Cambados – Albariño Land

August 1, 2020 by joe 1 Comment

Coastal Cambados - Small plots of Albariño vineyards — Coastal Cambados – Small plots of Albariño vineyards

Harvest time in Cambados – Albariño

Update as of August 1, 2020

The tourist office in Santiago De Compostela recommended that if we had a chance, we should be sure to visit the town of Cambados, “It is the center of wine activity in the Rias Baixas.” We packed our bags and left our Parador in Pontevedra, heading towards Cambados for a day trip before heading south towards Madrid. It turned out to be an excellent recommendation. Our day in Cambados was enjoyable and exciting. However, if you are not a wine lover, the trip might not be that impressive.

Albariño grapes in bins — Albariño grapes waiting to be shipped to the winery

Cambados is on the Atlantic Coast, and it was a beautiful ride as we followed the coastline from Pontevedra to Cambados. Everything was green in the area – the hills, the fields, and the vineyards; we were in Green Spain. As we approached the town, we took a couple of side roads and spotted workers harvesting the grapes. Picking grapes in the Rias Baixas is so different from that of the Napa Valley or anywhere in California wine country.

The pace is slow and methodical. In California, the workers literally run with their containers, toss the grapes into a one-ton bin, and then rush back to fill their cartons. Here, the workers have one bin that they fill and then leave it on the ground. The containers are picked up later, placed on palattes, and brought to the winery on small trucks.

Workers stand to harvest the Albariño grapes

In the Rias Baixas, the grape pickers do not have to stoop or couch to pick the grapes which is unique to this area. All the clusters are above them. All the vines are high off the ground. Rias Baixas is a soggy and wet wine country, and the high trellis system protects the grapes from rot.

Martin Codax – Coop Winery

We drove by a winery, Bodega Martin Codax. The crush was at a fever pitch at this winery. Trucks arrived with palettes of grapes that were then positioned on conveyer belts where the bins were dumped and sent to equipment for de-stemming and crushing.

Martín Códax is a cooperative winery, with more than 1,400 small vineyard parcels farmed by 550 families around Cambados. While we watched, several individual growers came to the winery with their harvest. One was a woman who pulled up in a small truck with a palette of grapes. I asked if I could take her picture. She was so proud of the grapes. Her faced filled with joy as she picked up a cluster of grapes to show us. “Aquí, pruébalos, no tienen químicos, son dulces y deliciosos.” (“Here, taste them. They have no chemicals; they are sweet and delicious.”)

Cambados is a wine town, and during harvest the entire village celebrates.
There are many Vinotecas or wine shops, and they are all about Albarino wine. If you visit Santiago De Compostela, consider a side trip for a day or two to this beautiful area that loves their Albariño wine.

One of the many small growers who are part of the Martin Codax coop

Martin Codax Albariño

The Martin Codax Albariño wine is widely available in the U.S. The wines are imported by the Gallo Family. BevMo and Total Wine stores carry the entry level of the Martin Codax Albariño for about $15. You might want to give a glass a try while you read our blog. Thanks!

Pappa al Pomodoro – Our try at making this traditional Tuscan soup

July 29, 2020 by joe 2 Comments

Janelle and I published this article on making Pappa al Pomodoro several years ago. The timing is just perfect for reposting the item. The COVID virus has Wine folks cooking at home, making sourdough bread, and gardening. With fresh tomatoes and Basil in the Victory Garden, it all fits for making this delicious Tuscan Soup.

At the European Media Conference in Italy, we watched Andrea Gagnesi in his kitchen at Badia al Cotibuono in Chianti, prepare a wonderful traditional Tuscan soup, Pappa al Pomodoro. I’d never heard of Pappa al Pomodoro until then, but it is one commonly prepared in the homes of Tuscan villagers. We each got a small taste of the soup when it was done, and I knew then that I had to try making this soup at home. Well, we have made it twice now and although we love my rendition of the soup, it is not quite as good as the one Andrea Gagnesi made for us that evening. We will continue to tweak the recipe until we have mastered this dish.

