By all means, come for the wine, which will not disappoint. Beyond wine, know that nearly anywhere one goes in Napa Valley, there is always something delightful, unexpectedly delicious, or exotic to taste. Napa Valley’s culinary scene rivals its wine scene, and any visit to the region warrants careful planning in this department, as many of the region’s best food experiences require well-in-advance reservations.
Gourmet food and wine pairings are, of course, still a thing, but they have moved well beyond the standard cheese and charcuterie spreads, reflecting top trending food interests and, in many cases, emphasizing that which is regional. Now popular are tastings highlighting specific foods — caviar, oysters, artisan bacon, heirloom vegetables, truffles, olive oil, and regionally produced cheeses. Add to that the growing number of alcoholic beverages being made in the valley other than wine: world-class beers, namely IPAs, wheats, pilsners, ambers and porters, and artisan distilled products such as brandy, bourbon, whiskey, rum, and gin. The region also has fantastic coffee and some of the best bread in the world, all of which are worth experiencing.
If one is heading out for a day of wine-tasting, consider starting with Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company’s cupping-style tasting of coffee varietals from these five regions (choose three): Guatemala, Mexico, Colombia, Africa (Ethiopia), and Indonesia (Sumatra or Timor). This invigorating tasting includes educational asides from the shop’s Probat roaster and is rounded out with a 12 oz. take-away bag of the client’s favorite beans, freshly roasted, of course.
For an immersive ‘lab’ experience, Ohm Coffee Roasters, founded by Derek Bromley, a lifelong foodie, musician, and sommelier, hosts an educational tasting with tours for up to 12 people. // www.napavalleycoffee.com; www.ohmcoffee.com
If planning wine-tasting experiences for a weekend in the valley, consider sprinkling in a few that include pairings with specialty foods. Silverado Vineyards offers chef-selected caviar, indulgently served with kettle chips and crème fraiche, accompanied by their signature white wines. Add to that a patio setting with some of the valley’s best views, and there’s the high point for any day spent in the wine country. Domaine Carneros offers a similar caviar experience with a trio of Tsar Nicoulai Caviars, perfectly paired with three of their best sparkling wines. // www.silveradovineyards.com; www.domainecarneros.com;
For those seeking the ultimate in caviar tasting, look no further than the RO Restaurant and Lounge, Thomas Keller’s trendy newish establishment. RO’s six-flight tasting of their signature Regiis Ova caviars — the Golden Ossetra, Ossetra, Hybrid, Supreme, Siberian, and Royal Caviar — pairs beautifully with a trio of their champagnes, namely Modicum’s Blanc de Blancs, Laurent Perrier’s Cuvée Rosé and Dom Pérignon’s Épernay. // www.rorestaurantandlounge.com
Bubbles and Caviar Tasting // Photo courtesy of Chateau Buena Vista
For those staying in downtown Napa who are looking for an opulent experience and a couple of contrasting back-to-back tastings, consider Chateau Buena Vista’s champagne and caviar experience, which features caviar from the JCB Collection, rounded out by a chocolate and cabernet sauvignon tasting, featuring beautiful and exotic “bonbons” from Earth and Sky, which afterward can also be purchased in curated boxed sets. // www.buenavistawinery.com/chateau-buena-vista-napa/
Photo courtesy of Hog Island Oyster Co.
If one is hankering for oysters, the place to go is Hog Island Oyster Company. In addition to its presence in Napa’s bustling Oxbow Market, Hog Island has a 160-acre intertidal oyster farm on Tomales Bay. On any particular day at the restaurant, a wide range of oysters is on the menu. Request a favorite or have the resident oyster shucker make suggestions. // www.hogislandoysters.com
Photo Courtesy of Fieldwork Brewing Co.
Napa Valley has a rapidly growing craft brewery scene along with pubs that offer craft beers on tap. All of this has led to what is now referred to as the Napa Valley Ale Trail or Napa Valley Brew Trail. A favorite spot for beer flights is Fieldwork Brewing in Napa, a best-seller being their Fieldwork Tour, a 6-flight mix of top house brews. Also popular is their Hoppy Tour, featuring a variety of IPAs, and their Light Flight and Haze Craze flights. These themed excursions are a great way to learn about beer styles and discover what best satisfies one’s palate before stocking up. // www.fieldworkbrewing.com/napa
Distilleries are now an important part of the Napa Valley scene and worth a visit. The newest member of the Boisset Collection is the Calistoga Depot Distillery, which produces barrel-aged gin, bourbon whiskey, rye-malt whiskey, and barrel-aged brandy. The Depot offers intriguing distillery flights with names like “Fame and Misfortune” and “Prosperous and Penniless.” These tastings can be fortified with some of the distillery’s exceptional pub grub. // www.calistogadepot.com/distillery
Also amusing to the mouth is the Napa Valley Distillery, whose claim to fame is that it is “The first distillery in Napa since Prohibition.” The best spot to enjoy their offerings is at their tasting bar at the Oxbow Market, where they feature flights of seasonal and limited-release craft spirits. Customers can also sprinkle in complimentary samplings of the Distillery’s artisan cocktail bitters, shrubs, and syrups. // www.napavalleydistillery.com
Other non-wine flights of note include the legendary tequila flights at Chispa Bar, which serves over 130 tequilas and 23 types of mezcal. Adding significantly to the experience are food offerings from their raw seafood bar, which features ceviche, aqua chile, salmon tartare, and sharable small plates, including diablo shrimp, seafood croquettes, and roasted oysters. In this same vein, Napa’s popular tiki bar, Wilfred’s Lounge, offers incredible themed rum flights (seven of them), including a dessert rums flight featuring Hawaiian rums, 12-year rums, and rums with a specialty finish. Add to this Wilfred’s gourmet pub grub infused with Hawaiian flavors. // www.chispabar.com; www.wilfredslounge.com
Napa Valley’s Mediterranean climate is perfect for olives, and there is no shortage of exceptionally flavorful olive oils in the region. Round Pond and Grove 45 offer immersive olive oil experiences with sit-down tastings that pair the olive oils with their house vinegars. Attendees learn about olive cultivation, harvest, and the artisan methods of olive oil production. All are served with local artisan breads or seasonal bites. Wines can be added by the glass or bottle to these experiences.
For the olive oil enthusiast, Napa Valley Olive Oil Company produces top-rated olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Though the store does not offer tastings, purchase some of these highly-touted products, grab a sourdough baguette or pick up a seasonal charcuterie board from The Napa Table, and enjoy a do-it-yourself tasting at one of Napa Valley’s beautiful public parks. // www.roundpond.com; www.grove45/tastings/; www.nvoliveoilmfg.com/; @thenapatable
Photo courtesy of Priest Ranch
And while many of Napa’s wineries now include gourmet bites’ and food pairings among their deluxe tasting experiences, a few offer something unique. Some favorites include Priest Ranch’s Bacon and Wine Experience. This tasting pairs four distinct thick cuts of pork belly with four wines selected to enhance the flavors of the bacon perfectly. Also exceptional is The Perfect Pair at Cakebread Cellars, which features delicious canapés with seasonal ingredients from Delores Cakebread’s expansive vegetable garden. This food and wine tasting is prefaced with a garden tour — a delight in the crisp fall weather. // www.priestranchwines.com; www.cakebread.com
For foodies on a mission to try every good thing, consider attending the 2025 Napa Truffle Festival, which this year takes place January 17th – 20th. Festival events include truffle tasting menus by top chefs at numerous locations around the valley, and cooking workshops and educational seminars. // www.napatrufflefestival.com
