What's New in the Napa Valley, Fall 2017

Napa Valley is open for business. Come discover what's new, including recently opened and upcoming restaurants, wineries, hotels, shops and experiences.

New Things to See and Do:

The Napa Valley Film Festival, November 8 - 12, 2017, kicks off Napa Valley's Cabernet Season. This ultimate film, food and wine experience features more than 120 new independent films and studio sneak previews in screening venues throughout the valley. Attendees interact with more than 300 visiting filmmakers at screenings and intimate events as well as enjoy culinary demonstrations, wine tastings, the Festival Gala, Celebrity Tributes, Awards Ceremonies, and an array of parties, VIP receptions, winemaker dinners, and other special events. Highlights include tributes to Will Ferrell, Michael Shannon, Nancy Meyers, Michael Stuhlbarg, and more. Awards season films include The Upside; The Shape of Water; I, Tonya; Chappaquiddick, and Molly's Game. Ten percent of all pass sales revenue will benefit the disaster relief funds to help the recovery efforts after the valley fires.

Website:  www.nvff.org

PR contact: Ashley Patterson, BWR, Ashley.Patterson@bwr-pr.com or Brenda Lhormer, NVFF Co-Founder/Director, brenda@nvff.org

 

The Napa Valley Museum features “France is a Feast: The Photographic Journey of Paul & Julia Child” Nov. 11, 2017 through Feb. 18, 2018. This world premiere exhibit, inspired by the new book by Alex Prud'homme and Katie Pratt, showcases rarely seen black and white photographs taken by Paul Child in France between 1948 and 1954. The exhibit includes personal objects and intimate pictures of Paul's wife, Julia Child, long before she became a celebrity cookbook author and “The French Chef” on television. Advance tickets are available at www.napavalleymuseum.org/julia.

Website:  www.napavalleymusuem.com

PR contact: Monty Sander, monty@fullerandsander.com

 

In keeping with its classic rock vibe, Cliff Lede Vineyards presents "Icons of Rock and Roll," an exhibit that opened August 2017 showcasing portraits of some of the most celebrated musicians from the 20th century, including Jim Morrison, Bob Marley, The Beatles, and Keith Richards, as well as rare shots from live concerts. Curated by San Francisco Art Exchange LLC, "Icons of Rock and Roll" features work from several of the music industry's most iconic photographers. Cliff Lede's Backstage Tasting Lounge hosts regular rotating exhibits from world-renowned artists and affords the opportunity to taste the winery's limited-production and library wines. For reservations please call 707.944.8642 or visit www.cliffledevineyards.com.

Website: www.cliffledevineyards.com

PR contact: AnnaBelle Walter, awalter@ledefamilywines.com

Active Wine Adventures introduced two new tours in August 2017. The “Napa Art & Wine Tour”  includes visits to two artist's studios/galleries in Napa followed by lunch and wine tastings up valley, including a winery with an art gallery. On the “Napa Hike & Beer Tour,” guests go on a guided hike through redwood forests and up a mountain peak, then enjoy lunch and a craft beer tasting at a Calistoga microbrewery. Active Wine Adventures also offers Hike & Wine Tours, Custom Wine Tours and Literary Legends Tours. All tours are private, by SUV and include hotel pickups.

Website: www.activewineadventures.com

PR contact: Sorel Klein, activewineadventures@gmail.com

 

The Hess Collection added new art installations by the Greek arte povera artist Nakis Panayotidis in October 2017. Using extremely simple materials including asphalted cardboard, straw, cobblestones, lead sheets, electric light bulbs and neon tubes, Panayotidis creates intensely physical places of memory representing Greek landscapes, both natural and cultural, off the beaten track.

Website: www.hesscollection.com

PR contact: Cesar Ramirez cramirez@hesscollection.com

 

Inn on Randolph offers a Napa Valley Wellness Retreat in February 2018 with the Bare Health Fitness and Wellness team. Activities include vegan cooking classes, yoga, acupuncture, and more. 