Andrea Gagnesi prepares his version of Pappa al Pomodoro

The problem with the cooking demo was that Andrea moved quickly and never mentioned exact measurements for the ingredients used. Some of it had to do with his command of English and some it had to do with his master chef skills, tasting the dish as it cooked and making adjustments on the fly. We took loads of photographs at the demo and also watched a Vimeo video that one of the follow bloggers made, but we had to do some guesswork on the exact amounts of all ingredients. Here is our take on how to prepare and cook Pappa al Pomodoro, perfecto for any season of the year. This recipe serves 6.

Pappa al Pomodoro

Two baskets of grape tomatoes. – This is what Andrea used, whereas most recipes call for Roma or San Marzano tomatoes.
Half a loaf of day-old sourdough bread, crust removed – crumbled in the food processor
¾ cup red onion chopped fine
¾ cup carrot chopped fine
¾ cup celery chopped fine
4 tablespoons of olive oil
Two cloves garlic chopped
2-4 cups of vegetable broth
Fresh Basil leaves – 8 to 10
Salt and Pepper to taste

Process the grape tomatoes in a food processor to liquefy. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to the sauce, and then simmer the sauce in a pot until tomato sauce thickens – 60 minutes.

Add three tablespoons of olive oil. Sauté and caramelize the veggie mix of onions, carrots and celery (Sofrito). Use high heat to cook as quickly as possible. When the Sofrito is ready, add one or two cups of the tomato mixture and the chopped garlic. Cook until liquid is absorbed and the mixture is very thick – about two minutes.

Add a handful of crumbled bread and mix together until bread absorbs all. Then add the veggie broth and the remaining tomato sauce. Add more bread to thicken and then cook until the soup mixture is thick. Maybe 30 to 45 minutes at a simmer. If you want a thinner soup add more of the broth.

Five minutes before you serve the soup, add the fresh basil leaves. Andrea tore the leaves into small pieces. At the very end, add salt and pepper to taste.

Since the soup is thick with the bread, you don’t need a huge serving unless this is your main course. Serve about a cup to each person. You can also garnish with a few basil leaves. You must serve this dish with a beautiful Chianti wine.

Buon Appetito!

Eco-Friendly Wine Route

July 6, 2020 by joe Leave a Comment

Many wineries in the Napa Valley can boast that they are eco-friendly in some fashion: certified organic, sustainable, biodynamic, Napa Green or solar powered. If you and your friends are environmentally conscious, then you may like visiting these five wineries. Each of these wineries is currently open and accepting reservations. Call it your Eco-Friendly Wine Route.

The Eco-Friendly Wine Route

Robert Sinskey – Biodynamic
Honig Winery – Sustainable
Round Pond Estate – Sustainable
Frog’s Leap – Organic, sustainable
Casa Nuestra- Organic

This wine route is centered around the Silverado Trail that runs along the eastern side of the Valley. Use the map below as your guide for getting to the wineries that you would like to visit on this trail. Always check the winery’s website for tasting-room hours and for booking tours.

Robert Sinskey Vineyards

We begin our wine country getaway at Robert Sinskey Vineyards. The winery is located just north of Oak Knoll Road at 6320 Silverado Trail. It is on the right as you drive north. Robert Sinskey is a certified biodynamic winery and uses solar power. The terrace is a beautiful spot to sip some wine and take a look at the beautiful valley floor. Check the Robert Sinskey Website for tasting details, food pairing, and reservations.

Honig Winery

“Family owned, sustainably farmed, and solar powered” is the slogan at the Honig Winery. This winery officially had its start in 1984 and is one of the first in the Napa Valley to start a program of sustainable farming. It has been a model for other wineries in California. To visit and hear about sustainable farming, you will need to make an appointment. We are particularly fond of the Honig Sauvignon Blanc labels, the Napa Valley, and the Rutherford. “Sustainable” is a somewhat vague term, but essentially means that all farming adds to the land and does not harm the earth in any form. “Sustainable” also means that the vineyards will keep the staff working long term.

