Napa Valley | Oakville
Napa Valley is one of the most beautiful wine countries to visit. However, one of favorite times of the year to visit Napa is in the winter, because of the cozy intimate astmosphere it offers. I've created 10 reasons why you should visit Napa Valley this winter. Which makes this the perfect time for you to help all the North Bay fire victims in wine country.
1. Countless of Rainbows
Napa | Rutherford | Round Pound Estate
If it's raining in Napa you can guarantee that you'll see a rainbow. I remember last time I was there, you could see rainbows all throughout Napa. Its so wroth seeing!!!! Just check out my video HERE.
2. Less Crowds
Hall Wines | Napa
An obvious reason to visit Napa in the winter (or any wine country) are the crowds. The fact that Napa wineries are less crowded should be enough to get you out here. You get more attentions and sometimes, you get a little more tastes.
Hall Wines
Pictured here is Hall Wines in Napa. This place is gorgeous and you almost feel as if you were in an art museum. We walked in with no appointment, and had wine tastings at the bar. We later went outside and enjoyed their fire pits.
Hall Wines | Napa
Etude Winery | Napa
3. Appointments are not as necessary
Although you should always make appointments at you wineries, in the winter they're not as necessary. We walked into several wineries without an appointment and we're still able to taste. Some of these wineries were; Hall Wines, Round Pound Estate, Pina Cellars, Caymus, CakeBread Cellars, Etude, and Orin Swift Tasting Room in Healsberg.
Round Pound Estate
Orin Swift | Napa Tasting Room
Pina Cellars | Napa
Etude Family Estate | Napa
Cakebread Cellars | Napa
Cakebread Cellars | Napa
4. Mustard Fields
This is another obvious reason to visit Napa in the winter, are the mustard fields. Just around the end of January, all of Napa begins to bloom with Mustard flowers, or mustards weeds, or whatever you want to call them. Make sure you don't miss this because as of this writing, these mustards flowers are babies and in just a few weeks, they will be blooming a florescent yellow.
5. Lower Hotel Prices
Silverado Resort | Napa
Embassy Suites | Napa
Lower hotel pricing is another benefit to visiting Napa in the Winter. We love visiting these time of the year due to this reason.. Hotel pricing is at a lower rate and we can usually book some of the higher end hotels at a better rate.
Las Alcobas | Napa Valley
Las Alcobas | Napa Valley
6. Foggy days and beautiful views
Castello di Amorasa | Napa
So just add wine and a cozy sweater to these views and it will be perfect!
Round Pond | Napa
7. Fire Pits
Silverado Resort | Napa
Fire pits it's just another excuse to cozy up!
Hall Wines | Napa
Hall Wines | Napa
8. Help Napa and North Bay Fire Victims
Although the loss during the fires has been substantial, the loss of business was the most devastating. During my last visit in November at the wine bloggers conference, several representatives from the affected areas in wine country, spoke to us about the aftermath. As a result of the fires, 15% of Sonoma County, 10% of Napa, 8% in Lake Counties and approximately 2800 acres in Mendocino County were burned, with the majority of it being residential areas. The North Bay fires begun the first three weeks of harvest, which is the busiest time of the year. Thousands of tourist cancelled their vacations during the busiest time of the year, leaving wine country almost a ghost town. Please know that a lot of the fire victims work in the wine industry and we can help by visiting wineries and restaurants in Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino and Lake Counties. If you can’t visit, purchase northern California wine this year and help Wine Country re build!
Oxbow Public Market | Hog Island Oysters
The Press Napa Valley
9. Last minute guest additions to your reservation
Ashes and Diamonds | Napa
During one of my visits in last month I decided to extend my stay in order to visit the newest winery in Napa, Ashes and Diamonds. Because it was winter, I was easily added to my friends reservation several hours prior, no problem!!!
Ashes and Diamonds | Napa
10. Winter Events in Napa
There's so many events going on in Napa during the winter. A great way to visit as many wineries as possible is to purchase a Winter in the Wineries Passport. For the price of $60, a Passport will grant you entrance to 17 wineries for complimentary tasting flights during the season that runs from December 2, 2017 through February 4, 2018. If you can’t finish all 17 tasting experiences in one visit, you are welcome to return for as many visits as you’d like during the season. Even though we're in January, if you plan on visiting one weekend, you can get your money's worth in one visit! Now that's a deal. Click HERE to see a list of all 17 participating wineries.
Another Event is Restaurant Week. Napa Valley Restaurant Week allows locals and visitors to dine and delight throughout the valley and experience our legendary food and wine culture January 21-28, 2018. Prices are: multi-course prix-fixe menus for lunch ($20) and dinner ($36 or $46), guests can try out the latest culinary hot-spots or revisit old favorites all week long. Click HERE to see a list of other wine event in Napa this season
11. It's Cabernet Season and.......... the wonderful wine!
Duckhorn Vineyards | Napa
The most obvious reason you should visit Napa this winter is the WINE! It's Cabernet season, so that means it's sweaters and cozy weather astmosphere.
Cakebread Cellars | Napa
Duckhorn Vineyards | Napa
Thank you for taking the time and reading this article. Have you ever been to Napa in the winter???????
All pictures were taken January 2017 through December 2017. All pictures and video were taken by me and my other half, David Eccles.
******* Please not that none of this content was sponsored, except for Las Alcobas Napa Valley. The winemakers lunch during the Wine Bloggers Conference in November at Las Alcobas was sponsored by Napa Valley Vinters and Visit Napa Valley. PS, There a video later on this winemaker lunch at Las Alcoves!