Website: www.innonrandolph.com

Media contact: Alyssia Walden. alyssia@innonrandolph.com

 

The Napa Valley Wine Trolley updated its classic tour to include stops at two Napa Valley wineries, Cosentino and Laird Family, in a hand-built replica of a California Street Cable Car from the late 1890s to the early 1930s. Every detail, from the all-wooden carriage to the solid brass bell, is an authentic feature from the original blueprints. The tour includes a catered picnic lunch.  

Website: www.napavalleywinetrolley.com

PR contact: Mark Leonardi, mark@beauwinetours.com

 

New Winery and Wine Tasting Experiences:

 

Compline (pronounced “kom-plin”), opened in downtown Napa September 2017. The wine bar, restaurant and merchant features a 250-selection wine list, an indoor-outdoor lounge, and a 26-seat patio. Compline offers several monthly wine classes led by co-owner and Master Sommelier Matt Stamp. The 90-seat restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner featuring a menu rooted in Napa cuisine. Compline also offers late night dining until 11 p.m. daily.

Website: www.complinewine.com

PR contact: Kristen Green, kgreenpr@kristengreen.com

 

The Hess Collection in Napa offers a number of new wine tasting experiences. The “Tour of the Palate” begins with a guided tour through the winery's historic stone structure hewn by masons in 1903. The original structure is now joined by The Hess Art Collection, a world-class showcase of contemporary art considered by ARTnews Magazine to be one of the top 200 in the world. Guests will then enjoy a farm-to-table three-course lunch featuring menu items from the winery's culinary gardens, paired with The Hess Collection's Napa Valley and Mount Veeder Wines.

After lunch, guests will enjoy a wine and chocolate experience featuring four winery exclusive wines paired with artisan truffles developed and handcrafted in-house by The Hess Collection's Sous Chef & Chocolatier Eric Martinez, using local and sustainable ingredients.

Website: www.hesscollection.com

PR contact: Cesar Ramirez cramirez@hesscollection.com

 

The Hess Collection's “Vine to Table” is a guided 90-minute vineyard walk through the historic Mont La Salle vineyard. Upon arrival, guests will receive a taste of a feature Small Block Series Mount Veeder white wine. Throughout the tour, guests will explore a range of Napa Green sustainable practices and learn what makes Mount Veeder the unique wine region it is today. The tour includes a stop at the Redwood Grove for a tasting of two Mount Veeder wines as well as a provisions plate created by the winery's culinary team. After the tour, guests will enjoy a farm-to-table three-course luncheon.  

Website: www.hesscollection.com

PR contact: Cesar Ramirez, cramirez@hesscollection.com

 

With a softer tone that complements the nearby JCB Tasting Salon in Yountville, the by-appointment JCB Salon Privé opened September 2017, providing focused, guided tasting experiences of JCB wines. The space is decorated in shades of white that represent neutrality, purity and peace. With two tasting options, as well as a private room for larger parties, guests may sample small-production sparkling and still wines.

Website: www.boissetcollection.com

PR contact: Megan Long, megan.long@boisset.com

 

Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel wineries, two historic winery properties in Oakville, offer a series of new private tasting experiences at locations previously not available to guests. Offered as a seated, 60-minute appointment, these experiences are available for two-to-eight guests under the guidance of a knowledgeable wine professional as the party's personal host. At both wineries, one fee is waived with each six-bottle purchase or each wine club signup.

Website:  www.farniente.com

PR contact: Monty Sander, monty@fullerandsander.com

 

Piazza Del Dotto opened on Sept. 1, 2017 as the third winery in Napa Valley for Del Dotto Family Wineries & Caves. The Italian-inspired “barchessa,” or barn, located north of Yountville in the Oakville appellation, is surrounded by 8.5 acres of planted Cabernet Sauvignon, and features al fresco tasting cabanas, vegetable gardens, 17th century fountains and an outdoor barn with turkeys, peacocks, pheasants and doves. The food and wine pairings are at the heart of Piazza Del Dotto, embodying their philosophy that wine tasting should be a complete sensory experience.

