346479 Tue Nov 28 22:37:20 -0800 2006 11 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 2053877 We are planning a Christmas trip (22-25) to the Bay Area (SF "proper", San Jose possibly, definitely Napa). We're going to try and stay somewhere outside the city of SF to save money but I'd like to spend at least a day in the city to visit Chinatown and their yummy roast pig and dim sum. We've both been to the city many times, so we're good on the typical tourist stuff. I only have 2 Napa must-tastes - Cakebread and Turnbull, although I'm sure a few more will pop out once we're driving around. Any other must-sees? My "weird" question is - do we need to be mindful of any wacky Christmas Day hours? At restaurants, attractions, or wineries? I'm guessing the wineries will hold their standard tasting hours over the weekend, right? Tue Nov 28 22:37:20 -0800 2006 42944 leanneabe 1 2054000 We love going to Napa the day after Christmas, the 26th, a great time to visit. Must sees on our list are Cliff Lede, Robert Sinskey, Miner Family, Elyse and Augar-Martucci on the southern end of the valley. Up north, past Calistoga we really like Bennet Lane, Summers, Calistoga Cellars and August Briggs. All are small, family run with excellent wines and great little tasting rooms. Tue Nov 28 23:29:37 -0800 2006 2053877 10925 rtmonty 1 2054053 I would assume that all the wineries would be closed Christmas Day. Tue Nov 28 23:48:47 -0800 2006 2053877 15739 Earl Grey 2 2054165 Exactly, almost all if not all are closed. In fact, a number are closed the day after Christmas although we've always found plenty that aren't. And, the day after is a "seldom visit Napa day" so everyone you go into is sooo happy to see you. Wed Nov 29 00:24:10 -0800 2006 2054053 10925 rtmonty 3 2056071 Well, we'll be leaving Christmas Day, so I don't think the day after will cause us any problems. I'm just wondering if it's worth it to stick around for the day of Christmas (or fly home in the morning) if most everything (not just wineries) will be closed. Wed Nov 29 19:19:24 -0800 2006 2054165 42944 leanneabe 4 2056569 As a "Napkin," (that's a Napa local!) I can tell you definitively that almost all wineries will be closed Christmas Day. But the days leading up to the holiday should be a great time to visit. I like rtmonty's list - I'd also had a sparkling house like Schramsberg or Domaine Chandon - ya gotta stock up for New Year's, right? Wed Nov 29 21:54:03 -0800 2006 2056071 55869 megamalone 1 2057496 One of our favorites in Napa which is very small and privately owned is VanDerHeyden. Get a map and he's on the Silverado Trail. There isn't a bad wine, pricey, but wonderful! Try Artesa, Chimney Rock, and don't miss Freemark Abbey. Go to napavinters.com and you'll get a great map with wineries listed and then you can google the wineries to see what excites you enough. Many charge $10-$20 per tasting, so share if you're two people. For dining, contact the Culinary Institute in St. Helena and you will enjoy a wonderful dinner prepared by students of the school and many flights of wine choices. Enjoy! Thu Nov 30 04:02:37 -0800 2006 2053877 56590 kmaznic 2 2073191 Oh, we'll definitely be sharing tastings so we can squeeze in as many wineries as we can! Thanks for the tip on St. Helena... that would be fun to do. Tue Dec 05 22:28:07 -0800 2006 2057496 42944 leanneabe 3 2073593 Cakebread is awesome; so is Clos Pegase, Plumpjack [small place but high quality v. quantity], and Artesa. Clos Pegase has some neat art and Artesa is a neat place built into the side of the mountain/hill. I bought cases from all and have really enjoyed their wine. Wed Dec 06 00:32:23 -0800 2006 2073191 57685 anichols 1 2073658 Actually, when I lived in Napa I took some friends out just to drive and found a handful of wineries that were open... Franciscan and Merryvale ring a bell so you might want to check parking lots that have cars in them. Wed Dec 06 00:49:54 -0800 2006 2053877 16933 Carrie 218 1 2075224 Call ahead from home or check the websites...check out my suggestions above, too Wed Dec 06 17:07:19 -0800 2006 2053877 56590 kmaznic 1 2129254 We did end up going out to Napa on Christmas Eve (not Christmas Day or the day after) and found a few places that were open. However, aside from Turnbull, my picks were closed (Clos Pegase, Cakebread, Plumpjack). We did try Mumm and enjoyed that and Sterling was open (with their gondola ride to the top) and they had a nice tasting set up. In all, it was fun to drive around and see the area and note which places we'll have to revisit when they're open. We looked at Go Fish for lunch, but instead opted for a simple burger and the best garlic fries at Taylor's. Tue Dec 26 17:53:52 -0800 2006 2053877 42944 leanneabe