Photo courtesy of Jose Villa
Picture this: You’re walking through the middle of a vineyard toward the man who’s about to become your husband. The bottom of your wedding gown and veil blow out slightly from the ever-present California breeze as you step forward. An intimate circle of friends and family are gathered here today, having flown in for the occasion. Your slight nervousness dissipates when you take in the serene surroundings—majestic, rolling mountains off in the distance, endless rows of vines heavy with lush grapes, close enough to touch with your hand. The officiant begins the vows, and you proclaim your everlasting devotion, sealing the moment with a kiss. Now it’s time to celebrate—free-flowing libations are poured into glasses raised in your honor, guests kick off their heels to dance and everyone has a rollicking grand ‘ole time until well after midnight!
Or maybe you’re a honeymooner seeking body-to-soul indulgence after the non-stop, frenetic whirlwind of planning your wedding. If your travel budget is more bed-and-breakfast than Bordeaux, you’ve come to the right place: Napa is a gem close to home that will make you feel like you’ve skipped back to a simpler time. Here, our editor’s picks for the romantic journey of a lifetime.
The Ultimate Guide to Napa:
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Less than an hour’s drive from San Francisco (depending on the traffic), the River Terrace Inn contains 106 luxuriously appointed guestrooms and suites tucked into the countryside, only a short bike ride or stroll away from the vibrant Downtown Napa scene. Welcome wedding guests by arranging to have a basket of handpicked fruit prepared for them from the local farmer's market. They'll be grateful for the sweet snack after spending hours in flight. Rooms are decorated in warm, rustic tones that echo the grounds of this comfort-chic boutique property—sit back and gaze at stunning views of the riverfront on your private terrace and savor breakfast (the fresh jams are a must) next to the fire pits to ward off any chilly morning air.
Recharge in the hot tub (available in River View Kings), where powerful jets will massage away the planning-induced kinks in your neck, or call the concierge to request the “Massage a Deux for Couples” spa treatment in your room, if you’re in need of a more intense rubdown. (Stay tuned for the launch of their spa facility, which will be completed in 2012.) In general, the service is impeccable—the hotel staff is always so cheerful (we would be too if we lived in Napa!) and when we blew the fuse on a hairdryer, we got a second one in less than five minutes. For an unforgettable dinner—even after drinking one too many glasses of local vino—head to Restaurant Cuvée, which is located directly adjacent to the hotel (more on this foodie’s paradise!). Just when you and your husband think it can’t get any better, repose in the aptly named King Napa Dream Bed, which we’re still longing for weeks after our stay.
Visit riverterraceinn.com or call 707-320-9000.
Next: Check out this can't-miss restaurant recommendation >>
The Ultimate Guide to Napa:
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For high country cuisine in a low country setting, Restaurant Cuvée is your best bet. Both Cuvée and the River Terrace Inn recently underwent a $2.7 million renovation; the former has been re-launched as “Napa’s Living Room,” making it a great place to mix and mingle with locals. At its heart and soul is Executive Chef Jordan Mackey, who has over 17 years of experience behind the stove and has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Travel & Leisure and Entrée Magazine. He caters all of the food for destination weddings at River Terrace Inn, except for the cake, which is provided by Sweetie Cakes Bakery. Wow your wedding guests with farm-to-table dishes sourced from within a 100-mile radius giving new meaning to the word “fresh.”
If you must choose just one appetizer, go for the out-of-this-world Potato Dumplin’ Bruleé: take a silky bite and you’ll taste the smokiness of almonds tempered by the sweetness of raw honey. The succulent Braised Short Rib and spicy goat cheese Bruschetta are phenomenal picks as well.
For entrees, you can’t go wrong with the Butter Basted Sea Scallops (featuring shiitake mushrooms, fennel emulsion, and sea asparagus) or the Durham Ranch Striploin (potato 3 ways, bloomsdale spinach, zinfandel natural) if you’re craving something heartier.
Look around—all of the décor elements, and even some dishes off the menu, have a personal story behind them. The taxidermy on display was donated by a patron who is an award-winning hunter. The Aunty Luzaires’ Sweet Petal Bread, a carnival-like delight containing “petals of doughy goodness,” originated from a kitchen staffer's family recipe. Destination brides, take inspiration from this personal philosophy and serve up a meal from your first date or a childhood fave of you and your groom's at your Napa Valley wedding.
Visit cuveenapa.com or call 707-224-2330.
