Napa Valley Events

If you love your mother, that’s just fine by a host of wineries around Napa Valley who suggest you do something special for her this weekend. Many of them suggest chocolate as part of the treat. Here’s a tiny sampling of the fun.

Saturday celebrations include Goosecross Cellars in Yountville - they maintain chocolate goes too well with wine to pass up the pairing on Saturday afternoon - and Mom gets a rose too.

Sunday afternoon Hall in St. Helena offers music and massage for Mom, as well as treats and sweets and artisan wines. Also in St. Helena, 125-year-old V. Sattui Winery offers Music on the Grounds, flamenco guitar open free to all.

Moving south on the Silverado Trail, organic grower ZD Wines offers complimentary tastings for Mom all day, while in Napa itself Wineries of Napa Valley offers Sweet Treats for that feted lady late afternoon.

And if you’re Wild About Your Momma, try Safari West wildlife preserve for an elegant adventure with mimosa brunch.

We all love gourmet food, and if we can get it without snooty waiters and the whole stuffed shirt scenario - why, we must be in Yountville, the gourmet capital of Napa Valley and a world-class culinary legend.

One of the great treats of Mustard Festival is the Taste of Yountville, a downtown walk-around immersed in live music, when the town’s award-winning chefs bring out their finest foods and flavors for us to sample.

The 17th Annual Taste offers the delicious reason why Yountville is so Michelin-starred. The culinary magic showcases incomparable dishes along with olive oils, vinegars and mustards as well as wines and micro-brews - and a tour of the famous French Laundry restaurant’s 2-acre garden masterpiece.

It’s a festive stroll amidst food and shopping to die for and it takes place on Saturday, March 20, 11 AM to 5 PM. It’s free, with $1 tasting tickets or a universal tasting passport available. For more information call 707-944-0904 or click here.

Yountville is 18 miles north of our hotel, click here for directions.

There’s just no thrill like the circus, no sights, sounds and smells more guaranteed to remain in a child’s memory forever. And there’s no circus like the Moscow Circus, called the world standard of circuses, with fabulous entertainers and performers who push the limits of the possible.

Bring your wide-eyed children to the Lincoln Theater and get ready for some eye-popping times yourself. You’ll be on the edge of your seat as the circus presents its unparalleled death-defying acts. Russia’s cultural heritage dazzles in a mix of ornate costumes and backdrops, music and dance, beautiful artistry and funny clowns that has wowed audiences of children and adults worldwide.

Moscow Circus comes to the world-class Lincoln Theater for just one day, in a beautiful 1,200 seat venue in the heart of Napa valley.

The date is Sunday, February 28th, at 3 PM. Tickets are $29-$39 with $12 tickets for kids 12 and under. Click here to buy online.

Lincoln Theater is at 100 California Drive in Yountville, click here for directions from our hotel.

Sorry, France. We know Cabernet Sauvignon came from Bordeaux, but the grape really does give its best as it ripens fully, here in the longer sunshine days of Napa Valley.

Winemakers tell us Cabernet Sauvignon has a complex flavor that dramatically reflects the space it was grown in. It can change even in different sections of the same vineyard.

You can taste this for yourself at Girard Winery’s sneak preview of three 2007 Cabernet Sauvignons from different growing areas.

Watch a short video clip of winemaker Zach Long discussing the characteristics of each here:
• 2007 Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2007 Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2007 Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2007 Mountain Series Cabernet Sauvignon Sneak Release Party happens on Saturday, February 6th, at Noon-5 PM. Tickets including gourmet snacks are $25 (complimentary to Wine Club members).

The Girard Winery Tasting Room, 6795 Washington Street in Yountville, is about 18 miles from our hotel. Click here for directions.

You say you want to dress up and see in the new year with a sparkle? You want champagne to celebrate? Well, how about a party with the masters of sparkling wines, Domaine Chandon? Bubbly at Chandon is a Napa tradition, and New Year’s Eve is the perfect occasion.

Head for the Glitter Ball at Domaine Chandon. Dinner looks sold out already, but join the Lounge Party for the live band, DJ and dancing. Chandon is an upscale and lively place with a great atmosphere. It’ll be a happening party, and you’re invited to dress “glittery” - black tie is optional, and formal portraits are available.

Lounge Party is 9 PM - 1AM (December 31st of course), complementary sparkling wine toast at midnight. Must be 21 or over. Tickets are $75, click here for info and to purchase.

Domaine Chandon is at 1 California Drive in Yountville, less than 19 miles from our hotel - click here for directions. Chandon’s phone is 707-944-8844.

We thought we were already having fun, but we hadn’t actually lit up a whole town with thousands of white lights yet. For real fun, you have to be in Yountville next week on November 27th. That’s when this bustling little upscale shopping and dining marvel turns on all its lights for the holiday season.

Walk off Thanksgiving tummy on the Friday with an afternoon of strolling in charming European ambience, gazing at the many sights of entertainment for kids and grownups alike: horse-drawn carriage rides, sidewalk events, galleries, hotels and spas, fine dining, and of course the wines.

It’s a free extended-block party, started by Santa himself at 2 PM. The town’s lights come ablaze at 5:30 to herald the winterland fun now beginning, and the shopping and celebration last into the night. Food and wine tasting tickets are $1 each.

Travel is easy: Yountville is 55 miles north of San Francisco on Hwy 29, and just 18 miles from our hotel (click here to get directions). See the city of Yountville’s website or call (707) 944-0904 for more information.

John Cleese may be the funniest man alive. Whether you know him best as a member of the seminal comedy troupe Monthy Python, as irritable innkeeper Basil Faulty from Faulty Towers or as sad sack Archie Leech from the classic comedy A Fish Called Wanda, Cleese, who turned 70 last month, has definitely made his mark.

Personally we’re quite taken with his video Wine For The Confused.

This Wednesday, November 11, you can see Cleese perform solo at the Lincoln Theater in nearby Yountville. It’s a rare chance to see a comedy legend live.

Tickets are $39-$69 and can be purchased through the Lincoln Theater web site

Call it bad programming or call it roots music heaven, but both the Lincoln Theater in Yountville and the Napa Valley Opera House in Napa will host Zydeco bands on the evening of Saturday, September 12.

The Opera House will be hosting a Zydeco Dance with Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys at 8 PM, with dance lessons starting at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $30 and available through the Opera House web site.

The Lincoln Theater in near-by Yountville will host the legendary Buckwheat Zydeco and his band at 8 PM. Tickets are $25-$30 and can be purchased through the Lincoln Theater web site.

The Count Basie Orchestra, one of the great Swing Era jazz bands, will be playing in Yountville on Saturday, May 23 at the Lincoln Theater.   Count Basie may be gone, but his 17-piece band carries on his tradition of great music, winning a total of 17 Grammy awards. 

Tickets at $29 - $59 and are available through the Lincoln Theater web site.