This town of Yountville is super upscale and everyone would be so fortunate to visit this beautiful…read moretown!! I absolutely love being here and feel so lucky to be here! Fly up here on JSX and make a reservation and check out the chic town

This little town has oh-so-much to offer. It's a little pricey, but to be honest, everything in…read morethis area has lots of delicious restaurants, beautiful views, the wineries, the tastings, what more would you need? I go there at least four or five times a year, and if you're from out of town, it's definitely worth a trip. You might see me there. Cheers, my friends SYOY 11/19/25

I'm impressed someone bothered to make a Yelp page for this room at Castello Di Amorosa... then…read morenever bothered to check in or write a review for the place. Well, I don't like wasting a perfectly good page, so allow me to put some life into it. The Castle Torture Chamber is an underground room inside the winery castle known as Castello Di Amorosa in Calistoga. It cannot be accessed with general admission - you must take a tour of the castle to gain access. With good reason... can you imagine if some of the kids tried playing hide and seek in the Iron Maiden? Tours are $20 for wine club members, otherwise $40 for adults. Minors are also allowed to go on the tour, but I believe there is a minimum age. So why is there a torture chamber in the winery castle? Because back then, all castles had one. Dario Sattui wasn't going for a Disneyland castle... nope, he wanted it to be authentic as it could be (w/ indoor plumbing and electricity). In fact, he spent decades sneaking into castles in Europe to investigate their inner walls. Thus, we have the torture chamber with all the tools used for interrogating and punishing misbehaved men, treacherous wives, traitors, etc. While he went for authenticity, most of the torture chamber props are high quality replicas - Sattui had them hand crafted in Europe. While not as sharp, they're still likely to cause pain. The only authentic piece is the Iron Maiden, a coffin like piece that has spikes inside. The spikes were strategically placed not to kill anyone but still cause an immense amount of pain. I guess there's no point in torture if the person you torture dies quickly? I also wonder how one manages to purchase an authentic Iron Maiden from the medieval times, but I shouldn't question a man who had the money to build a castle in Napa. ;) Again, pretty neat space to be in, albeit a little creepy. Props to Mr. Sattui for getting his castle down to the nitty gritty.

I'm impressed someone created a Yelp page for it, and that they advertise it in the actual Chamber…read more Now just to get cell service to check in while I'm in the actual castle. It was both neat and odd to be in this room, which was included in the Wine Train tour we booked. All in all, which I will go into more detail in the actual winery review, I wasn't the biggest fan of this tour. I found it too long and while the air quality was better than expected, the torture chamber added an extra squick factor to the fact we were underground (this is California) and many of these items are high quality replicas of items that were actually built back in the middle ages. Which, why build a room of replicas? I honestly didn't get it and don't think I was the target audience for the tour. The chamber could have been much better utilized or sold, especially since a few minutes after we left the chamber we were then "locked" into small cells for the wine tasting. They could have built a bar into the iron maiden and had 'blood wine.' or used the room to sell a specific brand of the wine 'Torture Red.' Instead all the attempts to make it authentic just rang hollow. Either the space could be a fantastic museum where art, history, and literature of the age could be shown because it's attempting to replicate the time period, or it can be what it is, a highway attraction that hosts a winery and puts a lot of effort into making it "authentic." It just came off poorly and I don't think I would come back for another tour.

Napa, how I love you. I try to make an effort every year to visit but sometimes the timing is never…read morethere. Each and every visit has alway been amazing. Normally it's wine tasting with friends for a couple of days. The many wineries throughout the area. Literally one after the other. Besides being in an area that so pretty with vineyards surrounding you. There's a lot of amazing restaurants to try. You have all the local favorites as well as the well known restaurants that can take months to get a reservation. Napa is known for loads of nice places to eat. Even walking through town, the main downtown area does get pretty packed with holiday makers. More tasting rooms, nice restaurants, you have some shopping and some good souvenirs shops. Mainly higher priced items but still worth checking out. Can't leave out all nice fancy hotels. More intimate with most of them but with the feel that you're well taken care of. Napa isn't cheap as you'll want to do loads of tasting and eating. It's a place that's worth checking out if you've never been. It's a few hours from San Francisco. We've done day trips from there loads of times. A fun has alway been here and can't wait till the next time.

Came to Napa for a 2026 New Year's getaway with my boyfriend, and even though it was rainy and wet,…read morethe whole trip felt incredibly romantic. The majestic mountains wrapped in dark gray skies created this moody, cinematic backdrop that made the valley feel extra cozy. Wineries are truly everywhere -- you can take your pick and your poison -- and each one has its own charm. We flew in from Las Vegas and arrived at Sacramento Airport, then rented a car and made the drive to Napa. It took about an hour and fifteen minutes. Just a heads‑up: the drive gets very dark at night, especially once you leave the city areas, so make sure your headlights are on and you're comfortable with winding roads. Despite the weather, Napa still delivered that peaceful, wine‑country magic. If you're looking for a quiet, romantic escape -- even in the rain -- this place doesn't disappoint.