Next: Learn insider's tricks and fun facts about Napa's amazing vineyards >>
The Ultimate Guide to Napa:
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Vineyards:
Whether you’re a winophile or don’t know your Merlot from your Pinot Noir, you haven’t experienced the beauty and history of Napa until you’ve gone on a vineyard tour. Winemaking is an incredibly laborious and complex process—it takes years of aging, and 50% of the work is done in the vineyard itself. Napa contains 15 AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) or microclimates, determined by soil type, so a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Yountville region could taste completely different if you drink it in Rutherford, despite the fact that they used the same cab grapes. Contrary to popular misconception, only 5% of California wine is produced in Napa.
We’ll let you in on a little secret: Liquor licenses are in such short supply that vineyards and restaurants hand over as much as $300,000 to buy one on the private resale market. Therefore, some establishments don't want to go through the hassle of getting one and being listed in guidebooks. If you come across a vineyard you’re dying to try with your husband, call them up in advance to schedule a private appointment, and most of the time they will let you in.
There’s also an unspoken rule that if you attend a free tasting, you need to buy the same number of bottles that you consume gratis. Since you and your wedding guests will be drinking quite a bit of alcohol, even if you make use of the spit cup, stay safe and hire a driver for the day. We recommend Beau Wine Tours (Visit beauwinetours.com or call 800-387-2328 and ask for “Woody”). Bonus: They know all of the up-and-coming wineries in the area and all of the latest gossip in town, which trumps renting a car.
There are three different kinds of vineyards that exist here: “ghost” wineries that don’t own their own grapes or equipment, vinters who own the means of production but produce mid-level quantities of cases, and established vineyards that have been around for decades.
Check out the three vineyards we visited, plus a brewery:
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Bourassa Vineyards: Ready to party? Start the tour here to put your wedding guests in high spirits—owner Vic Bourassa has a larger-than-life personality and his tasting room is divine (literally: he plays Boccelli). “Fine wine, great food, family and good friends; these are the things we all value, and there is so much joy in sharing the celebration of life,” said Vic Bourassa.
He cultivated his love for wine at an early age and fondly recalls his grandfather sneaking him sips of port at the age of five. Vic was a home winemaker until 1999, when a fateful lunch appointment with Napa’s legendary Robert Mondavi convinced him he had the chops to go pro. Now he consults with winemaker Gary Galleron to produce nearly 4,000 cases a year.
We recommend that you try the rich ’07 Harmony 3 Bordeaux Blend, composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot ($39/bottle) and the ’06 Symphony 3 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is dense, plush and juicy with hints of chocolate, smoke, blackberries, and vanilla ($49/bottle).
Visit bourassavineyards.com or call 707.254.4922.
The Ultimate Guide to Napa:
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Daviana Winery: This private residence is set in the rolling foothills of Mt. George in Southeast Napa. The stunning property—featuring open-air rooms, an inground pool that spouts water like the Bellagio and a vine-covered trellis—was inspired by the Tuscan countryside.
Owners Tim and Deb Darrin don’t open their home to the public, but if you contact them via email, ply them with a bottle, and tell them you read this article, they may just be persuaded. Fun fact: They hope that one day their daughter will choose to use the gorgeous backdrop for her wedding.
Over the last 12 years, they’ve shifted their focus from grape-growing into winemaking. Order the crisp and refreshing ’10 Rosé ($20/bottle), which pairs exceptionally well with lighter foods. Their ’08 Cabernache (a combo between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache; $45/bottle) is also a favorite.
Visit davianawinery.com.
Next: Visit Montecello Vineyards >>
The Ultimate Guide to Napa:
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Montecello Vineyards: This winery is the classic example of winemaking often being a family affair: The three Corley brothers (Kevin, Chris, and Stephen) all help run it and the winery just celebrated its 40th anniversary. Fun fact: Stephen, the Director of Wine Sales, knows a thing or two about destination weddings—he actually got married in the middle of his vineyard and his wedding ring contains a scrolling grape motif!
The second generation of his family produces wine using sustainable farm techniques. They farm in five different vineyards in Napa: Home Ranch Vineyard and Knollwood Vineyard in the Oak Knoll District, State Lane Vineyard in Yountville, 'Tietjen Vineyard' (also known as Niebaum Lane Vineyard) in Rutherford and 'Yewell Vineyard' (also known as Ehlers Lane Vineyard) in St. Helena. Tastings range from $15-$45, depending on the number of guests in your group.
Brides, we think you’ll love the ’07 “Tietjen” Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, ’07 “Yewell” Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and ’07 “State Lane” Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($65/bottle)—Stephen describes them as “Julia Roberts walking down the stairs in Ocean’s 11,” “Brad Pitt" and “Henry VIII” respectively, ranging in order from calm and collected to a more assertive, bold taste. Also look out for their vintage ’08 Tribute—a red blend named in honor of Jay Corley, their father, crafted using the techniques that he taught his sons.
