The wait is finally over. Summer is here and with it, a good reminder of why Wine Country is a top getaway spot.
Warm, sunny days make it oh, so easy to spend more time outside. From lingering on winery patios, to watching movies under the stars, there’s a plethora of fun reasons to add Napa Valley to this summer’s must-do list. If it’s been a bit since you visited the county, here are a few of our favorite new spots to sip, eat, and call it a night.
Summer Sips
Back and Better Than Ever
After more than six years of planning and construction, the new Signorello Estate winery is open for daily tastings. Destroyed by the 2017 Atlas Fire, the new state-of-the-art winery is virtually fireproof, built into a hillside and is constructed of steel, concrete and glass. Solar-powered, it now operates entirely off-the-grid. Open daily by appointment. 4500 Silverado Trail, Napa, 707-255-5990, signorelloestate.com
Just Down the Block
Small production winery Silver Trident is settling in to its new digs on Washington Street in Yountville. The new location is just a short walk from the original, next to the Yountville Visitors Center and across the street from another recent newcomer, Thomas Keller’s RO Restaurant and Lounge.
Guests can choose from a traditional, sit-down wine tasting experience, or crunch their way through a flight of five wines paired with potato chips in Silver Trident’s Potato Chip Extravaganza tasting. The tasting room also carries a wide range of Ralph Lauren products, olive oil, coffee, tabletop goods, artwork and more. Open Thursday through Monday; reservations required. 6484 Washington St., Yountville, 707-945-0311, silvertridentwinery.com
Casual, Walk-In Wine Tasting
Wine label Adaptation now has a dedicated space to call its own at Odette Estate Winery in Napa. Part of the PlumpJack Collection of Wineries, the new tasting space is geared toward folks searching for a casual wine tasting experience.
The Adaptation Experience features four wines, including two vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Odette Reserve Chardonnay. Each wine is paired with a different flavored potato chip.
Cost is $60; bottle service is also available. 5998 Silverado Trail, Napa, 707-690-1213, odetteestate.com
New Look
The historic stone barrel room at St. Helena’s Ehlers Estate is fresh off a redesign. Dating back to 1886, the updated tasting room interiors showcase the building’s rich Napa Valley history. 3222 Ehlers Lane, St. Helena, 707-963-5972, ehlersestate.com
Fresh Eats & Drinks
Grand Opening
If you needed another excuse to head to Calistoga, Robert’s Tropical Table is it. The outdoor space, located next to the Mount View Hotel on Lincoln Avenue, features tropical-inspired specialty cocktails and bites, including jerk chicken and a jerk pork belly slider. Raised in Jamaica, owner Robert Jones, has been a mixologist in Napa Valley for more than seven years with stints behind the bar at nearby Solage, and most recently Brasswood Bar & Kitchen in St. Helena. 1457 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, robertstropicaltable.com
Mother Nature’s Flavor
You’ll happily eat your veggies at the Grange Harvest Dinner Series at Stanly Ranch, an Auberge Resorts Collection hotel in Napa. Celebrating local ingredients and the farmers that grow them, dinners are held at the property’s onsite chef’s garden, The Grange. July’s theme is tomatoes. Yum! 200 Stanly Crossroad, Napa, 707-699-6200, aubergeresorts.com
Endless Summer of Pies
Pizza pies, that is. Now through November, The Grove restaurant at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia is hosting a pizza pop-up.
Diners will be able to try a variety of pizzas from around the world, including Napoletana, Siciliana, Okonomiyaki, New York, Chicago (deep-dish), California Neapolitan and more. Featured pizza styles will change every two weeks and guest chefs will drop by through mid-October to make pizza on The Grove’s outdoor terrace. Chef Leah Scurto, owner of PizzaLeah in Windsor, will be on hand Aug. 2 – 3. 500 First St., Napa, 707-967-2500, ciaatcopia.com
Celebrating 25 Years
2024 marks a quarter of a century for Gott’s Roadside and the eatery is celebrating with monthly seasonal specials. July choices include a wild coho salmon sandwich, wild coho salmon Nicoise salad paired with grilled street corn, and watermelon wedges with feta and mint. There’s also a rotating selection of milkshakes, with blueberry on the menu for this month.
Since its founding, Gott’s has grown from one restaurant to eight locations throughout the Bay Area. Along with the original location in St. Helena, there’s a second Napa Valley location in Oxbow Public Market. 933 Main St., St. Helena, 707-963-3486; 644 First St., Napa, 707-224-6900, gotts.com
Hotel Happenings
Calling All Art Lovers
Local artists have a new venue to showcase their talent. Hosted by Napa’s River Terrace Inn, the monthly Art Along the River series will feature a diverse selection of work, including ceramics, jewelry, oil paintings and other handmade items. It’s free to attend; artists will have their work available for sale, and food and drink will be available for purchase.
The Art Along the River series will be held along the River Terrace Inn’s riverwalk from 1 to 7 p.m. on select Saturdays, July 13, Aug. 17, Sept. 7, Oct. 12 and Nov. 9. 1600 Soscol Ave., Napa, 707-927-2217, riverterraceinn.com
Moonlight Movies
The lush lawn at Carneros Resort and Spa is doing double-duty as an outdoor movie theater during the month of July. Onsite restaurant Farm will be offering seasonal small plates inspired by each featured movie. Moonlight Movies on the July calendar include Ratatouille (July 5), The Devil Wears Prada (July 12) and Wine Country (July 26). All movies start at sunset, between 8:30 to 8:45 p.m. Admission is complimentary; outside food, drinks and chairs are not allowed. 4048 Sonoma Highway, Napa, 866-860-2328, carnerosresort.com