Napa the Wine Way

In May my friends and I took a trip to Napa Valley for a friend’s birthday. This was my second time in Napa and I thought I learned how to properly navigate Napa the first time…4 years ago myself and 3 friends went to Napa to cheer on one of our friends who ran a half marathon from Napa to Sonoma. The 3 of us were at the finish line wearing matching tanks and glasses of wine to usher her across the finish line.

That trip we got a rental car and drove in from San Francisco and stayed at the amazing Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa. We had a great time but realized driving ourselves from winery to winery wasn’t the best move. We vowed then we would get a driver the next time around.

In booking this birthday trip for my bestie I booked a house for the 9 of us. It was a bit troublesome to find a suitable house that would comfortably fit all of us, but we lucked up with a great house in Santa Rosa. It was a 5-bedroom, 3-bathroom house with lots of outdoor space and a hot tub. 

We booked private round-trip airport transportation to and from San Francisco. We also booked transportation for one of our winery days. In hindsight we should have booked transportation for both days. However, we honestly assumed we could Uber/Lyft from place to place. However, we learned quickly that the pandemic has greatly decreased Uber/Lyft drivers across the country. Due to the size of our group we had to split up and often one of the groups would wait 30 to 45 minutes for a car. That day was BRUTAL. The wine helped!

The major difference in Napa Valley pre and during pandemic is the need for reservations. It was difficult to get reservations at wineries and restaurants. The wineries kept you on a tight schedule, so it wasn’t a relaxing wine tasting experience as I had had before in Napa, but I am a true wine lover, so I enjoyed the experience regardless. 

The wineries that stood out the most was Raymond Vineyards. This winery has been featured on Real Housewives of Atlanta and Orange County.  Due to COVID we had to sit outside, which is a bummer, because the inside is so gorgeous and sexy. However, they have a little farm on their property with goats and…. It’s pretty cool, and I am not an animal girl. The other property I love is Castillo di Amorosa, it’s a beautiful castle, turned winery and it’s just beautiful inside and out. Taking a walk around the massive property is so picturesque. 

The next time I do Napa, I will have transportation to the wineries on each day and would highly recommend to visit Napa when COVID restrictions are lifted so you have more time to sit and enjoy the wine at the amazing vineyards and get the true Napa experience.

The best part of the trip wasn’t the amazing wine or the bomb steak we had at Cole’s Chophouse in downtown Napa it was the time with my friends drinking champagne in the hot tub at our AirBnB. Obviously, I love to travel, but literally you can put me anywhere with amazing dope people and the laughs and memories we have will be the most lasting memory.