Visit corleyfamilynapavalley.com or call 707.253.2802.
Next: A brewery your husband will love >>
The Ultimate Guide to Napa:
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Breweries:
There’s a fabulous saying in Napa: “It takes a lot of good beer to make great wine.” The entire process of making beer only takes 8 days and four ingredients (hops, water, yeast and malt); peanuts compared to the pressure of producing vino. Visit the Napa Smith Brewery & Winery to see the process in action and taste a cold one straight off the assembly line—how cool is that?
Vic Bourassa is partnering with the brewery to create a tasting room that will have beer on one side and wine on the other, eliminating the need for arguments with your new spouse if you have different drink preferences. Pour the beer from light to dark, like you would with wine, and make sure you try the Amber Ale, which is the best-selling brew in Napa.
Visit napasmithbrewery.com or call 707-255.2912.
Next: Explore Napa with picks for both adventurous and mellow couples >>
The Ultimate Guide to Napa:
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Photo Courtesy of k-blake.blogspot.com
Hot Air Balloon Rides:
For the ultimate in sightseeing, get a birds-eye view of Napa by being lifted up into the sky in a hot air balloon. Contact Balloons Above The Valley, whose rack rates start at $230 for an hour-long “flight” and four-hour experience total, which includes launch and a post-launch brunch with bubbly. They’re often booked up on the weekends, so you may need to call a few weeks in advance.
Riding in a hot air balloon is kind of like rising in an elevator; you float forward, then descend, then rise up again as hot air is put into the balloon. (A note of caution: There are no harnesses—each person stands in a sturdy rattan basket, so if you’re claustrophobic, you may want to pass on this activity.) Brave souls, we can think of no better way to bond with your new spouse than by floating above the clouds, snuggled in their arms.
In fact, Reservation Manager Katie Chastain tells us that she’s witnessed quite a few proposals. They have a “Will You Marry Me?” banner that can be rolled out during the flight. One gentleman even got the pilot involved: “He popped the question in the air on his own time and as he was putting the ‘ring’ on her finger he ‘slipped’ and it went overboard. She was devastated! But he was a trickster and the pilot had the real ring the entire time!” said Katie.
Visit balloonrides.com or call 800-464-6824.
Oxbow Public Market:
This 40,000-square-foot riverfront shopping and dining mecca is a treasure trove for goods from local merchants, including: food, wine, flowers, jewelry, and more. Oxbow was recently rated one of "America's Best Public Markets" by Frommer's. Every Tuesday and Saturday, they host an outdoor farmer's market from 7:30 am to noon.
Check out the Napa Valley Adventures stand to create a personalized bike, hike, or kayak honeymoon expedition. If you and your sweetie are more in a loungey kind of mood, we recommend grabbing a cone of girl scout cookie ice cream at Three Twins and taking it to-go to explore the tranquil scenary beyond the marketplace.
Visit oxbowpublicmarket.com.
Other fun activities include: horseback riding, canoeing, shopping in Santalina and the Napa Valley Wine Train.
Next: How to add a touch of Napa to your wedding day >>
The Ultimate Guide to Napa:
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Montington Vineyards, Brix, Restaurant Rubicon and Castile de Amorosa are all popular choices with brides for wedding venues in the area.
If you don’t want to necessarily get married IN a vineyard, the River Terrace Inn offers both elegant indoor dinners and outdoor celebrations overlooking the Napa River. It features 1,200 square feet of event space and can accomodate up to 150 guests. Packages include: ceremony, a garden arch, two passed hors d’oeuvres, a reception dinner, coffee and tea, linens, tableware, candles, and the wedding cake.
There are tons of ways that you can incorporate the Napa lifestyle into your wedding:
1. Instead of having the same-old limousine, try renting an antique car like the 1947 Packard pictured above, which photographs especially well with the California scenary. Hold on tight—cruising through the mountains can be a bumpy (yet refreshing) ride with the top down.
2. Try serving a signature cocktail incorporating stone fruits, which is becoming a popular trend in this region of Cali. Think of unexpected garnishes, like jalapeño, to add some zing.
3. Good tunes are a key element of any outrageously fun bash. Hire a local band with a country or swing-inspired sound and set out some flip-flops for guests to change into, since Napa is far from stuffy.
4. Edible favors are always a hit with guests. We recommend the Olive Oil Mini (50ML) from nearby Round Pond estate, which comes in Italian, Spanish, Blood Orange or Meyer Lemon flavors ($7/bottle, roundpond.com). If you absolutely must give out wine bottles, personalize them with your own back label—since most just list government regulations—and try an '07 vintage, which was a successful year for winemaking here.
The Ultimate Guide to Napa: