"The Culinary Institute of America: not just for students The second location of the country’s best cooking school is not just for students. The Greystone campus was originally built in the 1800’s as a gravity flow winery cooperative (as the restoration continues, they often find bottles of wine barrels in the collapsed caves) and the three-story stone building houses a full-service restaurant and a casual, lunch-only café that are both run by the students. Adjacent to the culinary school is the wine center, located in the former Christian Brothers brandy distillery. Spearheaded The Wine Bible author, Karen MacNeil, the wine center offers classes and courses throughout the year for both amateurs and professionals in a state-of-the-art laboratory-like setting."

"Each November, just as harvest and the peak tourist season is winding down, the focus shifts from grapes and wine to the cinema as the Napa Valley Film Festival brings hundreds of filmmakers, actors, directors and documentarians to the valley. With screenings, galas, dinners and discussions in Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga there is something for everyone — from the most serious film student to the casual moviegoer. And while the movies are not all about wine (very few, actually) the wine receptions are more than an afterthought."

"Classic French Fare at La Toque Housed inside the Westin near downtown Napa, this restaurant stands out among fine-dining experiences. The best time to taste Chef Ken Frank's classic French fare is during truffle season, when he hosts the annual Napa Valley Truffle Festival. La Toque has been awarded a Michelin star for its cuisine, and the wine list is more than an afterthought, featuring nearly 2,000 selections from around the world. As one sommelier sums it up, "La Toque is a proper restaurant."

"Cathy Corison's Cover Crop Corison Winery is a must-visit anytime of the year — the hospitality is friendly, honest and open, reminiscent of 20 years ago, which is about when Cathy started making wine in Napa Valley . The tasting room is in the winery (Cathy is usually around checking barrels or pouring wine) and there are almost always older vintages to explore — Cathy once compared her decades of age-worthy wines to a string of blinking Christmas lights — one may be brighter one moment, another the next. One of the best times to taste through the wines from the estate's Kronos vineyard is during the winter when you can see the old vines in all their gnarly beauty (Cathy replants one vine at a time as they get too old or sick to produce) and the impressive mustard seed is ablaze beneath the Mayacamas mountain range. Photo taken in March courtesy of Corison Winery"

"Meadowood Napa Valley was damaged in the Glass Fire of 2020. They are taking reservations for summer 2021 and beyond. The renowned Meadowood Resort mixes the grandeur of a chalet with the amenities of a five-star resort—located in a private canyon within minutes of downtown St. Helena. The shaded, secluded property revolves around 99 rooms, most of which have high and exposed ceilings, private patios or balconies, wainscoted walls, and beds so comfortable you may never want to get up. Other amenities make Meadowood distinctive, too: Many rooms have heated bathroom floors; some also have deep soaking tubs. Elsewhere on the 250-acre property, all guests have access to the on-site spa, which was renovated in 2017; an on-site fitness center; hiking trails; tennis courts; and a daily wine reception. There’s even a croquet lawn—feel free to grab a mallet and hit some balls or sign up to take lessons with the Napa Valley’s only croquet pro. Of course the on-site restaurant, The Restaurant at Meadowood, is another big draw. More casual meals can be ordered from The Grill. Guests are entitled to a complimentary house car for transport into St. Helena or Yountville."