Best Scenic Spots in Napa & Sonoma Valley
Blue Oak
Located in Coombsville, the family owned Blue Oak estate sits on a rounded hill. We had the pleasure of visiting the vineyard on a beautiful sunny day in July. Since it was the last stop on our wine tour, we were able to enjoy leisurely late-afternoon wine tasting on the patio deck overlooking the beautiful vineyards.
Sky & Vine Rooftop Bar
On the sixth floor of the Archer Hotel Napa is a rooftop bar with outstanding views of downtown and the Napa Valley region. Sky & Vine Rooftop Bar is the place to be to catch an amazing sunset view!
Crane Family Vineyards
This hillside vineyard is a hidden gem in the Napa Valley. We started our wine tour here on our first full day in the region. It was an amazing experience! We sat on the front porch of the estate, which was completely surrounded by lush vineyards. The owner of Crane led us through the wine tasting and the history of the vineyard, which has been making wine for over 25 years.
The Church by John Anthony
Our most unique and historical wine tasting experience was at the Church Vineyard founded by John Anthony. On the vineyard is a historic 1886 Pennsylvania church that was reconstructed on the current location in Napa Valley. Acres of grapes surround the gorgeous building. Our tasting was held at a cozy spot inside, where we sat on a comfortable sofa with a long coffee table in front that displayed our wine tasting selections. We couldn’t help but notice the beautiful stained glass windows, high ceilings, and open concept as we sipped our wine.
Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch
In between wine tastings, our tour guide took us to Farmstead in St. Helena for lunch. The restaurant was a former nursery barn, and has a fantastic farm to table menu. We admired the modern farmhouse decor inside while eating our delicious meals. The Farmhouse also has outdoor seating along with a walking path around the vegetable garden outside.
Viansa Sonoma
On our drive into wine country, we stumbled upon a wonderful vineyard in Sonoma. Viansa Winery has a lovely terrace with stunning views of the Sonoma Valley and vineyards. Inside, we enjoyed wine tasting at the bar, and browsed through the gift shop collection. We purchased cheese from the market and some wines to have shipped back home. Then we sat outside on the terrace, soaking up the sunshine and landscape around us. On the weekends, Viansa offers wood-fired pizzas from their outdoor pizza oven on the patio. We sure wish we lived closer to this phenomenal place!
Ram’s Gate
On our drive into Sonoma from San Francisco, the first winery we passed was Ram’s Gate. Luckily, it was a stop on one of our wine tour days. On our visit, we enjoyed wine tasting at a lovely table on the back patio overlooking acres of the estate vineyards. After our tasting experience we strolled through rows of vines, admiring the property. Ram’s Gate has a portfolio of unique wines, with our favorite being the Sauvignon Blanc.
Jacuzzi Family Vineyards
In 2007, the Italian villa-inspired building home to Jacuzzi Family Vineyards opened. Not only does Jacuzzi have wine tastings, bust they also have artisan olive oil and balsamic tastings from The Olive Press. We appreciated the Italian style wines, laid-back tasting experience, and hospitality here.
Domaine Carneros
The château and impeccable estate of Domaine Carneros winery is located in the rolling hills of Carneros. During our visit, we sipped a flight of wine on the expansive terrace above the Carneros region. Our chateau sampler included including Sparkling Wines and Pinot Noir.
VJB Cellars
Our tour guide brought us to VJB Cellars for lunch on the shaded patio. Although there were many options, including pizza’s from the outdoor pizza oven, we opted for hot sandwiches from the counter inside. Our order promptly came out to our table even though the place was bustling with visitors. Our sandwiches were delicious! We had another afternoon reservation on this day so unfortunately we didn’t have time for the wine tasting at VJB Cellars.
Deerfield Ranch Winery
In Sonoma, our final wine tasting experience was inside Deerfield Ranch, which sits upon a hilltop. As we walked into the winery, we immediately noticed the large wine cave with rows and rows of wine barrels. We were in awe as we ventured through the 23,000 square foot wine cave then were seated in the Grand Room for our wine tasting. The ambiance along with the display of unique wine labels, such as “Obi Wine Kenobi” with a picture of a dog, was a treat. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Deerfield Ranch!
Dining in Napa:
Ristorante Allegria is an Italian restaurant located in a renovated old bank in downtown Napa. We had reservations to eat at Ristorante Allegria one evening. It’s a popular place among locals and tourists alike. The pasta dishes were delicious and the price was reasonable.
Also in downtown Napa is Bounty Hunter Wine Bar and BBQ. We dined here on our first evening in town after a busy day of sight-seeing. The quaint, rustic, laid-back atmosphere was just what we needed! I enjoyed the beer can chicken stacker sandwich and my husband had the smoked beef brisket sandwich. Yum!
Eikos’s Napa is an excellent choice for fresh sushi in downtown Napa. On our final night in town, we enjoyed signature sushi rolls for dinner here.
Oxbow Public Market is a popular place for local food and wine in Napa. The marketplace is located right along the Napa River and has a number of local food vendors. It not only has indoor space but also has a large deck with seating over looking the riverfront. We admired the scenic views on the deck one afternoon in town.
Hotel Accommodations:
We stayed in the heart of downtown Napa, at a lovely bed and breakfast 1801 First Luxury Inn. When we arrived, we were greeted by one of the owners and offered a glass of wine. The hospitality here was second to none! Each evening on the outside patio the inn had happy hour with local wines along with cheese, crackers, and other light bites. During that time you could visit with other guests and speak with the staff/owners about the Napa and Sonoma Valley area. This was all included in the stay along with a fantastic daily breakfast made by their chef. Guests could choose their breakfast time and main entree by filling out the card placed on their door the evening prior. The breakfast was always plentiful, including fruit and baked goods. Each morning we had a delightful meal! And in the evenings, there was a bottle of port wine on the fireplace in the main room where guests could pour a “night cap” should they choose. We were so thankful we had this experience and we highly recommend a stay here while visiting Napa!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. This means we may receive a small commission if you make a purchase (at no additional cost to you).