******************************* 977 *******************************…read more The 3rd annual Flavor! Napa Valley will be held November 20-24, 2013 at the Silverado Resort and Spa, and The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, Meritage Resort and Spa, Beringer Vineyards, and many other locations throughout the beautiful Napa Valley. I got the chance to attend this year and what was an amazing food and wine event. The best in America if you are a wine lover. You are in treat for the best of the best. A TASTING TO HONOR THE LIFE OF ROBERT MONDAVI - WINE TASTING WITH WINEMAKER GENEVIEVE JANSSENS - Moderator Peter Marks. Iconic vintner Robert Mondavi was an inspirational advocate for the Napa Valley, building the first winery after Prohibition and quickly producing wines that stand in the company of the world's finest. In honor of his 100th birthday, enjoy a retrospective tasting with Director of Winemaking Genevieve Janssens, who will unlock Robert Mondavi Winery's treasured library of older vintages to showcase more than forty years of unparalleled winemaking history. We got to taste 1976 JUDGEMENT OF PARIS Cabernet Sauvignon that won the blind tasting that year. 2 bottles of Chateau Margeaux 1995 and 2006, I was SPOILED. TOP TASTERTM BLIND WINE TASTING COMPETITION - Host: Andrea Robinson Panelists: Gillian Ballance, Bob Bath, Alder Yarrow and 10 Master Sommeliers around the US. I wrote this event so much, I got 5 wines out of 6, so much fun, so much to learn, and the beautiful resort Meritage. THE APPELLATION TRAIL: TASTING NAPA VALLEY - Take a journey to the epicenter of abundant Napa Valley as you taste wines from its 16 sub-appellations at this grandest of Grand Tastings. Gather your friends for an indulgent night of sipping and feasting from nearly 100 wineries and 25 restaurants - all under one roof of the majestic Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. Throughout the evening, you'll be saying hello to the winemakers and chefs who make Napa Valley the premier wine and food destination in America. And you'll discover how the various terroirs and micro-climates of the region make each Cabernet--along with other varietals--unique expressions of where they were grown. Over 100 wineries and 25 restaurants participated in this event. We had so much fun, so much wines, so much food, so many awesome chefs, so little time! ABOUT: Flavor! Napa Valley® Celebration of Wine, Food & Fun is an annual event that features world‐class Napa Valley wines alongside the Napa Valley's master chefs and graduates of The Culinary Institute of America's culinary education programs. Net proceeds from the event support programs and scholarships at The Culinary Institute of America's Greystone Campus in St. Helena, CA. The event is hosted by founding sponsors Silverado Resort and Spa and Dolce Hotels in partnership with VisitNapaValley.com, The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, and the Napa Valley Vintners, and is produced by Karlitz & Company. DO NOT MISS THIS EVENT NEXT YEAR IF YOU ARE TRULY NAPA VALLEY WINE LOVERS!

My husband and I truly enjoy attending this wonderful event!!! My husband is a professional chef,…read moreso food is his passion. I love to bake, and because my husband is passionate about food, so am I. We love watching the demos, touring the CIA facility, picking up things in the bookstore, participating in events, and meeting the chefs! This is a great event for anyone who's interested in wine, cheese, good food, baking, and/or fun! This year, I attended a cake decorating session with Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes. The event was held at Beringer VIneyards in the Hudson House, which was lovely. We were able to get hands-on assistance and guidance from Duff and his staff, and our cakes turned out great! This was my first time airbrushing a cake, and working with fondant - not my favorite cake decorating item, but it was so much fun; I even had my cake box autographed by him. :-) Next,I headed to CIA to watch an Iron Chef Morimoto demonstration. Last year, we watched him break down a monkfish and create 5 spectacular dishes. This year, it was a yellowtail and 6 dishes! He is always entertaining and of course, the room smells terrific as he cooks! His knife skills are amazing! The other event I attended was an interactive demo with Rocco Dispirito. He demoed the gnudi we would be making, but also made pork saltimbocca as well. He is definitely passionate about altering traditional dishes to be healthier - he was more than happy to share some of his tips and tricks for healthier eating. I got to cook in the CIA kitchen, which was a lot of fun, too! Students were there to help anyone who needed assistance. Participants were able to enjoy 3 wines with our meal - Beringer, Stag's Leap, and Etude. I must say, my entire table enjoyed the Beringer cabernet sauvignon the most. In fact, I bought a bottle for our Thanksgiving meal this past weekend! The gnudi was tasty, the saltimbocca was great, and we had a dessert as well. It was a great experience - Rocco made a point of going around in the kitchen when we were cooking and checking up on everyone, as well as visiting every table during the meal. I bought his book and got it signed afterwards - picked one up for my boss, as well! I would have loved to attend a few more events, but scheduling conflicts prevented it, and a couple of the events sold out quickly. I highly recommend attending this event if you're in the business or if you're just interested!!! It's a lot of fun, the scenery is beautiful, and you'll have a great time!!!