Honig Tasting

Round Pond Estate

Round Pond is one of the new kids on the block with the first vintage date of 2002. The MacDonnell family owns the winery, olive oil plant, and the vineyards. 95% of the grapes are sold to other wineries, with the remainder allocated for Round Pond Wines production. “Sustainable” is the operative word at Round Pond. The winery has one of the most impressive views for a wine tasting. The patio is where you reserve your spot and enjoy a variety of food and wine pairings. The gardens, of course, are organically farmed. Check the Website for the various tasting options and reservations.

The Terrace at Round Pond

Frog’s Leap

Frog’s Leap is another of the pioneering eco-friendly wineries of the Napa Valley. The winery has two different tastings for tourists, the Signature Seated Tasting, and the Guided Tour and Tasting. Both require reservations. Frog’s Leap is a popular winery, so plan accordingly. You will love the entire environment at Frog’s Leap.

Frog’s Leap

Casa Nuestra Winery

For our last winery, we head north almost to Calistoga to the Casa Nuestra Winery. This is another family-owned winery. This is a bit of a change of pace from the other wineries. Casa Nuestra is very small and on the funky side. It is a very fun tasting room to visit. The winery has been committed to organic farming for almost two decades. The winery also uses extensive solar power. The wines at Casa Nuestra are atypical of Napa Valley wines. Here you will find labels like Verdelho, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Tinto, and Symphony.

During the COVID situation, Casa Nuestra is only able to accommodate Wine Club members only. Please be patient, and try later in the year.

There are many other wineries in the Napa Valley that are eco-friendly. You can check this list to see what other wineries are environmentally friendly.

Catch Napa Valley Harvest 2017

August 21, 2017 by joe

On York Lane in St. Helena, harvesting Cabernet Sauvignon

Get ready to catch the Napa Valley Harvest 2017

The Napa Valley harvest 2017 is underway, and now is the time for every wine country buff to plan to watch all the activities that take place during the harvest. The Napa Valley is one of the best spots for viewing the “crush” because of the number of vineyards and wineries in such a concentrated area. If you spend a few days in the Napa Valley from mid-September through October, you are likely to see all the harvest activities: the grape picking, the sorting, the crushing and fermentation. It is the Napa Valley at its best for the tourist. Start making your plans now to watch the most exciting show in the world of wine.

The Napa Valley harvest 2017 has already started as of late July with Mumm Napa picking Pinot Noir grapes for its sparkling wine. White wine grapes are next to be harvested. The last grapes are usually Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, either in late September or in October. The weather plays a big part. Cool weather delays the harvest, hot weather the opposite.

Napa Valley Harvest 2017 Travel Tips

We have some tips for getting the most out of harvest in the Napa Valley. One of the most educational activities you can do is to take a tour. Check the Napa Valley Vintners Website to search for wineries that have complete winery tours.

If you want to watch the actual harvesting of the grapes, you’ll need to get up just before sunrise. Picking of the grapes is done early before the heat of the day. Drive the Valley and look for signs of the harvest. Look for several cars parked on the side of the road, half-ton bins ready to be filled, or small harvest baskets at the ready, as well as tractor trucks. More than likely harvest will be taking place in deep in the vineyards. Bring your camera or smartphone and walk into the vineyards; when you spot the workers, ask the foreman if it is okay to take pictures.

During the day, stop in at any tasting room and ask about the crush activities. The staff usually knows what harvest activities are taking place at their winery and what is in store for the following couple of days. Our strategy is to stop at a winery, initially bypass the tasting room and walk to the where the crush facilities are located to see what activities are taking place. No one really seems to care that you are there as long as you stand back far enough not to get in the way. Everyone is working so intensely that you will hardly be noticed.

This is a favorite time for tourists, so plan ahead. If you want to spend any length of time, be sure to book your accommodations early. But often, just going up for the day will be fun enough. Enjoy and don’t forget to pack that camera.

Check our Napa Valley Wine Country Planning Guide for complete details on where to stay, dine, and other fun activities.

First Time to Napa Valley: Must Do Activities

June 20, 2017 by joe

First time to Napa: Travel tips Napa Valley

First Time to Napa Valley: Must Do Activities

We often get emails from first-time travelers to the Napa Valley asking advice for where to go or what “must activities” to include in their trip. Here is our list of what we think first-time visitors to the Napa Valley should consider doing. These activities don’t just apply to the first timer, anytime you visit the Napa Valley, these ideas should be considered.

