Although Napa is well known for its coveted Mediterranean climate, February and March are at the peak of the rainy season, averaging 4.5 inches of rain each month. And, although welcomed for its importance to the valley’s vineyards and natural environs, rain is not great news for anyone seeking a day of hiking, biking, or winery vineyard tours. Fear not! Napa Valley has many other wonderful activities and experiences to warm up a damp day.

The first issue at hand is the wine-tasting situation. While a wet day is not the optimum time to take a vineyard tour or taste wine on a patio, a romantic cave or cellar setting can be an excellent alternative. One of the most beautiful wine cellars in the region can be found at Hall Rutherford, with its dripping-with-crystals vine chandelier and arched barrel room ceilings. Their Platinum Experience affords a private tour of the original estate, an exploration of their winemaking techniques, and a private tasting with hors d’oeuvres in the cave.

Other beautiful cave settings include Castello di Amorosa, Schramsberg Vineyards, CADE Winery, and Del Dotto Vineyards, which has three locations, each with a distinctive cave ambiance and unique wine and barrel tastings. Be sure to reserve ahead. Many of these wineries offer exceptional wine-pairing experiences many curated by an on-site chef.

Rainy days are a great time to shop, and Napa Valley has many options to suit any style, taste, or mood. Antiquing is especially fun when it’s raining outside. Halloran and Sons in St. Helena offers 17th – 19th-century estate furniture, lamps, mirrors, art, and assorted décor. Vintage Treehouse in Calistoga has all manner of collectibles: costume and estate jewelry, kitchenware, decorative items, and more. Another popular spot in downtown Napa is Antiques on 2nd, known for its 20th-century antiques and memorabilia. They’ve got great vintage clothing and jewelry, vinyl and CDs, household and decorative items, kitchenware, and furniture. It’s difficult to leave without purchasing a few whimsical treasures.

Rainy days are an excellent time for thrifting, and Napa Valley delivers. Community Projects is the area’s largest and most popular thrift store, with its proceeds donated to other charitable organizations in the community. Open Wednesday through Saturday, the tastefully detailed shop is laid out to resemble a classic department store, making the shopping experience especially enjoyable. American Cancer Society’s Discovery Shop in North Napa packs a good punch. Although small, the space contains a hand-picked selection of men’s and women’s clothing and accessories, household items, books, games, and costume jewelry. 

Consign and Design in North Napa and Lolo’s and La Boheme in St. Helena are the best places to shop for a more curated, higher-end selection of vintage clothing, jewelry, and accessories. Lolo’s is the perfect spot to find gently used designer labels.

Napa Bookmine

Nothing is better than curling up with a good book or listening to music on a cold, damp afternoon. Napa Valley’s outstanding bookstores include Napa Bookmine in Napa and Copperfields’ Books in Napa and Calistoga. Bookmine offers new and used books that are expertly curated and organized, and they have a barista on staff making espresso drinks for customers to enjoy as they relax and read in the store.

If music is on the menu, check out Right On!!! Napa or Folklore. Both specialize in vintage vinyl and CD selections of any genre to peruse, acquire, or simply listen to. Folklore also has one of the hippest new bars in town, offering a European-inspired bistro menu with cocktails and a wide range of wines available by the glass and bottle.

For foodies, set aside some time to shop at one of the best kitchen stores anywhere—the Marketplace at the Culinary Institute of America or CIA at Copia. Offered are top-of-the-line cookware, utensils, knives, table settings, stemware, and more. Napa also boasts two of the most interesting kitchen museums in the country — The Chuck Williams Culinary Arts Museum at the CIA at Copia and Kathleen Thompson Hill’s Kitchen Memories Collection, exhibited at the Elizabeth Spencer Winery. Both exhibits showcase the culinary treasures from these industry icons’ personal collections that celebrate kitchen tools’ craftsmanship, beauty, and diversity over the decades.

Chuck Williams Culinary Arts Museum

Rainy days are great for beauty and spa treatments, and these can be found throughout the valley — at private spas and many of the local resorts and hotels. Perfect for a rainy day are Calistoga’s Indian Springs’ massages, facials, and mud baths, as well as soaking in the Olympic-size hot thermal waters (heavenly in the rain) or sweating in the resort’s volcanic steam room. Another excellent spot for the full spectrum of spa and beauty services is the Meritage Resort, whose spa is located deep in its wine cave — the ultimate peaceful experience, and Napa Spa at Silverado Resort offers a wide spectrum of massages and beauty treatments, conveniently located off of the Silverado Trail.

Taking in a movie, watching a play, or listening to a concert are perfect remedies for the rainy day blues. The latest movies can be seen at one of Cinemark Century Napa Valley’s 12 digital theatres, complete with a snack and wine bar. The Cameo Cinema in St. Helena is one of Napa’s local gems, which, in addition to serving herbal teas and wine, brings international, independent, and critically acclaimed films to the area. This intimate setting has especially comfy seating, which, in addition to a hot cup of tea, makes for a cozy afternoon or evening on a rainy day. Bring a bowl from home and get a deal on freshly popped popcorn.

Of course, concerts and theatre productions are always great during inclement weather. The Blue Note and The Uptown Theatre have a great lineup of music acts, and Napa’s popular Lucky Penny Productions offers entertaining and professional theatre productions from September through June. Many performances can be booked on short notice.

For more information www.donapa.com // www.visitnapavalley.com