We were based in the Bay Area and hadn't paid a visit to the Napa Valley - the center of wine production in the region until now. It was surprising and embarrassing at the same time. It was the time that we undo a wrong of enormous magnitude and we planned a day-long getaway to the valley. Now, if you have been to the Napa Valley or are aware of it, it is mostly known for its wineries and vineyards and tasting the product right from the barrels. Now yours truly are both teetotalers and hence it was ironical that we would even plan to visit the place. But it has more than what meets the eye and there is enough for everyone. Even for those away from the temptation of spirits!!
We started our work by researching a bit on what we could do at Napa and then finalized Saturday, October 12, 2019, for a quick one day visit. We had identified a couple of areas to cover during the day including a wine tasting tour as that is one which cannot be passed over if you are into the valley. However, not all tasting tours are only about sipping the "fruit-extracted-spirit" but most of them are about the overall experience. So we packed our bags - for a one day trip you may ask but with a toddler in tow, a bag is to be packed even for a grocery store visit 😃

We break our coverage of the visit across 5 key themes that a teetotaler may want to explore on a visit to the Napa - again this isn't restricted to those not drinking wine. Anyone would find value in these aspects of the region if they are so tempted to step out of what Napa is mostly known for - wineries and vineyards.

Let's start the journey with a quick video tour of the trip to Napa Valley and then we delve into the five aspects of the trip!

1. The Roadtrip to Napa 

As they say that the journey is as important as the destination. It is even more so if you are on a road-trip - the trip is more about the road you know. This was the same case with this trip and hence we had planned for the trip with some effort. While the best route in terms of time and distance from Sunnyvale (that is where we live) to Napa Valley is along the East-Bay, taking Interstate 680 up north. However, we wanted to travel through a scenic route and hence took a longer route starting with I-101 North and then shifting to I-280 until we moved back to the 101 after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. The good thing about this route ended up being free from toll - the Golden Gate Bridge is free to use while traveling northwards out of San Francisco.

The scenic road trip to Napa Valley

Passing through the Golden Gate is always a charm

We started at about 9 from Sunnyvale and sped through 101 given the early weekend morning benefit. As we approached San Francisco, the freeway traveled with the bay giving picturesque views which were simply enhanced once we shifted to the 280. Soon the road took us through the GOLDEN GATE bridge - yes the famous bridge everyone so craves about. While it may be routine for the locals, for tourists like us, this is nothing short of a dream come true and hence we could not help taking pictures on the way.  As we came on the other side of the bridge, soon the scenery changed and we would see vast plains of vegetation. The vegetation soon transformed into that of grape growing fields - far and wide - and entrances to wineries started popping up - inviting guests to an "experience of a lifetime".

We had identified a couple of wineries that provide more than the tasting experience and hence kept on the road until we crossed Napa to a city called - Calistoga. To those wondering - Napa Valley is a region around the Napa Town and comprises of multiple cities. The whole trip took about 3 hours - including the breaks and pit-stops.

2. "Welcome to Napa Valley" Sign and Old Faithful Geysers

As you enter the region either from the South or the North, there is a huge welcome to Napa Valley sign which warmly announces your arrival. Again, if you are a tourist, it is hard to ignore that sign and equally hard to not stop for a click. There is an adequate place to park the vehicle for a few minutes while you take photographs. If you are in here during a rush-time, you may actually have to wait for a few minutes to get the sign all for yourself. Mostly the tourists are understanding and accommodative - also it helps to have other people around so that you get a nice picture of yourself!

Welcome to the Napa Valley

The Faithful Geysers of California - there are just two others

We did spend quite some time playing around along the sign and the thick grape plantation. The area has nicely rowed plants of grapes with the black fruit hanging in pride - waiting to quench the thirst of many. It is the perfect welcome you could get to the wine country and if you are not in a hurry to gulp on the inebriation, this should be a perfect pitstop on the way.

Located in the town of Calistoga, Old Faithful Geysers of California is one of the three faithful geysers worldwide - so names because of their regularity in springing water from deep below. The other two are in Yellowstone National Park and New Zealand. The geysers are one of the most photographed sites in California and hundreds of tourists enjoy the views with the beautiful valley in the background. The sparkling rainbow accompanying the water stream is definitely a worthwhile picture. There are many fables associated with the geysers - one of which says that an irregularity in the water stream is an indication of an impending earthquake in the 500-mile surrounding.