First time to Napa Valley: Take a winery tour – Hendry Barrel Room

Take a Winery Tour
Take a tour that covers the entire process of winemaking from the vineyard to the finished product. Here are two that are among the best winery tours in the Valley. You will need to call ahead to make an appointment. At Hendry Wines, owner and winemaker extraordinaire, George Hendry, will take you on a two-hour tour and tasting. We think this is the best tour of any in the Napa Valley. Another great tour is at Frog’s Leap Winery. This one will last about an hour. Don’t forget to show your appreciation by buying at least a few bottles of wine. When you open one of these wines at home, it will bring back memories of your trip and the wine will taste that much better. Wine always tastes better when there is a story behind it.

First time to Napa Valley: The vineyard picnic

Picnic in the Vineyards
This is one of our favorite activities, so much so that the weather has to be pretty bad to prevent us from picnicking. Either prepare a deli lunch or buy one at one of the many great delis in the Valley. Here are four wineries where you can sit and view vineyards: Clos du Val, Robert Sinskey, August Briggs, and Folie a Deux. See the Trip Planner for the exact location.

First time to Napa Valley: Visit one Napa Valley’s orginal wineries

Visit One of Napa Valley’s Older Wineries
Before 1970 there were fewer than 30 wineries to visit. Today, there are over 300. Take a step back in time and visit Beringer, Charles Krug, Inglenook, or Schramsberg (appointment).

First time to Napa Valley: Casa Nuestra – a very cozy family winery

Visit a Small Family-Run Winery
There is nothing like meeting the owner and winemaker of a small winery. They are always very passionate about their work and their wines. Here are a few small family-run wineries: Tres Sabores , Casa Nuestra, Smith-Madrone, and Elyse. It is always fun to visit a large corporate-owned winery immediately afterward to get a real appreciation of the small family-run winery. See our list of corporate wineries.

Greystone CIA Center

Visit the Culinary Institute of America
The CIA is housed in the Christian Brothers Winery stone building constructed in 1888. Drop by and visit the store, check out the displays of old winemaking equipment and barrels. If you have time consider lunch at the Wine Spectator Restaurant. The view is very beautiful.

Joe and Janelle in St. Helena, September 2015. St Clement winery on the hill.

Bring Your Camera — Take Photos
What’s a trip to the Napa Valley without photos? Take your digital camera or Smart Phone and take many shots of every place you go on the trip.

Hire a Driver
Rumor has it that various police agencies are beginning to increase patrols on wine tasting room exits. If you hire a driver, have your plan ready and hand it to the driver. There are several independent limo drivers who do a great job.

Check the Winery Finder/Trip Planner for sorting through wineries and mapping your trip.

Where to stay in the Napa Valley

May 17, 2017 by joe

Napa Valley Lodging, best lodging in the Napa Valley

Napa Valley Lodge in Yountville

What a dilemma it is to find the proper lodging for anyone traveling to the Napa Valley for a first-time vacation. The rates in 2017 are as high as they have ever been. More travelers than ever are spending time in the Napa Valley, so it is tougher to find lodging. For weekends, you must book for a two-night minimum.

Sure, you can check Trip Advisor and the like for some recommendations, but you cannot always rely on those for sound advice. We have been traveling to the Napa Valley for 50 years. I think we have stayed in just about every style of lodging from the town of Napa to the north end of the Valley in Calistoga. We have stayed in budget lodging, excellent lodging, B&B’s, and we have even rented vacation homes. Take a look at our list of recommended Napa Valley lodging for each Napa Valley town, and you’re sure to find something that fits your needs. If we have something listed, we have either stayed there or taken a quick inspection of the place.

