BlogThe Grapevine

Five Dot Ranch's custom aging program takes place at their butcher shop in Oxbow in Napa Valley. The Swickard family and Five Dot Ranch, have been raising cattle in California for seven generations.  All natural, locally raised and fed, they are right in line with our culinary ideals at Harvest Table.

Chef Chris said, “Keep it local, keep it simple, and let the ingredients speak for themselves. I love these steaks. The 28-day age is just enough time to allow the flavors of the beef to concentrate and for the fat to begin to lose a good a bit of water. I believe in letting the steaks come up to room temp, then searing them on a hot cast iron. It usually takes about 3 minutes per side on a medium high heat. Once the fat begins to render and you see the little golden brown crispy bits beginning to form, that’s when you know it’s looking good. From there we finish it in the oven at 350 degrees for about another 5 mins for medium doneness."

At Harvest Table we pair their steaks with a bright herby ravigote, panisse, and trumpet mushrooms.

"For this dish we use a crispy panisse. Panisse is sort of like polenta, but it’s made with chickpea flour. We bake it off in a large cake, like you would polenta, then we cut it into smaller cakes and we fry them to order. It’s a very traditional Mediterranean dish. It’s sort of like a play on steak frites. All over the Mediterranean, people will make panisse like you would large French fries. Fry them up and chow down. Ours are cut into circles, but have the same warm “feel good food” taste to them. Then we add a few roasted king trumpet mushrooms and finish with a bright herby ravigote. Ravigote can be made creamy or herby, and we choose the latter. Make this at least a day ahead, allowing the flavors to meld. Similar to chimichurri, this sauce brightens the deep earthy flavors of the aged beef and the mushrooms. We mix chives, parsley, capers, shallots, chervil, tarragon, & garlic, from our gardens, with sunflower oil and a bit of red wine vinegar. Spoon this on top of the steak before it goes out, & that’s it. Simple, clean, and delicious."

In the summer of 1880, Robert Louis Stevenson traveled with his new bride to Napa Valley, where they honeymooned in a little cabin amid an old mining camp. Today, Robert Louis Stevenson State Park offers visitors the perfect day-trip destination for moderate to difficult hiking adventures. Dedicated hikers will be particularly interested in the 5-mile journey up Mount St. Helena, where, on a sunny, clear day, the gorgeous view stretches all the way to Mount Shasta, about 192 miles northward. Be advised, however, that while the park offers outstanding hiking trails, bathrooms are not plentiful, and you’ll want to pack plenty of water to stay hydrated while you enjoy the breathtaking scenery.

After nearly half a year of pruning, bud breaking, flowering, crop thinning, canopy tending, and veraison, it’s time for that thrilling moment when the ripened grapes will finally be plucked from the vine. This is usually done by hand under cover of moon and stars. The lovingly harvested grapes are then tested to ensure proper sugar content and, of course, exquisite flavor. With the immense variety of grapes, and corresponding range of vintages, produced in Napa, you’d probably guess that Napa Valley is an enormous place. Not so: at just 30 miles by 5 miles at its widest, Napa Valley accommodates only about 13% of the vineyard acreage you’d find in the comparably acclaimed winemaking region of Bordeaux. As a guest of the Harvest Inn, you can enjoy the fruits of this year's harvest while luxuriating in your spacious and cozy Vineyard View Collection room, with breathtaking panoramic views of Whitehall Lane's Leonardini Family Vineyards. We’re proud that a quarter of the selections on our wine list are locally sourced, a number that continues to grow as we work diligently to bring you the very best of what Napa Valley has to offer.

The natural beauty makes it easy to have unforgettable memories. Harvest Inn weddings can be as intimate, majestic, charming, or refined as the couple desires. Basically, if you can dream it, we can do it. Let us set the scene for the rest of your lives. From our expert culinary team to our talented event planners, we only provide the finest service and look forward to helping you pin down every glorious detail.

The one-room museum houses a collection of over 9,000 items, including first editions and rarely seen manuscript pages of Stevenson’s works. Look upon the desk where he wrote his most celebrated masterpieces while exploring childhood letters, drawings, toys, and books from his private library. The environment is warm and welcoming and appeals to fans and curious visitors. Complete your homage to the author with a hike to nearby Robert Louis Stevenson State Park and take note of Napa Valley’s iconic highway sign: “Wine is Bottled Poetry,” which is derived from a Stevenson work.

From 1988-1998 the plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon had doubled, and the grape dominated most of the wine regions in Northern California. Napa County Cabernets are famous for their intense black fruit profile, while flavors of anise and dark olives characterize Sonoma County. Over the last two decades there has been a movement towards and away from aging in oak, leaving it to the discretion of the winery. The variety of flavors has lent to the modern trend of wines complementing local farm-to-table meals.

Indulge your palette at Harvest Table, our on property gourmet restaurant with a glass or bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from our wine list. Stags Leap is on the menu, as well as a combination of classic and up-and-coming vintners we think really steal the show.