Napa Valley offers plenty in the way of fine dining and gourmet New American cuisine. But what about when you’re dined out, wined out, and all you want is a fast, casual bite? Continue reading “Our Favorite Quick Bites in Saint Helena”
An “AVA” is an American Viticultural Area. The U.S. government defines these regions by their vineyards and geography. The Napa Valley AVA was officially established in 1981, though it has been a major and productive part of the wine industry since the 1850s. This was the first AVA designated in the state of California.
Continue reading “Wine 101: Facts About the Napa Valley AVA”
In spite of the name, Archetype does away with the textbook dim lighting and starchiness of much Napa Valley dining. By elevating the staples of heritage and Americana culinary experiences, they’re rewriting the territory of wine-country food.
Continue reading “Where to Eat in Napa Valley – Archetype of St. Helena”
What’s this? Your winery doesn’t produce muscato? Tempranillo? Pinot blanc? Petit verdot?! We have the scoop on wine varietals of Napa, so you’ll never have to leave with that bitter aftertaste of disappointment.
The Napa Valley Film Festival is here, and we couldn’t be more excited! From November 8th to the 12th, participate in the annual NVFF and catch any of more than 100 unique films.
Continue reading “Napa Valley Film Festival – November 8-12, 2017”
Originally scheduled for mid-October this year, the St. Helena Harvest Festival will now take place on November 4th. There’s still time to plan your visit!
At El Bonita we recovered pretty quickly ourselves, and the news tells us that the Napa wine industry and other local businesses will bounce back soon too.
Continue reading “Napa Wine Industry & Businesses Will Survive, Hope to Recover Quickly”
Napa Valley is wine country, and we here have a beautiful, storied history. We love Saint Helena — and we love our neighbors in Napa, Calistoga, and Santa Rosa. We wanted to give you a Napa fire update from our side of the recent terrible events. Continue reading “Napa Fire Update: We Are Okay in Saint Helena & Napa Will Stay Strong!”
Most of us associate Napa with luxury and wine. But at its heart, this is a beautiful and natural region, that even those minding their budget can enjoy. We just want everyone to have a good time!
Most Napa Valley hotels start at around $250 per night. Our rooms at El Bonita start at $139.99. We’re just being honest: the Napa area attracts a lot of tourists who want luxury. But maybe you just love wine, or want to take in the beauty of the region, or want to take a cozy cultured weekend trip. And we’re here in St. Helena to make that possible.
Vacations almost always involve “indulging” and many restaurant meals. When you’re tight on time and unfamiliar with the area, you might just walk into the first place you see. This is never a good idea! (Unless it’s an ice cream shop with a line out the door. Then you know it’s good.)
Deciding in advance on more restaurants than you’ll need to get to will give you options. Choose unique spots with dishes you can’t find at home. We have plenty of recommendations for just that.
It’s fun, we promise. This should feel good before or after that heavy meal. And we’ll lend you the bike, no charge.
Alternatively, grab a Lyft. You don’t need to rent a car here.
They’re less expensive than you’d think, and you get to sample so many more wines than you would at an expensive dinner out.
If you wish you could partake in some of the relatively extravagant tourist attractions while in Napa, just know that you’re not alone. The world-class restaurants and wine train of the Valley aren’t going anywhere. Neither are the spas and the Michelin-starred chefs teaching cooking classes at the CIA Copia. There are plenty of activities to get to, and you’ve got plenty of time — now or later.
The beautiful wine country provides plenty of good experiences on its own. Check out these hiking trails or any of the public parks and beaches.
So, will we see you soon?
What do you like to do in St. Helena and Napa? Budget friendly and otherwise?
The American era of Prohibition followed the success of the Temperance movement, and we’ve all seen and heard the stories of bootleggers, bathtub gin, and moonshine. But what about the wine? What about those Napa Valley Prohibition days? Continue reading “The History of Prohibition in Napa Valley: a Lot of Raisins & Grape Juice”
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