Lodging tips for the Napa Valley

We always like to stay within walking distance of fine restaurants and shopping. We like to enjoy our wine with dinner, so we either walk or take a cab. We don’t drink and drive. The centers of the towns of Napa, Yountville, and Calistoga are giving the traveler many choices for lodging within a short distance of many restaurants.
Sometimes it is more fun to make your lunch the main meal of the day. If you do that, then you can pack some appetizers for your room for an evening wine hour. Many of the hotels and B&B’s have a wine hour and serve appetizers. Some, like the Stevenson Inn in Calistoga, have tables and chairs set up outdoors for guests to use. Always check the lodging website for package deals. These deals include spas, golf, complimentary tasting room coupons, and many other perks.
Traveling during the week is always less expensive.
We don’t spend much time in our hotel rooms, so for that reason, we are not interested in all the elaborate amenities at the very top-of-the-line and expensive hotels. We just want something convenient, clean and comfortable. The money we save, we spend on wine and restaurant dining.
We prefer not to have a breakfast package included. We like exploring nearby coffee shops and breakfast spots. This is where all the locals hang out, and we would rather feast with the locals than having breakfast at our hotel.
What are your travel tips?

Important Resource pages:

Alston Park – Hiking in the Napa Valley

April 28, 2017 by joe

Easy hiking – Alston Park in Napa

Alston Park – Hiking in the Napa Valley

On our last visit to the Napa Valley, we discovered a great hiking spot in the Napa Valley. The area is Alston Park. It is a park that the locals have been hiking for years. If you feel like you have had too much of the good life of the Napa Valley and a little exercise is in order, Alston Park is an excellent choice.

Within less than a mile of hiking, there are great views of the Napa Valley. The trails lead into beautiful meadows and woodland forests. There are side attractions of amazing homes and beautiful vineyards. If you are a trail runner, this is a fantastic place to do a morning run.

Alston Park is a Napa City Park. There are trail guides posted at the entrances but no hard copy to take with you. To get to the park, take a left at Trower Road from Highway 29 in Napa. Drive to the end of Trower to Dry Creek Road. There are two entrances on Dry Creek Road, about a mile apart. The south entrance is an area where dogs can run free. Take the north entrance where dogs must be on a leash. There are a few benches and tables scattered throughout the park and packing in a lunch is a very good idea on a beautiful day. Rules often change so always check the Napa Parks Website for the latest hiking information.

After your hike, head to one of the many great wine trails in the Napa Valley. Taste wine and enjoy the beauty of the Napa Valley. Here are our favorite wine trails and wineries to visit.

Additional information on the town of Napa

When to visit the Napa Valley – which month is best
Moore Creek Park – more hiking in the Napa Valley
Best hikes in wine country

Happy hikers at Alston Park

The Tasting Room Only Winery – What Do You Miss?

March 5, 2017 by joe

Cornerstone tasting room – great Cabs

Storefront Tasting Room or a Real Winery

I’m totally amazed at the number of tasting-room-only wineries that have set up shop in the Napa Valley. I’m not talking about a wine bar, but a tasting room where visitors can come in and taste small amounts of wine just as you would at a real winery. In the business areas of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, and Calistoga there are numerous storefront tasting rooms. Most represent one winery, but a handful will serve wines from several wineries.

For the visitor the advantage to visit tasting rooms in town is convenience. The visitor can walk and visit several tasting rooms within a relatively short distance and not have to drive. Why not walk out of your hotel or B&B and spend the day leisurely strolling along without worrying about who will be the designated driver or about paying all that cash to hire a limo.

If you decide to visit tasting rooms in Napa Valley town centers, what do you miss? Well, first and foremost, the incredible beauty of the Napa Valley. Driving from Napa to Calistoga at any time of the year is not to be missed. The hills and vineyards are special and give peace of mind and tranquility. The majority of visitors that come to the Napa Valley want to get the sense and feel of a real winery. We love to walk or picnic in the vineyards. We want the chance to smell fermenting wine, catch a peak of a bottling line, or walk through a room full of oak barrels, or even get the opportunity to taste a barrel sample or meet the winemaker. Don’t miss out on all this, as an old friend of mine used to say, “Be there or be square.” The working winery in the Napa Valley is the place to be.

Resources for the wine country traveler

100 Year Old Wineries Near Healdsburg

January 22, 2017 by joe

Korbel on the Russian River near Guerneville, California.

