Wine Escape in Napa Valley

Enjoy a fine wine and gourmet food getaway in California’s Napa Valley wine country with insider access from wandermelon’s travel concierge.

There are few places in the world that can match Napa Valley’s rare combination of high-end wines, talented chefs, and fresh local ingredients. Napa offers the ultimate wine-lover’s escape, but figuring out how to navigate California’s top wine region can be daunting. Napa Valley is California’s second most popular tourist attraction, which means throngs of tourists during the peak summer months and September and October when crowds gather to watch the harvest and crush. The key is knowing where to go and what to avoid so that you can enjoy each wine tasting and meal without frustration.

For an intimate and exclusive wine-filled getaway, our travel concierge offers insider access to private wineries like Napa Valley Reserve and personal introductions to second-and-third generation vintners. Begin your stay by checking into the Meadowood, a private estate situated on a two hundred-fifty-acre valley. This serene country resort offers eighty-five cottages, suites and lodges overlooking the rolling green hillsides and woods. The elegant rooms feature stone fireplaces, well-appointed furnishings, and decks with terraces that open onto misty morning views.

For a variety of wine-centered experiences, Meadowood offers the perfect starting ground. Learn about the various aspects of viticulture by the resort’s wine educator, Gilles de Chambure. He teaches private education courses that cover a range of topics, from grape growing to the sensory evaluation of wine.

After sampling various vintages, head to The Restaurant at Meadowood for a culinary feast. The Restaurant at Meadowood is the only Michelin two-star restaurant in the Napa Valley. Chef Christopher Kostow’s menu changes regularly to reflect the freshest market ingredients. His seasonal menus feature delectable dishes like Kobe beef smoked over pine needles followed by a savory dessert of white chocolate and foie gras ganache with passion fruit and caramelized banana.

Ideal for a romantic retreat or girlfriend getaway, Meadowood offers a wide array of activities to enjoy beyond the excellent wines and gourmet food. The resort features seven tennis courts, a nine-hole walking golf course, two pools, and a full service spa. Nature lovers can explore the 4.5 miles of hiking trails throughout the estate before heading out to sample more of Napa’s top wineries.

Napa Valley Reserve

The first members-only vineyard, the Napa Valley Reserve is not open to the public. Members are serious oenophiles who pay an initiation fee upwards of $100,000 to grow several rows of their own grapes to harvest and learn about the process of winemaking. The club was founded by H. William Harlan, owner of the legendary Harlan Estate and the maker of epic cabs that retail for more than $400 per bottle.

Our travel concierge can arrange for you to meet Mr. Philip Norfleet, Director of the Napa Valley Reserve private members club. Guests will be ushered inside of the ultra-private world of winemaking on a tasting and private tour of this incredible underground collection.  You will even be able to bottle your own personal vintage.

After touring the private vineyard, retreat to Meadowood or make your way to one of the other top wineries like Swanson Vineyards or Frazier Winery. For a birds-eye view of the valley, take an early morning hot air balloon ride. Up and Away offers hour-long rides that soar above the rolling vineyards followed by a gourmet champagne brunch at the Kendall-Jackson winery.

wandermelon Travel Concierge can design a completely unique experience in Napa Valley in a variety of properties, including private villas. Call + 1 949 466 3526 or email: travelconcierge@wandermelon.com to make an enquiry.