A couple from Dallas found their slice of wine country paradise recently.
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Far from the crush of Napa Valley tourists, Roby and Connie shared a bottle of Chianti in Yountville’s lovely little Van De Leur Park. Laced with flowers, including an ancient pink climbing rose, the park is one of several “secret” spots in this tucked-away town in the heart of Napa Valley.
Unlike its neighbors, Yountville’s business district is hidden from Highway 29, creating a quiet place for strolling or riding a bike along a mile of the town’s Washington Street known for its world-class wines and Michelin Star restaurants. In fact, Van De Leur Park is just around the corner from the celebrated French Laundry and its French Laundry Gardens, where about a third of Chef Thomas Keller’s herbs and vegetables are grown.
Indeed, the bar is so high in Yountville, the “culinary capital” of the Napa Valley — that even the local food truck and gas station stand out. Tacos Garcia sells a delicious $4 taco and the Honor Market (and filling station) has a gourmet hot dog on a brioche bun that customers rave about on Yelp.
Boutique shopping is another attraction on Washington Street, thanks to a resolution passed in 2009 that requires a fourth of wine-related businesses to feature “secondary retail products.” Today, you’ll find everything from clothing to furniture and high-end cookware as you sip your favorite varietals.
RH Yountville, for example, integrates food, wine, art and design into its five-building. indoor/outdoor restaurant and showroom. Diners enjoy ingredient-driven dishes like shaved ribeye on charred garlic bread in a magical setting of heritage olive trees, fountains and chandeliers.
Silver Trident Winery features the Ralph Lauren Home Collection, pairing winemaker Kari Auringer’s talents with world-class home furnishings. Auringer is also the winemaker at Cornerstone Cellars, where the tasting room is augmented by a boutique clothing shop.
Priest Ranch Tasting Room has handmade guitars and pottery among its many one-of-a-kind offerings. Visitors to the Hestan Vineyards tasting salon can purchase high-end Hestan and Ruffoni cookware. And the oldest tasting room in town, Jessup Cellars, is also a gallery where all the featured art is available for purchase.
In fact, the entire walkable length of Washington Street is an outdoor gallery, with more than 35 sculptures from artists who live locally and around the world. There’s a free audio tour of the Yountville Art Walk that you access by scanning the QR code on each installation. A favorite is the bronze sculpture of a cook and his oversized fork, entitled “The Chef” by Napa artist Lorenzo Mills.
Yountville’s art isn’t the only playful nod to pop culture. The tasting menu at the aforementioned Silver Trident Winery pairs five varietals with curated artisanal potato chips. Another eclectic offering pairs wine with bouchon baguettes and artisan butters at nearby Handwritten Wines. And if you’re a fan of cured meats, check out the bacon and wine pairings at the (also aforementioned) Priest Ranch Tasting Room.
Craft cocktails are a specialty at the Restaurant at North Block, where chefs Juan Cabrera and Jorge Veranza serve up stone-baked flatbreads or pinsas, fresh pastas and coastal favorites like charred octopus and yellowfin tuna tartare. Around the corner, R+D Kitchen is popular for its sushi, salads, sandwiches and specialties like wild mushroom meatloaf. Also, the rustic charm of Bottega draws diners who crave authentic Italian cuisine.
No one would blame you if you spent all your time in town eating, drinking and shopping. It’s just so hard to resist; but if you’d like to burn a few calories, the Vine Trail is a paved, designated path for a scenic 45-minute bike ride between Yountville and Napa. There are also nine short walking trails in town, highlighted on a map at the Yountville Welcome Center.
Should you choose to soar over this pastoral landscape of gardens and vines, Yountville-based Napa Valley Aloft is one of the original hot air balloon companies to offer agricultural aerial tours over the Napa Valley. Their colorful balloons are a symbol of the magic that happens in a little town blessed with so much abundance.
Ginny Prior can be followed on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook and at ginnyprior.com. Email her at ginnyprior@hotmail.com.
FYI
The Yountville Welcome Center at 6484 Washington St. can help you plan your visit.
Also on Washington Street, North Block Yountville has been awarded two Michelin Keys and features well-appointed rooms in a delightful courtyard setting. Find out more at northblockyountville.com.
Napa Valley Lodge is a luxury boutique hotel, a short walk from Yountville’s many attractions. See their package deals at napavalleylodge.com.