Today I want to share my itinerary for a weekend in Napa Valley with you. Northern California’s wine country is known for its vineyards, and a 2-day getaway is the perfect way to experience the best of what this part of the Golden State offers visitors. From the legendary Cabernet Sauvignons to the famous Chardonnays, there’s a lot to love about this region. And it’s not just wine, either. There’s a lot more to do in a couple days in Napa. Read on for the details. I’ve included a map, too.
Weekend in Napa Valley
Napa Valley is one of my favorite places in Northern California, and its proximity to San Francisco makes it an easy weekend trip from many parts of the Bay Area. Even if you’re not based in NorCal, there are flights to SFO, Oakland, Sacramento, and Napa County Airport that make this trip simple and straightforward.
I’m spending a weekend in Napa with my other half and some friends, and we’re excited to see what our trip to wine country has in store for us. Our itinerary includes everything from wine tasting to markets, restaurants, and exploring the local area.
We drive to Napa Valley on a Saturday morning, leaving San Francisco around 10am and cruising through the vineyards not long later.
Day 1: Howell Mountain
Soon we arrive in Napa Valley, passing famous wineries like Nickel & Nickel and Cakebread on our way to Angwin. We’re staying as guests of friends who live in Howell Mountain, an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Napa County that’s known for growing some of the best grapes in the region.
Our friends have a 20-acre property just outside the main part of town, and they rent it out to guests. The house has spacious rooms, 35-foot open beam ceilings, a stunning custom hand-carved staircase, a sitting area with views, a gym, and a big kitchen. Outside there’s everything from hiking trails to a bocce court. If you want to follow in our footsteps, you can book a stay at Howell Mountain Estate here.
We get settled in, then catch up with our friends over sparkling wine, charcuterie, and caviar. It’s a great way to kick off the weekend.
Wine Tasting in Howell Mountain
When our whole group has assembled, we continue the first day of our itinerary with some wine tasting. It’s a short drive to Neal Family Vineyards, a winery that produces organic wines using sustainable farming practices in Napa Valley’s Howell Mountain and Rutherford Dust.
Neal is family-owned, and three generations have worked to create the wines this place is famous for. Mark Neal is an organic and biodynamic farmer who’s been walking the vineyards almost daily for over 50 years. He’s one of a very few winemakers in Napa Valley who own, farm, and manage their land in addition to making their own wines.
When we arrive at the property, we’re welcomed by the Estate Director. He pours us each a taste of sparkling wine before we walk through the door. From there he tells us about the Neal family and the history of the winery before taking us on a short walk through the garden and educating us about the organic farming practices used in the vineyards in front of us.
From there we head inside and try a Vermentino before getting a tour of the winemaking facility and cave. At the end we sit at a table under a big bronze chandelier that Mark Neal himself made (he’s an artist in addition to everything else).
We sample a range of reds, including Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. We’re impressed by both the winery and the wines, and we purchase some to take home before we leave.
Property Tour
Back at Howell Mountain Estate, we take a tour of our friend’s property. There’s a lot to see here, including the vineyards where he grows grapes. As he guides us around, he tells us about his vines and all the effort that goes into producing the famous Howell Mountain fruit.
After seeing the vineyards, we explore the area around the house. There’s everything from a swimming pool to a hot tub and a rock garden around it, not to mention a big deck with an outdoor dining area and more gardens and lawns. It’s peaceful and serene, and we could stay forever.
Evening in Angwin
After walking around the grounds, we spend the evening grilling, playing pool and arcade games in the game room, checking out the home theater, and sipping some of California’s best wine at the source. It’s a great way to end a big day in Napa Valley with a group of friends.
At the end of the night we drift off in our comfortable bed. It’s easy to get a good night’s sleep here, what with the house being so quiet and secluded.
Day 2: Rutherford & Napa
The next morning our weekend in Napa continues with a big homemade brunch of chilaquiles. Afterwards we pack our bags, say good-bye to Howell Mountain Estate, and continue our day with some wine tasting in Rutherford.
Mumm
Our first stop is at Mumm. Famous for its sparkling wine, this winery on Silverado Trail is the Napa Valley outpost of a famous French champagne house. Their Reims estate was the first place I ever tasted champagne, and I’m excited to visit its California counterpart.
Our friends are members of the wine club here, so we all gather around a table on the terrace. The views of the vineyards come with a stunning mountain backdrop, and it all feels like the perfect Napa Valley scene.
Soon the bubbles arrive. We’ve opted for the Heritage Tasting, which comes with a flight of four sparkling wines. Paired with a plate of dried fruit and nuts, it goes down a treat.
James Cole
After the tasting at Mumm, we wave good-bye to our friends and drive farther south along Silverado Trail. We pass famous names like Quintessa before reaching the next stop on our wine tasting itinerary: James Cole.
Run by a husband-and-wife team named James and Colleen, this winery seeks to “elevate Napa Valley fruit into exceptional wines”. We love it as soon as we see the lush garden outside.
Once inside, our love grows. The low-lit tasting room is a work of art. With high barrel-lined walls and vintage treasures like early 1900s Harley Davidson motorcycles, a 1959 Corvette, and a Rolling Stones pinball machine, it feels like we’re stepping into a movie set when we walk in.
The tasting consists of a range of wines, including Chardonnay, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Napa Valley red blend. We like them all, and we buy some to take home with us.
Oxbow Public Market
After the tasting we’re off to the next stop on our Napa weekend itinerary: Oxbow Public Market in downtown Napa.
This indoor food emporium is one of my favorite spots in wine country. The variety of tempting stalls and shops gets my taste buds going on every visit. We browse the market, checking out the goods for sale and soaking up the atmosphere.
There’s everything from oysters to bread, spices, and sweet treats here, and we could spend all evening letting our senses feast.
Dinner in Napa
The market kicks our appetites into gear, so we walk next door to Gott’s Roadside for dinner. This local legend serves California-inspired dishes using locally-sourced ingredients. The larger-than-life menu on the wall has everything from fish tacos to burgers and root beer floats.
Gott’s is popular, but the line to order at the counter isn’t long and our food is ready quickly. We settle in at a booth in the restaurant’s classic dining room, enjoying the buzz of the dinner crowd as we wait.
Soon a feast of ahi poke crispy tacos, a Western Bacon Blue Ring burger, and cheese fries fills the table. We’re grateful to enjoy a hearty meal after a big weekend of wine tasting. It all goes down a treat before the drive back to San Francisco.
Weekend in Napa Valley
After dinner we make the short drive to the Costco in Napa to get gas, then cruise back to San Francisco marveling at how much we’ve done and seen during our two days in wine country. It’s been a fun weekend getaway, and we’ve enjoyed a range of things the region has to offer.
If you get a chance to visit, I hope the same is true for you. You can check out my other Napa itineraries for more inspiration, or watch my YouTube videos about wine country.
Napa Valley Map
As promised, I’ve created an interactive Google map of all the places I’ve written about on my itinerary for a weekend in Napa. You can find it here. You can use the map to plan a wine country escape of your own.
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