Napa Valley Wine & Dine: Explore the Best Wineries, Tastings, and Gourmet Restaurants
If you're dreaming of a wine lover's paradise, Napa Valley, California, should be your next destination. On a spontaneous three-day getaway with close friends, I discovered some of the most memorable wineries and culinary spots this iconic region has to offer. Here's a glimpse into our adventure:
Frank Family VineyardsStep into warmth and history at Frank Family Vineyards, known for its award-winning Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and a transformative Red Zinfandel. I went from a casual drinker to a true appreciator of quality wine here. Pro tip: if the day is beautiful, ask to sit on the back porch—the view is breathtaking (and rumor has it, you might even spot a nod to Marilyn Monroe's favorite spot).
Domaine CarnerosImagine a French château in the heart of wine country—that's Domaine Carneros. Specializing in sparkling wines and elegant Pinot Noir, this winery charms with its grand staircase, panoramic terrace views, and delightful charcuterie platters. It's an ideal pre-dinner stop that combines sophistication with a relaxed vibe.
ZD WineryFor those who value sustainability, ZD Winery is a must-visit. This family-owned gem practices organic farming and eco-friendly winemaking. Enjoy a brief historical tour before settling on a picturesque patio with expansive vineyard views. I especially loved their distinctive Chardonnay and the unique 'Abacus' blend—a true testament to their 'Zero Defects' philosophy.
After exploring the vineyards, our journey continued with a tour of some incredible dining experiences in and around Napa Valley:
St. Helena Highlights
Charter Oak Yurt: Offering a unique, family-style dining experience in a garden setting, this spot changes its farm-to-table menu daily, ensuring every meal is an adventure.
Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch: Rustic charm and locally sourced ingredients shine here. Highlights include wood-grilled pork chops, skillet cornbread, and unforgettable deviled eggs.
Goose and Gander: Housed in a quaint stone building, this gastropub serves elevated American classics with a Napa twist. Start your meal with their rich bone marrow appetizer for an indulgent treat.
Yountville & Beyond
Restoration Hardware (RH) Yountville: Dining here is an experience of artful design and seasonal, locally sourced dishes. The truffle fries and signature Bellini are absolute must-tries.
Auberge du Soleil: Nestled in the hills with views rivaling the finest European countrysides, this Michelin-starred destination offers a Mediterranean-inspired menu. Their 'Tasting Menu' is a culinary journey not to be missed.
Though our whirlwind trip to Napa Valley lasted only three days, it was filled with unforgettable experiences—from charming wineries to exquisite dining adventures. This journey not only deepened my appreciation for exceptional wine but also left me eager for my next visit to explore even more of what Napa has to offer.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Could 76-seat, two-class American Airlines jets soon be based at Harrisburg Int'l Airport?
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — It still has fewer flights and higher fares than larger airports, but that has been changing at Harrisburg International Airport, which also has something few other airports its size have: an airline's maintenance and crew base. Since 2022, Piedmont Airlines, which flies the 50-seat ERJ-145s commonly seen at the airport ('ERJ' stands for 'Embraer regional jet'), has based dozens of pilots and flight attendants at the airport, complementing a maintenance base that opened years earlier. Piedmont — which is headquartered in Salisbury, Maryland, and is a subsidiary of American Airlines — also has a Harrisburg-based human resources team. The Harrisburg presence means a lot of direct jobs and — although this part is harder to quantify — indirectly perhaps some flights that might not otherwise exist, because American has to route planes through Harrisburg for maintenance and to get its people to and from work. For perspective, Delta operates three daily flights to its Atlanta hub, which is the world's busiest airport, according to an abc27 analysis of Cirium schedule data; American operates seven daily flights to Charlotte. (Delta, operating larger aircraft, offers about half as many seats to Atlanta as American offers to Charlotte despite having fewer than half as many flights.) But there was an important potential problem for Piedmont's future — and thus for the future of its base in Harrisburg: Manufacturers haven't produced 50-seat jets in years, and airlines have been phasing them out in favor of larger regional jets, which passengers generally find to be more comfortable and airlines generally find to be more economical to operate. Piedmont currently operates 69 ERJ-145s, which are on average almost 22 years old, according to an abc27 analysis of Cirium airline fleet data. That meant one of two things: Sooner or later, either the airline would have to either phase in new planes — or phase itself out of existence, as other regional airlines have done (most recently Silver Airways just Wednesday, which once flew small planes branded 'Continental Express' for United's predecessor Continental Airlines). Fortunately for Piedmont — and by extenstion, for Harrisburg — the far better outcome is emerging: Piedmont announced it'll get 76-seat Embraer 175s, known as E175s, beginning in 2028. Unlike the current all-economy 50-seat jets, Piedmont's E175s — like others already flown for American by other regional airlines — will have 12 business-class seats in addition to 64 economy seats. 'So seeing that they're getting an upgrade in aircraft that allows them to continue their mission of flying for American and being part of the Central Pennsylvania community is really good news,' Scott Miller, Harrisburg International Airport's spokesman, said. 'The expansion represents a significant investment by parent company American Airlines Group,' Piedmont said in a statement of the 45 eventual E175s it expects to receive. During the transition, the airline plans to continues operating its 50-seat jets 'well into the 2030s,' the statement said. 'They provide all of our service to Philadelphia, to Boston, as well as some to Charlotte,' Scott Miller said of Piedmont. 'So upgrading to larger aircraft — more comfortable aircraft — is a huge benefit for the airport, for the region and for those who fly American.' Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices Harrisburg is just one of three crew bases for Piedmont, alongside much larger Philadelphia and Charlotte, which are both American Airlines hubs. Piedmont has maintenance bases at those three airports plus Salisbury; Albany, New York; and in Virginia, Richmond and Roanoke. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Observation deck operator in former John Hancock Center plans major expansion and a new ‘immersive experience'