Sonoma County is one of the founding regions of American wine. In the 1800s, there were many vineyards and several wineries. Today, these four 100-year-old wineries represent the magnificent and historical past of California viticulture. The four wineries are a short driving distance from the town of Healdsburg. Plot your stay and trip and visit one or more of these Sonoma 100-year-old wineries.

Four 100-year-old wineries near Healdsburg

Korbel Champagne Cellars

There is a special place in our hearts for Korbel. At the ripe old age of 21, we visited our very first winery, Korbel Cellars. That first visit got us hooked and started our journey of visiting wineries and vineyards around the world. What an impact! Korbel was founded in 1882 by Francis, Anton, and Joseph Korbel. The Heck Family, the current owners, bought the winery in 1954. It is a big-production, sparkling wine house producing over a million cases per year with distribution worldwide. Korbel has an excellent 50-minute tour followed by a tasting. The Korbel tour takes you through the step-by-step process of making sparkling wine in the French tradition. You will also want to check out the fantastic rose garden and the luxurious tasting room. There is also a good deli restaurant, where you can eat while enjoying one of the most beautiful settings along the Russian River.

Tasting Room Hours 10:00 – 4:30 Monday through Sunday. Champagne Cellar Tour Hours 11 – 3:00 Monday through Sunday. Garden Tour Hours 1:00 and 3:00 Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Mondays.Garden Tours offered mid-April to mid-October. (707) 824-7000, E-mail: info@korbel.com, Korbel

Simi in 1966

Simi Winery

Simi is another winery that we visited early on. I could not resist posting this photo taken in 1966. That is my son held by my mother while Janelle and I were inside the tasting room having loads of fun. Grandmothers always come to the rescue. In the photo, you can see that the tasting room was a mega-gallon redwood wine storage tank. We would walk down a few steps to the tasting bar where Isabelle Simi, in her 80’s was handling the wine tasting tasks. Isabelle was the daughter of Giuseppe Simi, who founded the winery along with his brother Pietro Simi in 1876. Isabelle ran the winery from Prohibition until she sold it in 1970 at the age of 84. For those of you old enough to remember Hollywood actress, comedian, and glamor queen, Mae West, Simi had a photo in the tasting room of Mae West with a sexy quote modified slightly: “Come up and Simi sometime.” That’s how fun the tasting room was to visit in those days. Simi Winery offers daily tours (11 am and 2 pm). The Simi tour leads you into the historic stone winery and gives a very informative look at winemaking. Simi owns prime acreage in the Alexander Valley and the Russian River Valley and can produce a lovely array of wines. Simi’s Pizza Café is open, but check the Simi Website to get the latest hours of operation. Today the winery is owned by Constellation Brands.

Tasting room open daily 10 to 5:00, (800) 746-4880. E-Mail: info@simiwinery.com, Simi Winery

Foppiano Vineyards

operated by the Foppiano Family. With the sale last year of the Seghesio Family Winery, that makes the Foppiano Winery the oldest family-owned winery in the Russian River wine region. The family owns 140 acres of prime vineyard property in the Russian River Valley. The best part is that the family owns the land outright. That is one reason why their wines are excellent bargains and value wines. Their signature wine, a Petite Sirah, sells for $25 a bottle, an excellent price for this superb wine. Another great feature at Foppiano is their self-guided vineyard tour dedicated to the late Margot Patterson Doss. You may remember that Margot wrote a column in the San Francisco Chronicle encouraging people of all ages to walk and explore the San Francisco Bay Area. Pick up a brochure at the tasting room and take the walking tour that is probably a mile at the most.

Open daily, 11 to 5:00 Phone: (707) 433-7272 Email: info@foppiano.com, Foppiano

Seghesio Family Winery

Seghesio Winery began in 1895, growing grapes and producing bulk wines. Edoardo Seghesio founded the winery and was said to be the first one to bring in and successfully grow the Sangiovese grape. It was not until 1983 that they began to bottle premium wines under their label. Today the winery is most famous for its Zinfandel wines and, in particular, the Sonoma Zinfandel that has won numerous awards and is in many wine shops for under $20. In 2011 the Seghesio Family shocked the wine world by selling the winery to the Crimson Wine Group. The tasting room contains a lot of memorabilia and is a fun place to visit and taste wine. Seghesio also has a Bocce Ball court, should you feel the urge to have some friendly competition while sipping wine.

