San Francisco - March 29, 2010

The Long and Wining Road

Take a California Road Trip to St. Helena in Napa Valley

trip to st. helena wine country in napa valley!

St. Helena is synonymous with a certain four-letter word (wine, people). There’s plenty of that, and more, to explore in one of Napa Valley’s toniest little towns.

New Release
Put your pedal to the metal and head to the new Farmstead restaurant, adjacent to Long Meadow Ranch winery’s tasting room. Executive chef and partner Sheamus Feeley’s homey, ingredient-driven cuisine (chicken and dumplings, grits with roasted squash and blood oranges) is already drawing raves. Serious locavores can even tour the ranch’s 650 acres of farmland.

Soak It Up
Start your day of tastings with a hot cross bun at Model Bakery. Cook is your place for a civilized lunch (roast poussin with artichokes and olive broth) at the marble bar. Then treat yourself at Woodhouse Chocolate (look out for insanely large Easter bunnies).

Tasting Notes
Everyone knows about Meadowood’s luxe lodging and Michelin-starred restaurant (helmed by Christopher Kostow). Now you can brush up on your vino IQ with private classes on Napa Valley’s hidden values taught by the property’s director of wine education, master sommelier Gilles de Chambure.

Serious Collector
Keep your cellar (and drawers) stocked with a stroll along Main Street. Step into Footcandy for drool-worthy Choos, Louboutins, and perfect-for-spring Missoni flats. Then hit up Pearl Wonderful Clothing for basics from DVF, Black Halo frocks, and vintage belts by Chanel. Martin Showroom has a great mix of sleek furniture and high-end kitsch (neon Holiday Inn Express sign, whale vertebrae).

Perfect Pairing
Test your cooking chops with a boot camp at CIA Greystone (since food, after all, is the best partner for wine). Opt for a comprehensive five-day experience or go more specialized with a two-day session in BBQ and more.