Napa Valley Travel Guide
Napa Valley Travel Guide
One of the most sought out destinations in California. People from all over the world travel to Napa to see stunning landscapes and taste some of the finest wines. I’ve been to Napa countless times over the past few years, venturing off to some historical wineries and staying at one of my favorite luxury hotels I’ve been to. Therefore, I knew I had to share my personal Napa Valley travel guide.
Quick History Plug
The very first grapes were planted in Napa in 1839 by settler George Yount who’s name became the inspiration for the famous Napa Valley town, Yountville. It wasn’t until 1861 when the first commercial winery was founded by Charles Krug. Over the next 20 years, several wineries came to life, many of which are still open today.
Unfortunately, a slew of phylloxera, a microscopic insect that lives and eats grape plants, destroyed about 80% of the grape vines. It took over 100 years to repair. As if matters couldn’t get any worse, Prohibition hit in 1920. And for about 13 years, most wineries were shut down.
It really wasn’t until 1944 when the full recovery from both the insects and prohibition were restored. Several wineries signed a treaty in hopes to make the absolute best wine possible. The goal was to come out stronger, together.
Since then, Napa has continued to transform and thrive through the years, now hosting over 500 wineries, some of which are considered to be the best in the entire world.
My experience
My first impression of Napa Valley was feeling the magical charm and beauty that one experiences upon visiting for the first time. It’s an extremely elegant and classy place. Very closely resembling the hills and landscapes of Florence, Italy. Located in Northern California, only an hour from San Francisco, it truly makes you feel like you’ve escaped the busy city life.
What I love most about Napa is the year-round gorgeous weather, the community and locals who absolutely love where they live and work. And of course the wineries that leave you amazed and wanting more.
I can go back to Napa year-round and there’s always somewhere new to explore. When I think of Napa, I think of summer dresses, wedges and big floppy hats, high-end customer service, the most delicious and smooth wines in the world and luxurious experiences. I will never get tired of coming here.
Here’s Where to stay
Vista Collina Resort
One of my favorite luxury resorts I’ve stayed at to date is located right in Napa Valley and goes by the name of Vista Collina. I knew this resort was going to be great, based on the reviews online, but little did I know how much I would truly love it.
Vista Collina is a part of the Meritage Collection which includes resorts in Napa, La Jolla, Huntington Beach and Kauai. Each resort offers a unique and authentic experience in the heart of their locations, with special offers, loyalty rewards as well as meeting and event venue opportunities. I want to visit them all!
Favorite Resort Highlights
What I love most about the Vista Collina is how comfortable and at-home I feel when I’m there. While saying here, I was content, happy and extremely impressed with the resort. The customer service is amazing and everyone is so accommodating for even the smallest request. The food places are fun and delicious. The wine-tasting onsite is convenient and high-quality. The pool area is stunning and has a great poolside bar. And last but not least, the luxury suite is an absolute dream!
It was so easy to get around too, which can sometimes be difficult in other resorts. I really admire the floor plan because I can tell everything is extremely well-thought-out and intentional. I have no problem walking around and exploring because it doesn’t take so long to get from one place to the next.
Not only is it easy to get around, but the architecture and views are enjoyable and interesting, no matter where you go. I love places that leave you breathless and make you feel like you’re somewhere else entirely.
The Caravan Wellness Program
One amenity I really value is their partnership with Caravan Wellness. The program is available to stream, right from your suite TV. Allowing you to get a workout and stretch in on your own time. What I love most about the program is the focus on relieving stress, boosting your immunity and helping you solve problems in your every day life by breath work, deep stretching and meditating.
I personally have a hard time sticking to a workout schedule when I’m traveling. And programs like this make it so much easier and more fun! Below is an example of a yoga and stretch workout I combined from the program, as a little sneak peak before your own visit:
The Luxury Suite
Luxury is an understatement! As soon as you open the door, there’s a large spacious suite welcoming you with some amazing features. There’s a full kitchen, living room and balcony overlooking the property, just in the first room.
As you continue to walk through, there’s a large bathroom with a walk-in shower, luxury bathtub and double sink with the best lighting for pampering and skincare routines. The bedroom has a king bed, large TV and desk area for working as well as a separate entrance to the balcony.
The balcony is perfect for meals and drinking a glass of wine as the sun sets over the vineyards. With direct access to a live performer in the courtyard.
Overall, the room is comfortable, accommodating and relaxing. We love it so much we ended up staying an extra night! Highly recommend this resort if you value spacious and luxurious rooms for your experience.
Remote Work Access
Being a blogger and influencer, it’s so important to have access to great work spaces and reliable WiFi. Vista Collina has great WiFi access around the entire property, so you’re able to switch up your work location and atmosphere often.
I was able to work by the pool on my lunch break, in the courtyard enjoying the sunshine and on the balcony of my suite with a glass of wine. I had such a great remote-work experience that I felt like I was right at home, working and staying productive as usual.
A list of Wineries to visit
I’ve visited several wineries over the past few years and out of all of them, below are the few that stood out to me most.
Napa Valley
- Chimney Rock Winery – A small, intimate winery specializing in Cabernet Sauvignon
- Domain Carneros Winery – An absolutely stunning property specializing in sparkling wines and Pinot Noir
- Goosecross – (my favorite in Napa) A quaint family-owned winery overlooking the vineyard, specializing in Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier
Sonoma County
- Jacuzzi Winery– (My favorite in Sonoma) A prestigious and historic winery specializing in Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs
- J Vineyards & Winery – An elegant winery sourced from the Russian River Valley specializing in Pinot noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot gris
- Viansa Sonoma – A gorgeous hilltop property specializing in food pairings and Cabernet Sauvignon
I truly hope you enjoyed this travel guide to Napa Valley! Wherever you are in the world, I hope you’ll be able to make it here one day. There’s over 500 wineries waiting for you with some of the best wines you’ll ever taste. You really can’t go wrong with any of them.
Happy travels xx
If you’re interested in learning more about another famous wine country location, head over to my Calistoga Travel Guide.