Today I want to share my travel itinerary for one day in Napa with you. Napa Valley is one of the most famous places to go wine tasting in California. With world-class terroir and loads of sunshine, this area produces everything from award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon to excellent Chardonnay. Add to that great restaurants and beautiful scenery, and a Napa day trip is bound to impress you. I’ve included a map, too.
One Day in Napa
Why am I telling you about this place? I’m spending one day in Napa with three friends, and we’ve planned an itinerary you’ll love. From wine tasting to restaurants, it’s full of the most exciting things to do in Napa Valley.
We drive up from San Francisco at 10 in the morning on a Sunday, admiring the vineyard-studded hills in Los Carneros as we make our way north.
It’s just over 1 hour by car from San Francisco to Napa, and from there it’s another 15 minutes to get to our first wine tasting of the day.
Wine Tasting at Vice Versa Winery in Napa
Our tasting is at a winery called Vice Versa. My friends are serious wine enthusiasts, and they found great reviews of it on CellarTracker. We pre-booked an experience, and when we arrive we’re welcomed and given an overview of the winery.
We learn that Vice Versa was founded by Canadian Patrice Breton in 2003 after he worked alongside influential winemaker Paul Hobbs. The winery’s philosophy is all about balance, and Vice Versa’s winemaker, Philippe Melka, keeps things simple and focused.
Before doing a tasting, we head indoors to see the stainless-steel tanks where the wine is made. There we learn more about the process and get excited for our first sip.
That takes place in the tasting room, where a table is set with glasses and food. We each enjoy a plate of fruit, crackers, and nuts as we start sampling the wines. We try a range of Cabernet Sauvignons, inhaling their velvety aromas and savoring the generous pours as we learn about the different vintages and growing conditions.
Our favorite is the one from the Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard in St. Helena. At the end we order a number of bottles en primeur and say a fond farewell to the winery.
Lunch at Gott’s Roadside in St Helena
Our one day in Napa continues with lunch at Gott’s Roadside in St Helena. This local chain is famous for its burgers and retro diner atmosphere. It’s also known for California-inspired dishes using locally-sourced ingredients, and its menu has everything from mahi mahi tacos to chicken schnitzel sandwiches. Oh, and root beer floats.
We order at the outdoor window and settle in at one of the few available picnic tables. A feast of onion rings, ahi burgers, and other favorites fills the space, and we relish every bite. It’s the perfect lunch stop for a Napa Valley day trip.
Wine Tasting at Quintessa in Napa Valley
Our one day in Napa continues with a 10-minute drive to Quintessa, the next stop on our itinerary. It’s located on the eastern edge of Rutherford at the foot of the Vaca Mountains.
We all love Quintessa’s iconic Napa Valley red, and we can’t wait to sample it at the source. This is one of our favorite wineries, and we’ve booked their Private Quintessential Experience as a special treat.
We arrive at the winery and meet our host in the main tasting room. He leads us outside to a golf cart and whisks us off through the sun-drenched vineyards. As we go, we take in views over the hills and across Dragon’s Lake.
Soon we arrive at a private pavilion nestled among moss-draped oak trees. Its contemporary floor-to-ceiling windows offer a stunning panorama over the vines and the Rutherford Bench district.
We settle in at a big table, learning about the winery as we taste two Illumination Sauvignon Blancs, two vintages of Quintessa (a Cabernet Sauvignon blend), and two barrel samples of future Quintessa vintages.
As we sip, we hear about the winery’s holistic philosophy, soil, and distinctive terroir. Our host also tells us stories of Rebekah Wineburg, the winemaker at Quintessa, and her methodical approach to harvesting and fermenting the grapes.
At the end we we’re driven back to the main salon and offered a special taste of an earlier vintage of Quintessa as a parting treat. It’s a great way to finish off a one-of-a-kind tasting experience.
Dinner at The Charter Oak in Napa Valley
From Quintessa our one day in Napa continues with a 10-minute drive to The Charter Oak restaurant in St Helena. This place is known for its wood-fired grill, and we have a reservation for dinner on the leafy outdoor terrace.
We start with cocktails, including a creative Pimm’s and basil number and a Watermelon Daisy made with celery bitters and lime. The drinks are refreshing on a hot evening, and a nice break from the wine we’ve been sampling all afternoon.
Cocktails imbibed, we dive into fluffy sourdough with house-cultured butter, spicy wings, grilled koji eggplant, Berkshire pork chops, and other grilled delights. The food is delicious, and it feels magical to dine under the tree canopy above us.
We finish off with the burnt vanilla soft serve with wild pecan oil. It’s been named one of the 10 best cold desserts in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Chronicle, and it lives up to its reputation.
One Day in Napa
After dinner our one day in Napa comes to an end. We drive back to San Francisco, enjoying a spectacular salmon-pink sunset over the hills in Los Carneros on the way. It’s a great send-off, and the perfect culmination of our day trip to Napa.
Napa Valley Map
If you want to spend one day in Napa, you can find an interactive map of the places we visited in the county here. I hope it helps you follow in our footsteps and have a great time in California’s wine country.
You can also check out my video about a day trip to Napa on YouTube. If you want to stay longer, my itinerary for 3 days in Napa can help. And if you’re coming in a different season, my guide to a day trip to Napa Valley in the winter is for you. In fact, all my Napa itineraries can help inspire you. Happy travels!
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