Tweet
Have an exchange to Napa Valley in September for my wife and sisters. Do you have any recommendations for things for them to do? Thanks!
-
-
You mean besides touring the wineries?
They could take a hot air balloon ride.
They could take a cooking class.
There is some shopping.
Spas. The whole mud bath experience in Calistoga is something if they haven't done it before.Luanne -
If they are doing wine tours, they probably won't need much else to do...Comment
-
I would not miss the Castello di Amorosa. In fact I am drinking a glass of their wine right now. The tour was well worth the price.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g5....Visitors.html
Castello di Amorosa: The famous Napa castle, as seen on the Travel Channel! Wait, don't smirk and walk away, Renee. Castello di Amorosa might at first seem like a tourist trap - afterall, what's a full scale medieval castle doing in Napa? But this is no Disney Epcot fake, no Las Vegas gondola ride smaltz, this damn castle is authentic down to every last detail. The two hour tour takes you through the castle, through the secret passageways and into the dungeon. It's less focused on wine, but a fascinating tour nonetheless. Short on time? For $10 you can enter the castle and winetaste. You have to see this one to believe it.
http://www.castellodiamorosa.com/
http://www.castellodiamorosa.com/Tour-the-Castle
http://www.castellodiamorosa.com/ind...6-e94d4eed1e26
The castle interiors, which include 107 rooms on 8 levels above and below ground, cover approximately 121,000 square feet (11,200 m2). Among many other features it has: a moat; a drawbridge; defensive towers; an interior courtyard; a torture chamber; a chapel/church; a knights' chamber; and a 72 by 30 feet (9.1 m) great hall with a 22-foot (6.7 m)-high coffered ceiling.
The torture chamber has an authentic 300-year-old iron maiden which Sattui states he bought for $13,000 in Pienza, Italy, a replica rack, prison chambers and other torture devices. [1] [5][6] The great hall features frescoes painted by two Italian artists who took about a year and a half to complete and showcases a 500 year old fireplace.
The masonry, ironwork and woodwork was fashioned by hand using old world crafting techniques. Building materials included 8,000 tons of locally quarried stone, in addition to paving stones, terra cotta roofing tiles and some 850,000 bricks imported from Europe.[7][1][8] Extending into the hillside adjacent to the castle lies a labyrinth of caves some 900 feet (270 m) in length. Beneath the castle are a 2-acre (8,100 m2) barrel cellar and tasting rooms where visitors can sample the wines-all sold only at the Castle.[9]
Due to Napa County restrictions, the castle and grounds cannot be rented for weddings or receptions, but are available to rent for corporate gatherings and fund raisers. In May 2012 the county ordered the winery to cease holding a weekly Catholic Mass in the chapel located on the grounds due to lack of use permits, reviews by county agencies, including traffic and building code compliance. The services were among just a few in the area where Catholics could attend a traditional Latin Mass.
Another one I thought was special was Schramberg Vineyards.
http://www.schramsberg.com/
http://www.schramsberg.com/documents...se_Dinners.pdf
http://www.schramsberg.com/story/history.html
The Schramsberg estate is tucked into the densely forested slopes of Diamond Mountain, a few miles south of the town of Calistoga, and is home to the oldest hillside vineyards in Napa. It totals 218 acres with 43 acres planted to vines.
The estate, a registered historic landmark, has been painstakingly restored by the Davies family. The Victorian house, the lower winery, the
barn and the caves remain largely unchanged since Jacob Schram’s days.
Schramsberg has also played a role in world history. The Blanc de Blancs was used for President Nixon’s 1972 “Toast to Peace” with China’s Premier Zhou Enlai. Schramsberg’s sparkling wines have been served at official State functions by every U.S. Presidential administration since.
I also liked seeing the Sterling Vineyards. http://www.sterlingvineyards.com/our.../photo-gallery
VIEWS FROM THE TRAM
Our aerial tram is the only one of its kind in Napa Valley, offering stunning views as visitors ride up to the winery. You are greeted with a glass of wine to enjoy while you stroll through art galleries, overlooks, and elevated walkways that allow guests to follow the winemaking process from grape to glass. Along the way, motion-activated flat-screen televisions provide detailed explanations. This arrangement lets guests tour the winery at their own pace.
http://www.sterlingvineyards.com/our...ling-vineyards
Another one I like is Ferrari-Carano
http://www.ferrari-carano.com/
http://www.ferrari-carano.com/our-wines/vineyards
Most of the wine is great at any Winery but some Wineries make them special to see.
Enjoy,
WaltComment
Comment