Napa/Sonoma, CA #JaggsGiving

Napa/Sonoma, CA

This trip was.... incredible. I wish there were words. We have been out to Napa 5 times and I swear this one was the best of the best. 

Instead of my normal recommendations, I am going to give our itinerary for the trip with thoughts on each place we visited. The days starts with breakfast and ends with dinner and is in order of travel times/locations. As always, YOU MUST MAKE RESERVATIONS at most (if not all) restaurants and vineyards. We made it a point on this trip not to do anything that we have done before so if you want more recs please see my other posts from previous years. 

Where we stayed:

La Rose Hotel- Cute, quaint, and upscale boutique hotel right in the middle of Santa Rosa. Included breakfast and is walking distance to everything you would want to see and taste (mainly Russian River Brewing Company)
Best Western Sonoma- Sort of random for us but really was a perfect place to lay our heads at night after wine tasting all day. The rates are grand and is only a block from Sonoma Square. The are also fire places in every room and breakfast is included (not that great of a breakfast but do able if you just want to fill your stomach)

Okay buckle your seat belt...

Saturday
Hog Island Oyster- About a 60 min drive from SFO this is a MUST when you get into Cali. Make sure to reserve a picnic table ahead of time so you can have a place to stuff your face with oysters on oysters. It is BYOB so make to  buy beer/wine ahead of time (you can get it there but it is on the expensive side). The drive there is enough to send you over the top with Red Woods and Highway 1 coast. Please make this party of your trip, you will just thank me over and over again
Russian River Brewing Company-Go there, get Pliny the Elder and taste one of America's top rated beers. Would also suggest getting their flight which consists of 18 beers they have on tap... and then stumble home

Sunday
Benova Winery- Great Pinot Noir vineyard in Russian River Valley, very intimate feel and beautiful little home
Gary Farell Winery-The view is fantastic but the wine was not my favorite
Scribe Winery- This is where dreams come true. About 5 minutes from Sonoma Square you will find yourself in a piece of heaven surrounded by vineyards on organic wine. My suggestion would be to go taste there around the time that sunsets and if you aren't engaged check your mans pockets because there is a big chance it is going to happen there! 
Explore Sonoma Square- Killer shops on shops on shops
El Dorado Kitchen (happy hour)- Upscale restaurant serving great food and cocktails. We went for happy hour and sat at the bar
La Salette- Man, this place was a hidden gem. Serves Brazilian food that tastes as good as Brazil

Monday
Boon Fly Cafe- Part of Carneros Inn (so beautiful) this breakfast spot is killin' it with classic food with a twist. Everything they serve is off the charts and their doughnuts with a cup of coffee will get your morning off to the best start
Yountville- If you aren't staying in Napa, then exploring Yountville is a must. The quaint little town is out of a movie and walking the streets will give you your cardio for the day
Schramsberg- Bubbles vineyard that really was fantastic. You will get to go in their caves (which are pretty interesting) and then have a private tasting with 5 glasses of bubbles
Constant Vineyard- I cant begin to explain how we got a tasting here or how I found out about it but it was a once in a lifetime experience that if you are serious about wine then go here. Their cab franc is over the top good
Bottega- Sit on the porch next to the fire and order a moscow mule. Clearly if you have time eat here but we have before on another trip so we just wanted a cocktail in their brass mugs
The Girl and the Fig-Dinner- In Sonoma Square, this is the place to have dinner. All farm to table menu items (and Pliny the Elder on tap) it is a meal that will always be at the top of your list of favorite places

Tuesday 
Auberge du Soleil- I have been wanting to go here for as long as I can remember, everything I have ever read about the best porch views in America pointed to this place. And DAMN did it not disappoint. You can have breakfast, lunch and dinner but we opted for breakfast and it was unreal. I got their Japanese style breakfast and am still talking about it
Elhers Vineyard- Small/family owned vineyard that was good. It was expensive for the small amount we got to taste but their 1898 cab was one to remember
Goose & Gander- My lord. This place really was one of the best meals of the trip. Hidden by tall bushes in St. Helena, this has to be at the top of your must do's. It is known for their bar/cocktails but their bone marrow app and prawns (two separate dishes) will take your #foodporn pics to the next level
Far Niete- Beautiful , stunning, killer wines with a very nice tour and great tasting experience. And if you are into cars then the wine makers have a car collection that will make you green with envy
Brix-We got married here, it is heaven, the drinks are great and sitting outside will make you one happy clam
Farmstead- This is our favorite restaurant in the valley. The food is GREAT, the atmosphere is better, and the grounds surrounding the restaurant will make you never want to leave

Wednesday
Sunflower Cafe- We were supposed to eat here but honestly were so full from three days of wine country strong that we couldn't do it but the reviews are strong to very strong
Hall Winery- In earlier visits to Napa we have done Hall Rutherford which is fantastic, but their new location on St. Helena Hwy is something to be seen. I HIGHLY suggest going here for their wine (which is freaking great) but this is not just a vineyard but a whole experience. Now that I type this I wish I had a glass of their Pinot in my head at this moment
Pride- On spring mountain and worth the drive, the wines are great and hard to get in SC
Oxbow Market- We can't come to Napa without going here. Love it, just love it

The rest of our trip was with some of our best friends who live in Oakland and we just cooked, ate, and drank (standard).


Looking back:

In our retired life Napa is where you will find us. My heart and soul belong here :) It is our happy place.

* I have more food pics but it is telling me I cant upload anymore (time to upgrade) so check out #JaggsGiving for great food pics and I will put up a FB album soon!