Website: www.deldottovineyards.com/visit/piazza

PR contact: Public Relations, deldottopr@trigcollective.com

 

ASHES & DIAMONDS, which officially opens November 2017 in Napa, will host music, art, movies and more. Winemakers Steve Matthiasson and Diana Snowden Seysses adhere to an ethos of light-handed winemaking and transparency of terroir as a guide for all of the wines they produce - a Burgundian approach to Bordeaux varietals. The property hosts experiences centered around the wines complemented by culinary program from chef Emma Sears, which range from quick bar and light-lunch tastings, to private member tastings featuring tours and barrel sampling.

Website:  www.ashesdiamonds.com

PR contact: Lauren Feldman: lauren@ashesdiamonds.com

The Saint, located on Saint Helena's historic Main Street, opened on July 7, 2017. The 1890's building, once The Bank of Italy, has been transformed into an inviting wine lounge featuring wines from around the world, including featured flights that highlight regions and varietals from Napa to Bordeaux paired with an indulgent selection of cheese, charcuterie and caviar.

Website:  www.thesaintnapavalley.com

PR contact: Toby DeVore, toby@thesaintnapavalley.com

 

AXR Winery has recently purchased the pre-prohibition ghost winery estate, VMadrone Vineyard and Winery on Highway 29 in northern St. Helena. AXR showcases their wines produced by consulting winemaker Jean Hoefliger alongside classic favorites from VMadrone Cellars. Private tastings and tours are conducted daily where guests will learn historic tales of this acclaimed 1880's site from stories of Native American hunting grounds to home of one of the first female winemakers in California.

Website:  www.axrwinery.com

PR contact: David Gibson, david@axrwinery.com

 

Brasswood Estates in St. Helena offers a new “Private Lunch Pairing.” Guests begin with a tour of the state-of-the-art winery and 17,000-square-foot cave system, followed by a four-course lunch from the Brasswood + Bar + Kitchen, paired with the Brasswood Cellars collection of boutique wines in one the private dens.

Website:  www.brasswood.com

PR contact: Michelle Mathai, michelle@brasswood.com

 

Provenance Vineyards in St. Helena now offers a To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Library Tasting experience, focused on Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from this prized Beckstoffer To Kalon Oakville vineyard. This exclusive offering allows guests a rare opportunity to taste through a flight of four limited, library selections of Provenance Vineyards' To Kalon Cabernet wines. First planted in 1868 by viticultural pioneer, Hamilton W. Crabb, To Kalon is considered one of California's finest sites for Cabernet Sauvignon.

Website: www.provenancevineyards.com

PR contact: Tamara Stanfill; Tamara.Stanfill@tweglobal.com

 

Sterling Vineyards in Calistoga has recently updated its winery tour to offer guests a unique and up-close perspective of the crush pad, and press and fermentation areas of the winery. The renovation includes new high definition digital screens to further immerse visitors in the action, and two elevated seating tastings: The Silver Experience, which focuses on pairing small production wines with an artisanal cheese and a charcuterie platter; and the Platinum Experience featuring the winery's most sought after reserve wines paired with amuse-bouche items prepared by the Sterling Vineyards Culinary team.

Website:  www.treasurywineestates.com

PR contact: Alexander Littauer, alexander.littauer@tweglobal.com

 

Where to Eat:

 

Charlie Palmer Steak by Chef Charlie Palmer (owner of Harvest Inn by Charlie Palmer and Harvest Table in St. Helena) will open at Archer Hotel in downtown Napa November 2017. Palmer and team will also oversee the culinary direction of the rooftop bar, poolside and in-room dining, as well as private events for Archer Hotel.    