Grapes plantations all around - this is what transforms into the colored juices

3. Winery and Vineyards - The Production Houses

Obviously, this is the reason which brought you here and hence you are bound to visit one or more wineries for the experience. We were there to understand how the innocuous-looking sweet fruit is converted into a form that is coveted the world over and is the charm of many. Most of the wineries charge around 30 bucks for the basic tour of the facility and limited wine tasting - the high up extra-frill experiences have no limit and could range up to a few hundred bucks. We had chosen two wineries for the day - Sterling Winery and Robert Mondovi Winery.

Sterling Vineyards - winemaking experience with an aerial tram

The glasses - souvenirs and props

The barrels you want to put your hands on

Sterling Winery is located in the northern end of the valley in the town called Calistoga off the highway - take an internal road for 10 minutes and you are right at the grand entrance of the winery lined with trees on both sides creating a natural gateway.  A short ride into the winery leads you to the parking - complimentary for guests. Right around the parking is the entrance to the building where you are greeted by the ticket counters. The lady at the counter offered an overview of all the ticketing options and we chose the $35 tickets which allowed admission and 4 wine tasting opportunities. Once we had the silver tokens in hands we proceeded to the rope-way. Yes - you heard it right. This is the only winery with a private aerial tram to the top of the hill where the production area of the winery is located. A quick 5-minute ride later you are greeted at the top and guided along the self-guided tour. The tour starts with the gifting of glass (which you can keep as a souvenir) and the first wine tasting sip in the backdrop of beautiful scenery. There are three galleries that allow you to view the entire steps of production of wines - starting from fermentation and ending in wine testing. We spent about an hour and a half including relaxing on the outside terrace. We took the same aerial tram back to the base. In the case of unfavorable weather, the aerial tram may be non-operational and they take you up the hill in vans. Also, umbrella strollers are available for your kids on the hill so you can leave your bulky ones in the trunk of the car.

Next, we came to the Robert Mondovi Winery - this was chosen because of the nostalgia of visiting the winery during my earlier visit about a decade ago as a student. Located in Oakville town amidst picturesque natural beauty. The place was welcoming and offered a $45-tour which including a tour of the farms, production facilities and tasting of 3 wines followed by a quick snack. Overall it is a good place with popular wines (we would know nothing about it 😅). The staff is courteous and helpful and is nicely trained in welcoming guests. We spent another hour at this winery before moving to other sites in our itinerary.

The trip brought back memories to my earlier visit to Napa Valley in 2010 - almost a decade ago which had a different flavor - exchange students exploring the US in-between college breaks! Read more about it at - San Francisco Trip of an Exchange Student

4. The Napa Valley Wine Train

While we did not take the train, it is an option available to explore Napa Valley in leisure and luxury. the Wine Train offers multiple tours ranging for mere an hour and half of exploring the basics to day-long experiences taking you to different wineries and offering meals onboard the wheels. The train is composed of vintage railroad cars that have been aesthetically restored. The onboard restaurant offers gourmet meals and the charm of enjoying food while on the move has been fascinating for all of us since childhood. I for one am first to be hungry as soon as I am on a train!

The Napa Valley Wine Train - luxury and leisure way of exploring the valley

The journeys begin in the Napa Valley Wine Train Station in Downtown Napa. A half-hour before boarding, wine specialists offer an introductory lecture on Napa Valley and the wine train. Passengers wait for their seating selection to be called, and then it’s all aboard the antique train. The Napa wine train accommodations include Honduran mahogany paneling, brass accents, etched glass partitions, and plush armchairs, an old-fashioned throwback to the heyday of luxury train travel in the early 1900s.

The railroad itself dates back to 1864 and is part of the charm of the experience today, which involves guests relaxing to the clack-clack of the wine train conveying them along the Napa Valley wine train’s routes—most of which run 36 miles, round-trip, to St. Helena and back. The train recently celebrated 30 years of existence.

5. Food and History - Not the Least

This may be the last but not least by any standards. If you still have time and energy left, Napa has widespread cuisine on offer with numerous restaurants. We for one visited the Oxbow Public Market which is home to many eating joints and offers vast options for food. We enjoyed a quick lunch, a late-lunch to say, at one of the restaurants and relaxed for a while before heading on the road. If you are so inclined, there are a couple of museums around the shopping center where you could delve into the rich history of the region and understand all that happened behind the scenes before this town emerged as the world-famous wine-producing region of the world.

A number of shopping centers filled with restaurants

Rishik resting after the hectic day - it had to have the Haloween Flavor