10 Must Do & Places to Visit in the Napa Valley

I arrived here in the Napa Valley just over a year ago on 12/12/08 which is a great date for me as it's the same in either the American or Irish format. It's just like my birthday which I never get wrong when I fill out forms, the 8th August.

In the time I've been here I've seen some fabulous places, drank some incredible wine and eaten some amazing food. So here's my thoughts on my Top 10 for 2009 and maybe some of them will make it into your Top 10 for 2010

1. Hill Family Estate, Yountville (http://www.hillfamilyestate.com/) The tasting room is great, it's part of the Yountville Wine Walk, but you need to do the Garden Tour and make sure it's Ryan who's your guide.
   





2. Gamble Family Vineyards, Yountville (http://www.gamblefamilyvineyards.com/) If you're looking for a tasting with a difference set aside 2 hours and go visit Gamble Family. Taste the wines with Tom Gamble and then take the hay bale ride in the back of a truck to see the vineyards and the original family home.
   





3. Signorello Estate, Silverado Trail (http://www.signorellovineyards.com/) Food and Wine, they call it Enoteca, pairing at its best with Chef Roger Babel providing inspirational food offerings and the Signorello ladies (esp Nicole and Rebecca) hosting the tastings fantastically.
   





4. Napa Zin Trail (http://www.napazintrail.com/) If you're looking for a different, and more affordable, perspective on the Napa Valley or if you want to try something different from Cabernet check out the new Napa Zin Trail site.
   





5. 750 Wines, St Helena (http://www.750wines.com/) David Stevens, a veteran of the wine business and incredibly talented Bass player, has struck out on his own in an incredible space in St Helena. The concept is "retail by appointment" which translates to tasting a range of top drawer and hard to find wines at his incredible table in a setting similar to some of the top wineries.
   





6. Ubuntu, Napa (http://www.ubuntunapa.com/) A new comer to the Napa food scene this year they have gone from strength to strength following rave reviews and a Michelin Star. Yes, that's right. A Michelin in their first year. Given that they're located practically next door to Coles Chop House and are a vegetarian restaurant I think they done a fantastic job.
   





7. Solage, Calistoga (http://www.solagecalistoga.com/) Located just south of the centre of Calistoga (where you can dance legally and until late) Solage is a new comer to the resort scene in the Valley. A great place to hang by the pool in the summer, the food is top class and inspired (hence another Michelin Star) and don't get me started on the rooms with the amazing baths and sublime fires.
   





8. Dutch Henry Winery, Silverado Trail (http://www.dutchhenry.com/) On your way to or from Solage stop into Dutch Henry on the Trail. I work with the guys and they've got a fab property and great wines, many of them older than most of the current offerings in the Valley which means you can buy today and drink tonight. While you're there you can bring your picnic and play a game of Bocce
   





9. Hog Island, Oxbow Napa (http://www.hogislandoysters.com/) Us locals pack the Oxbow Market on a Tuesday night for lots of deals from the various food vendors. The best is the $1 Oysters from Hog Island which go perfect with a glass of fizz or Albarino. (Also available on Wednesday from 5-7pm)
   





10. UVA Trattoria, Napa (http://www.uvatrattoria.com/) This place rocks. Literally. Live music, great food and a warm atmosphere with great service. They also have their eye on Social Media and are an example to all as to how to adapt in the current economic climate and keep the customers coming back again and again.

Wines of the year

1998 Monto Bello Cabernet – drank in April

1995 Eileen Hardy Shiraz – drank in June

1998 Picardy Shiraz – drank in September

2002 Brown Estate Cabernet – got to taste this when I worked with the Browns in November

2005 Chase Cellars Reserve Zinfandel, Hayne Vineyard (because I work there and get to taste it lots)

2006 Dutch Henry Syrah – why the Americans haven't embraced Syrah is beyond me

2008 Cline Viognier – my current goto Aromatic White

NV Roederer Brut (Anderson Valley, I know it's not Napa) Californian bubbles (with some French backing). Perfect at precisely 5pm on a Friday evening

The First Stab

So, at the ripe old age of 39, and a few days, I'm blogging for the first time. I always liked to write, but it's usually with a pen and paper. I have now fully embraced the breadth of the whole Social Media strata and I look forward to diving right in to the blogosphere. Stay tuned.....

It's December in the Napa Valley.

The leaves, in their kaleidoscope of colours, are slowly detaching for their annual winter tumble back to mother earth where they will be consumed back from whence they came.

The fruits of the recent harvest are safely tucked away beneath their staved master, warmer there than out and about.

The visitors have been and gone with their memories, photos and web postings about their unique Napa experience.

Jack frost showed his claws this morning as a pre-cursor to the nasty storm building over the mighty Pacific.

The sun still shines and I'm still smiling.

Living This Napa Life is not too bad.........