What a neat find directly in between Ad Hoc and A mobile home park. Even the bank parking lot…read moreadjacent is bougie!!!' lol

This is an excerpt from blog review:…read morehttp://tinyurl.com/ykupu9n The weekend of Nov. 21-22 was the Holiday in Carneros event, with over 20 wineries participating. The event is sponsored by Hospitality de Los Carneros ("HDLC"), which is a collective of Napa and Sonoma wineries located within the Carneros Appellation.Wine, Song, Love I don't make it down to 'the Valley' - a/k/a Sonoma Valley, as much as I'd like to, so I was glad that this weekend didn't have a lot of events to compete with Holiday in Carneros. I had previously stumbled upon the similar "April in Carneros" event last year, and had a good time, so I was really looking forward to going back. Taking my own advice from my post on the Wine Road Wine and Food Affair, I took the time to do some planning. The HDLC website helped by providing a well marked map, and a handy list of who was offering what. I was a bit surprised to see some number of Carneros wineries did not participate, especially the many of the 'tin warehouse' wineries on 8th Street. (Lets see some Appellation Solidarity.) But, there were more than enough wineries to visit for the day. Printing out the Map and the Event details, I laid out a plan that took me to mostly wineries I had not visited before, and had varietals, and descriptions that interested me. Having just returned back home after being in Portland all week (again), I decided to rest up on Saturday, and make a full day of it on Sunday. This turned out to be prudent, as several wineries reported that the crowds were lighter on Sunday, which allowed more quality time to interact with winemakers. I also followed my own advise about carrying a spit cup, and brought my own. For the most part, toting around a spit cup not only helped my tasting, but it also occasionally impacted what I was served. At one winery, a less experienced pourer gave me a funny look, in others I was offered tastes of wines not on the "menu." Wineries visited: Roshambo, Anaba, Ty Caton, Parmalee Hill, Robert Stemmler Winery, Etude, Ceja. Event is well run, organized, and participating wineries do a great job. I look forward to their April in Carneros event, next.

an awesome 2 day event! it was great intro & opportunity to check out sonoma specifically…read morecarneros wines & wineries! mellow for the most part, didn't have the large obnoxious drunk crowds -- so we appreciated that. went to the following: etude, cuvaison, 8th st. wineries (tin barn, talisman, ty caton, enkidu), anaba, bonneau, adastra, ceja, mantra @ grange sonoma. AWESOME discoveries: - 8th st. wineries area ****talisman (1 of our new faves)!!! excellent pinots!!!!! ** cuvaison -- excellent cab, breathtaking views of the surrouning vineyards & rolling hills - etude love this so much -- we'll be back next year & will check out april in carneros.

This statue is right next to Russian River Brewery on 4th st…read more The life-size basalt sculpture, a gift from the city's South Korean sister city, Bukjeju - as I found out from a quick Google search. The cobblestone lined fountain really does look beautiful and adds some flavor and class to the downtown Santa Rosa area. I don't know the meaning behind the statue itself - but enjoy it every time I visit the area. Public art is something every city strives to incorporate - this was executed here very well. Blends in with harmony to the surrounding area and Jeju Way - the tiny park located directly behind the statue. Russian River and the Chinese restaurant next door, Ting Hau are the closest business - on either side of the statue is diagonal street parking.

Quality/Quantity - As a "kid," this was the city to be in because they were one of the first to…read morehave "Outlet malls." Still a good place to visit, but again, nothing beats the Livermore Outlet mall. Other things to do in Vacaville, not in any order: Also one of the first Costcos. Nut Tree Plaza, Nut Tree Park, etc; across the street from the outlet malls. Lagoon Valley/Pena Adobe Regional Park. Nearby attractions/cities. Fairfield - Jelly Belly Factory, Travis Air Force base, etc. See my City of Fairfield Yelp review. Vallejo - Six Flags; WAIT, how do I not have a City of Vallejo review?!?! I have been spending the last 6 months in this city. Adding to my list to review. Sacramento is 35 miles away. San Francisco is 55 miles away. Atmosphere - Other than shopping and taking a break from my road trips, I do not see much of a need to visit this city. The city was founded in 1851 and is named after Juan Manuel Vaca. Population of 102k (2020 census). 30 sq miles, 0.23 of which is water. Top employers: Kaiser. Amazon. Genentech. Service - N/A. Price - Outlet shopping prices, so reasonable. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1892.

Went to Merriment on Main tonight, and it was fabulous! Well over a 1000 people, with the kids,…read moreSanta Claus, Mrs. Claus, the Grinch...etc! So much fun, a great atmosphere, all the local businesses got involved. Lots of free cookies, drinks, refreshments, little stuffies for the kids. Loads of live music, the Air Force band who were amazing, the Crossroads local church brought their choir to sing, the Vacaville Drumline! There were animals for the children, bunnies, piglets, chickens, sheep, and a donkey...the crowd were enthusiastic, and when the tree was " LIT UP" everyone cheered and you could seriously feel the comraderie! If you have never been, I recommend you put it on your list for next year. Such a family friendly event, and it really WAS A LOT of fu...