The operator of the 360 Chicago observation deck near the top of the former John Hancock Center said the attraction is taking over two additional floors, creating the city's first multilevel observation deck, a new three-story atrium and a 14,000-square-foot private event space. It's an encouraging sign for the Magnificent Mile, a retail district that has a lot of empty storefronts. Magnicity, the French company that owns 360 Chicago, last year bought the 95th and 96th floors, directly above the 94th-floor observation deck, after the abrupt closure of the legendary Signature Room restaurant and the Signature Lounge, both top tourist spots for decades. 'We are now positioned to bring much-needed investment into these iconic spaces, delivering an experience that truly reflects the historic and architectural significance of this incredible building,' said Nichole Benolken, managing director at 360 Chicago. Although 360 Chicago didn't provide many details about what visitors will experience in the expanded observation deck, it did drop a few hints. WB-Immersive, a global firm that helped design the opening ceremonies for the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2024 Paralympics, will create an immersive experience for visitors in the renovated spaces, which will also include new exhibits and attractions. 'I can't say too much because we are still in the conceptual design phase,' said Pierre-Antoine Batail, WB-Immersive's head of creative strategy. It's certain that the space will no longer host a restaurant, Benolken said. Immersive retail experiences, such as the new interactive exhibit dedicated to Harry Potter at 676 N. Michigan Ave., have become popular in downtown Chicago, and for many spaces now make more financial sense than restaurants. 'Our decision making was data- and research-driven,' she said. 'The dining scene in Chicago has evolved dramatically in the past 30 years.' The Signature Room closed in September 2023. Its shutdown was a blow to the Magnificent Mile, where the retail vacancy rate soared as a result of online shopping trends and the pandemic. A message posted to the restaurant's social media pages cited COVID-19 and subsequent 'severe economic hardship.' Magnicity invested about $17 million into the former John Hancock Center, the skyscraper now known as 875 North Michigan Avenue, after buying the 94th floor more than 10 years ago. It added attractions such as Tilt, a moving glass ledge that for two minutes dangles guests more than 1,000 feet above the street, and CloudBar, the highest bar in Chicago. Nearly 1 million people visit the observation deck each year, a roughly 60% boost from when Magnicity took over, Benolken said. The company operates similar attractions atop buildings in Berlin, Paris and Rotterdam, Netherlands. The three-floor reconstruction will take 18 to 24 months to complete, and is the most significant interior renovation in the building's 56-year history, said Scott Duncan, design partner at SOM, the architectural firm that designed the 100-story John Hancock Center and leads the current project. SOM plans to connect all three floors with a grand staircase, replace all the windows on the 94th, 95th and 96th floors, providing visitors with much clearer views, and transform the 96th floor into a private event space, he said. That will also raise the profile of 875 North Michigan Avenue, hopefully attracting the many office users seeking spaces in the city's top trophy buildings. 'People are now looking for something out of the ordinary when it comes to office space,' Duncan said. 'And the real pyrotechnics will come when the (observation deck's) new exhibits are revealed.'
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Airline Cancels Flights, Tells Passengers Not To Go to Airport
Passengers on a Florida-based airline will either need to cancel their trips or find an alternative airline to fly with, as one company abruptly ceased operations on Wednesday. Silver Airways released a statement on social media explaining that all flights scheduled for June 11 were canceled, and that the airline would no longer serve customers. "We regret to inform you that we are ceasing operations as of today," the statement reads. "In an effort to restructure in bankruptcy, Silver entered into a transaction to sell its assets to another airline holding company, who unfortunately has determined to not continue Silver's flight operations in Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean." The airline then told passengers "please do not go to the airport," and ensured that full credit card refunds would be offered through the passenger's bank or travel agency. FlightAware says 52 total flights from Silver were canceled on Wednesday. The airline launched in 2011 and was based out of the Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale areas of Florida. It also had hubs in Tampa and Orlando, but filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy late last year. At the time, Silver said that it believed filing for bankruptcy would allow the company to raise funding and remain competitive with other businesses. Silver served more than a dozen destinations and also operated a subsidiary airline called Seaborne that sent seaplanes to islands like St. Croix and St. Thomas. The cancellations and abrupt end for the company are just another example of poor fortune for a beleaguered airline industry. Several airlines have dealt with delays and cancellations amid air traffic control shortage, while others are navigating a drop in customer sentiment. United Airlines apologized to passengers after severe issues related to meals last month, citing "significant disruptions to its in-flight food and beverage service" after switching to a new catering company. Tragic accidents out of major American cities like Washington and Philadelphia have also eroded trust in the safety of air travel this year. We'll see if and when Silver is able to bounce back from Wednesday's termination of service, and whether or not their former passengers will be able to reach their destinations. Airline Cancels Flights, Tells Passengers Not To Go to Airport first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 11, 2025