Club	The home of the HALL Wine Club Tournament	Napa
Silverado Resort	The North Course is our recommendation	Napa
Chardonnay Golf Club	This is the easiest of the courses on our list	Napa

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SHOPPING & STROLLING

Downtown St. Helena	Stroll the main street for unique shops	St. Helena
Oxbow Public Market	Check out the Oxbow Cheese and Wine Merchant	Napa
Sonoma Square	Visit shops and enjoy downtown	Sonoma

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RESTAURANTS

Press	Try the Flannery Bone-in Ribeye	St. Helena
Terra/Bar Terra	Must try the tripe stew	St. Helena
Farmstead	Try the potted pig	St. Helena
Redd	Try the tuna tartare	Yountville
Bottega	Try the polenta under glass	Yountville
Bistro Jeanty	Try the lamb's tongue salad	Yountville
Mustards Grill	Must try is the Mongolian pork chop	Yountville
Rutherford Grill	Try the ribs and the french dip	Rutherford
Morimoto	Try the toro tartare	Napa
Carpet Diem	Quack 'n' cheese, yum!	Napa
Grace's Table	Must try; Braised lamb meatballs	Napa
El Dorado Kitchen	The mussels are to die for	Sonoma Area
Sunflower Caffé	The pork loin sandwich is a must	Sonoma Area
La Salette	Try the Bacalhau	Sonoma Area
Jole	Go for the 5 course tasting menu	Calistoga
Brannans Grill	Try the bone-in Pork chop	Calistoga
Busters BBQ	The tri-tip is legendary!	Calistoga

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WINE TASTING

HALL St. Helena	Book the Food & Wine Experience	St. Helena
Flora Springs	Try the "Out of Sight" Cabernet	St. Helena
Barnett	Try the Rattlesnake Hill and Sauvignon Clanc	Spring Mountain
Schweiger Vineyards	Try the "Dedication" or the Port	Spring Mountain
Terra Valentine	Try the Estate Tour and Tasting	Spring Mountain
Ma(i)sonry	Art gallery/winery collective	Yountville
Robert Sinskey	Must try; Vin Gris	Yountville
Sequoia Grove	Excellent single vineyard wines	Rutherford
Nickel and Nickel	Try the Copper Streak Cabernet	Rutherford
Artessa	Excellent reserve Chardonnay	Carneros
Schramsberg	Excellent sparkling wines	Calistoga Area
Chappellet	Views from Pritchard Hill are stunning	Napa
John Anthony Vineyards	Part of the booming west end of Napa. Open late.	Napa
Roessler Cellars	HALL's Pinot Noir and Chardonnay Tasting Room	Sonoma

More tips!
- First time winetasting? Check out this short video for a few tips on winetasting
- check out these tips from The Napa Valley Destination Council.
- Napa Valley Vinters
- and www.napavalley.com are excellent source to find wineries and special tasting offers.

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Stay Over
It's wise to plan ahead when making overnight accommodations, as the more popular locations fill up quickly, especially in the Summer months. It's a good idea to check the website for special offers and promotions. Also, some wine clubs have special arrangements with local hotels and can offer preferred rates for members.

HALL members enjoy special rates at La Residence Luxury Inn (call for more details 707-967-2631).

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When is the best time to visit Napa?
In the Spring you won't find grapes on the vines, but the vineyards are still vibrant with blooming mustard plants! It can be one of the most beautiful times of the year and you won't find too many crowds.

While the Summer months offer plenty of sunshine, warm weather, and a lively vibrant atmosphere, it's also the busiest time of year in the Napa Valley. Be sure to make your arrangements in advance and be flexible.

In early Fall you are sure to see ripening grapes on the vine and temperatures are still warm enough for outdoor picnics. If your looking to see winemaking in action, Late Fall is your best bet. We highly recommend our HALL St. Helena production tour for a first-hand look at a working state-of-the-art winery.

The Winter months can be an excellent time to visit the Napa Valley. The valley is far less busy and you are more likely to find reservations at the more exclusive hotels and restaurants. As the valley gears up for the holidays, tasting rooms are festive, and many restaurants and hotels offer fire places for guests to enjoy.

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Don't overbook yourself
Some eager guests try to visit up to 10 wineries in a day. For a comfortable schedule, plan to visit 3-4 wineries in a day. Choose your favorite wineries ahead of time and make reservations. Ask your winery host for suggestions of similar wineries nearby that might be open for drop-in tastings if time permits. Again some excellent resources for mapping out your visit are www.napavintners.com and www.napavalley.com.

Questions? Email us at info@hallwines.com  or call (707) 967-2626 and we'll be happy to offer suggestions and recommendations for your next trip to Napa Valley.