Website: www.charliepalmersteak.com

PR contact: Christa Weaving, cweaving@charliepalmer.com

 

Clif Family Winery announces a new morning tasting and street food inspired menu for the Bruschetteria food truck. The Rise and Wine morning tasting includes a flight of refreshing wines paired with tasty bites of biscuits, farm fresh jams and cheeses all inspired by the fresh produce coming from the family kitchen and farm. Guests may complete their morning with hand-crafted espresso or a shrub beverage. In addition, the Clif Family Bruschetteria Food Truck now offers a new weekly street food menu. Every Wednesday evening a different menu will highlight street food inspired dishes from around the world.

Website:  www.cliffamily.com

PR contact: Tricia Double Forte, cliffamilypr@double-forte.com

 

Where to Stay:

Archer Hotel Napa, a new boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Napa, is set to open December 2017. The hotel will feature 143-rooms and 39 balcony-clad suites spanning five stories and a sweeping 360-degree view of Napa Valley from its expansive rooftop. The destination rooftop will feature a rooftop bar, spa, fitness studio and ledge pool with cabanas and fireplaces. Charlie Palmer Steak will be the hotel's signature restaurant and also provide the culinary direction for the 17,000-plus square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.

Website: http://archerhotel.com/napa
PR contact: Carla Caccavale Reynolds, carlacaccavalepr@gmail.com

 

River Terrace Inn in Napa has added eight new luxury guest rooms including two suites, as well as an enhanced river front experience with a newly landscaped River Walk and an addition of 1,500 square-feet event space, which were completed in September 2017. River Terrace Inn's new dining experience ALBA, opened in June 2017 alongside a refreshed arrival experience, porte-cochere and lobby. The restaurant's menu highlights shareable, seasonal small plates featuring local products and natural ingredients and a diverse beverage menu.

Website: http://www.riverterraceinn.com/expansion.aspx

PR contact: Audrey Hardy, ahardy@riverterraceinn.com

 

The first stage of The Estate Yountville's multi-million-dollar renovation and rebranding is now complete with the unveiling of Vintage House. Upon its opening on Oct. 4, 2017, Vintage House debuted serene interiors exuding a sophisticated aesthetic with gray and soft lavender color schemes and subtle nods to the locale's carefree spirit. The 80 bungalow-style abodes are tucked amidst the landscape of The Estate, which is located in the center of Yountville, just walking distance from some of the nation's most acclaimed restaurants and world-renowned wineries. In addition to Vintage House, The Estate also includes Hotel Villagio, a celebrated spa, retail and dining complex V Marketplace and experiential event space The Vineyard on 22 sprawling acres.

Website: www.vintagehouse.com

PR contact: Ariel Cohen, Ariel.Cohen@magrinopr.com

 

UpValley Inn & Hot Springs is pleased to announce the completion of an extensive guestroom renovation at the Calistoga hotel formerly known as Comfort Inn Calistoga. All 55 guestrooms now feature new furnishings and bathrooms with a rustic-meets-modern style. In addition, the property boasts a brand-new sauna and steam room for on-site relaxation. In the coming months, the property's hot springs mineral pool, lobby, and lush courtyards will also be fully refreshed. 

Website: www.upvalleyinn.com

PR contact: PR@upvalleyinn.com

 

About Visit Napa Valley

Visit Napa Valley is the official tourism marketing organization for the Napa Valley, with a mission to promote, protect and enhance the region's position as one of the world's premier wine, food, arts and wellness destinations.

 

The Napa Valley, conveniently located just an hour from the San Francisco Bay Area, consists of the following distinctive towns, including, from north to south, Calistoga, St. Helena, Rutherford/Oakville, Yountville, the city of Napa, American Canyon, and the outdoor recreation area of Lake Berryessa.   

 

The Napa Valley Welcome Center, located at 600 Main St. along the riverfront in downtown Napa, provides visitors with expert Concierge services from Napa Valley Ambassadors who offer complimentary Napa Valley Guidebooks, maps, brochures and winery tasting passes. The Welcome Center, open daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., also offers complimentary Wi-Fi and a mercantile shop featuring locally sourced gift items.

 

For additional information on the Napa Valley, or to plan your Napa Valley experience, please explore VisitNapaValley.com, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @VisitNapaValley.