Across the road is sterling vineyards, which has suffered through
ownership changes over the last two decades and whose wines - save
for its ultrasmooth Three Palms Merlot - have faltered a bit as a
result. The feature of this hilltop Greek-style winery is its tram.
For $6, it carries you to the top of the valley for some of the
perfect panoramas of the wine country.
WHERE THE VINTNERS WINE AND DINE
The restaurant scene has shifted south to
Yountville and the city
of
Napa, where there is a plethora of excellent restaurants, but
those in the know realize that the places where the vintners eat
are always best.
The French Laundry is the finest restaurant in
Napa Valley, but
just try to get a last-minute table via phone. The best bet is to
go for breakfast or lunch to one of the other Yountville spots such
as Gordon's Cafe and
Wine Bar, Mustards Grill, Bouchon, or Brix.
After dining, walk over to the Laundry and cajole your way into a
reservation.
The city of Napa is where you'll find the vintner's favorite Bistro
Don Giovanni, as well as Celadon and its sister
Cole's Chop House,
and the far-off-the-beaten-path Foothill Café.
In the what's new department, at press time, restaurant designer
Pat Kuleto and chef/owner Todd Humphries were planning to open a
spot called Martini house on Spring Street in St. Helena, while in
June, Cindy Pawlcyn, who opened Mustards Grill, had resurrected
Miramonte Restaurant and Café on Railroad Avenue, also in St.
Helena.
SPA-RIFFIC
To soothe you after all that wining and dining, there are spas
galore in Calistoga, and in a couple of new spots as well.
Villagio Inn & Spa in Yountville features faux-Roman ruins and
a spa with a small workout facility,
massage rooms, and sauna.
Facials,
aromatherapy, and four different types of massage -
including a
California deep-tissue sports massage - are available.
There are also salt-glow body scrubs, a Vichy shower, and an Arctic
algae body wrap.