Napa wine tasting and tour on the Napa Valley wine train

California Bay Area is renowned for temperate climate, exceptional scenery, gourmet food, and first class travel destinations. One of the areas where you can get all of this in one delicious vacation is in the Napa Valley.

The Napa Valley is tucked back into the rolling hills of Northern California just beyond San Francisco and boasts of breathtaking views, world-class wineries and luxury fit for a dignitary. This travel spot receives more than four and a half million visitors each year, yet maintains a quiet repose from the active city life of the San Francisco Bay Area. What is it about the small burgs and towns in the Napa Valley that attract so many tourists?

Napa Wines

Travelers come from around the world to visit the wineries in Napa. The Valley is just thirty miles long and a few miles wide but it is the home of the some of the finest wineries in the world. There are currently over seven hundred wine producers in the valley.

Many of these wineries have vineyards and tasting rooms that are open to the public. The offerings at each are varied and unique. Some of the indulgences you can expect are servings of delightful gourmet food parings of chocolate, cheese,and fruit with world-class wines-- from a lusty Cabernet to a light sparkling Champagne. Napa has a Mediterranean climate that is perfect for growing some of the best wine producing grapes in California.

With so many tasting rooms to choose from, how do you know where to begin? There are several options. One of the least restrictive is getting a winery map that shows the location of all the wineries open to the public for tasting, and enjoy a “self guided tour”. Taking this route allows you to visit the wineries of your choice.

One that is a “must see” and voted “best of” by The Wine Enthusiast Magazine is Mumm Napa. They have one of "America's Best Tasting Rooms" in the area. Noted for outstanding sparkling wines, friendly staff, tours and phenomenal photography galleries, Mumm is one you will want to include on your adventure. “The New York Yankees clinched their 16th American League East Title on September 27th, and they celebrated in style with Mumm Napa sparkling wines”.

If you would rather experience Napa Valley in grand style, consider hiring a limousine service exclusive to wine tours.  Or you can see the valley on the Napa train wine tour.

What you can expect on this Napa tasting tour:

• Exceptional gourmet food
• Extraordinary hard-to-find regional wines
• Special wine events that change with the seasons, including a dinner theater
• Behind the scenes winery tours not available to everyone
• A wonderful ride on one of the nation's only active, historic passenger railroad
• The most economical package starts at just $49.50 and gives you access to an on-board wine bar where you can sample wines from many of the regions celebrated vineyard

Napa Valley bed and breakfast or luxury hotel

To finish off your day in the Napa Valley, one of the best places to stay is at a local bed and breakfast or luxury hotel.

One of my personal favorites is the Milliken Creek Inn and Spa-- A Luxury Hotel in Napa. Travel and Leisure Voted the the Milliken Creek Inn as the"Top US Inn" and "Number One choice" for a grand stay in Napa. The Milliken Creek Inn is hidden away on three lush acres overlooking the idyllic Napa River, with five-star luxury that emphasizes "thoroughly sophisticated service and style in a beautiful and tranquil setting ambiance". Frommers advertised it as "the best New Hotel to open in 2001...Napas' Finest Choice". You must make reservations way ahead, however, as they are often booked as far as a year in advance.

And my number one pick for a Napa bed and breakfast is the Hennessey House located in the heart of Napa. After a wonderful day of touring and tasting...you can stroll to historic downtown Napa's outstanding restaurants, lovely galleries and shops. For a great evening of entertainment choose from one of the local theaters or the famous "Opera House".

However you choose to enjoy the delectable wines and beauty of Napa, you won’t be disappointed. Even if you are the designated driver, the vistas, gourmet food,exclusive shopping and luxury accommodations of the Napa Valley will satisfy any discriminating taste for a slice of California living in Napa Valley style.

Visiting Napa Valley, touring winery tasting rooms, gourmet dining and a luxurious stay at a Napa Bed and Breakfast or Inn, makes for another wonderful BayAreaGreatThing!

Screaming Eagle Winery of Napa Valley-

The property consists of a private home and the small winery, and has never been opened to the public. They produce a very small amount of extremely exclusive wine. One of the most famous is a 1992 cabernet that fetched an astonishing $80,000 per bottle. “The cabernet is intense, rich and creamy with elegant fruity flavors that linger in the mouth.”