The tasting room is open daily 10 to 5, Seghesio

Healdsburg 100-year-old-wineries map

Additional information on this wine country

four 100 year old wineries in Sonoma — Cabernet at Foppiano

Why we like Calistoga Wine Country

November 23, 2016 by joe

Happy diners at All Seasons Bistro in Calistoga

Why we like Calistoga Wine Country

Visitors to the Napa Valley often wonder what town in the Valley they should choose as a base while planning a wine vacation. “What town is the most fun?” we are often asked. Fun meaning good places to lodge, many choices for dining, boutique shopping, and of course wineries and tasting rooms to visit. The four major towns from south to north are Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga. Janelle and I have stayed in each town many times over our years of adventures in the Napa Valley. Each town has something unique and delightful to offer. But if we had to make a choice as to which one was our favorite town, we would have to go with Calistoga.

I don’t think Calistoga has changed much since I was a young boy. My parents would vacation in Clear Lake and we would always stop in Calistoga for a snack on the way to our Lake County camping spot. On our first trip together Janelle and I stayed at Dr. Wilkinson’s Hot Springs Resort, which today looks exactly the same as it did some 40 years ago. A trip down Lincoln Avenue in Calistoga is a trip down Napa Valley’s memory lane.

Calistoga has always been, and we hope will always be, a laid-back town. The pace in Calistoga is less hectic and the shops and eateries a little more down-to-earth. It is definitely a quaint environment. We visit each December for Pauper’s Night at the Calistoga Inn. The natives come in droves and sing and party to Christmas cheer. It is an experience you won’t get in any other town in the Napa Valley. This year Pauper’s Night is Thursday, December 15, 2016.

There are several great dining spots ranging from the Michelin-rated Solbar on Silverado Trail in Calistoga to the fun and very casual Hydro Grill. We love to hit Brannan’s for a cocktail or a glass of wine. They have the most beautiful bar we’ve seen in the Napa Valley. Afterward, we stroll across the street for a quiet and relaxing dinner at All Season’s Bistro. We were pleasantly surprised on a recent visit to find out that Calistoga has added a nightly shuttle service for after-dinner rides back to your local hotel. Call
707-963-4229 for hours of operation. What a fantastic idea for wine country travelers!

Best breakfast spot is the Café Sarafornia. Why that name, you must dine there to appreciate. Best activity outside of wine tasting and boutique shopping is a stop at the Old Faithful Geyser. What a treat!

We put together this two-minute video to give folks a quick guide to the town of Calistoga and our winery suggestions. We recommend a stay in Calistoga and we’re sure you’ll enjoy it at any time of the year!

Cambados – Albariño Land

Harvest time in Cambados – Albariño

Martin Codax – Coop Winery

Martin Codax Albariño

Pappa al Pomodoro – Our try at making this traditional Tuscan soup

Pappa al Pomodoro

Eco-Friendly Wine Route

The Eco-Friendly Wine Route

Robert Sinskey Vineyards

Honig Winery

Round Pond Estate

Frog’s Leap

Casa Nuestra Winery

Catch Napa Valley Harvest 2017

Get ready to catch the Napa Valley Harvest 2017

Napa Valley Harvest 2017 Travel Tips

First Time to Napa Valley: Must Do Activities

First Time to Napa Valley: Must Do Activities

Where to stay in the Napa Valley

Alston Park – Hiking in the Napa Valley

Alston Park – Hiking in the Napa Valley

Additional information on the town of Napa

The Tasting Room Only Winery – What Do You Miss?

Storefront Tasting Room or a Real Winery

Resources for the wine country traveler

100 Year Old Wineries Near Healdsburg

Four 100-year-old wineries near Healdsburg

Korbel Champagne Cellars

Simi Winery

Foppiano Vineyards

Seghesio Family Winery

Healdsburg 100-year-old-wineries map

Additional information on this wine country

Why we like Calistoga Wine Country

Why we like Calistoga Wine Country

CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY REGIONS:

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