BlogThe Grapevine

Embark on an adventure that leads to your North Bay Area Wine Country, and experience a getaway where the journey is truly part of the destination.

A great starting place to map out your journey is Visit California’s Road Trip Republic, which outlines incredible routes for road trips around the state, with itineraries suitable for anywhere from 1-10 days. Regardless of your starting point, a trip through the Napa Valley should be high on your list for the scenery, outdoor recreation, plentiful world-class dining and wine tasting options, in tandem with ample opportunities to social distance the intended way, naturally.

Road tripping through the Napa Valley Wine Country should definitely include St. Helena in the heart of Napa Valley. Two well-known routes lay on opposite sides of the valley with Harvest Inn, St. Helena Napa Valley sitting on the HWY 29 on the East side of the valley at 1 Main Street, St Helena and the other being “Napa Valley’s Silverado Trail” on the West taking you from Napa to Calistoga on both routes and both equally deserving of a slow roll.  A fun article highlighting the history of HWY 29 can be found in the archives of the Napa Valley Register titled “Napa County has red-letter traffic history dates.” The HWY 29 takes one through the principal towns of Napa County including American Canyon in the South, Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, and ending in Calistoga in the North.

Most visitors to Napa Valley come from the South and our Harvest Inn recommendation is to enjoy the journey coming North by visiting the stops along the way.  A stop on this route at the Oakville Grocery is not to be missed. Touted as the oldest continuously operating grocery store in the State, it is a treat for a bite, a sip or a place to get out and stretch your legs as you prepare to cross the road to take a photo at one of the most iconic photo spots in the world; the Welcome to Napa Valley sign. Once you get to the heart of Napa Valley, you will not want to leave. With 150 wineries within 3 miles like Hall, Whitehall Lane, Merryvale and the historic Louis Martini across the road, why would you! For a better way to learn why Harvest Inn leaves you with a “let’s never leave” feeling, take a tour of our property with a glass of wine from the comfort of your own home now or get acquainted with our town of St. Helena, neighbors and local activities to better plan how to fill your cup and your days!

The Silverado Trail on the East side has a rich history dating back to the gold-rush days which helped welcome settlers to our area who came to strike it rich and while not making a mint on gold or silver, miners discovered a rich agricultural land ripe for exploration and decided to call it home. A great place to learn more about this storied route can be found in this article from National Geographic titled “Road Trip: Silverado Trail.” Heading North on the Silverado Trail starts in the town of Napa and a stop at the indoor farmer’s market called The Oxbow Public Market is high on Harvest Inn’s list of to-dos when in this part of the valley. The Oxbow epitomizes chic, local and rustic all in one location!  

The longer “Winding Through Wine Country” route featured in Road Trip Republic itinerary includes Sonoma, the Anderson Valley, and the Mendocino coast. Extend a Wine Country road trip by exploring Marin County or Monterey Bay, and a little escape suddenly becomes a grand adventure.

Let the open road lead you to relaxation. Pick a route or craft your own, and we’ll look forward to hosting you during your journey.

The 2^nd annual Songwriters in Paradise (SIP) Napa Festival, which takes place April 2 – 5, will feature 20 of the most celebrated acts in contemporary country music performing live at a rotating list of renowned Napa Valley wineries. Since most of the performers and attendees will be staying here at the Harvest Inn, SIP Napa offers you a unique opportunity to mingle with both entertainers and fellow fans, whether during breakfast and lunch at our acclaimed Harvest Table restaurant or over post-concert cocktails at Harvest Table bar. Better still, proceeds from the festival help support the Boys & Girls Club of St. Helena and Calistoga. To purchase tickets, check out SIP Napa’s official site here.

Participants will have the chance to purchase exclusive, one-of-a-kind vintages at the PNV auction, and with over 225 Napa Valley vintners in attendance, the opportunity to network and share viticulture expertise is second-to-none. Festivities are not restricted to the weekend, however. The week leading up to Premiere Napa Valley will abound with gourmet dinners and wine tastings at restaurants throughout the valley. The Harvest Inn is pleased to announce that we will be hosting six journalists during the Premiere as well as a women’s winemakers tasting in our Vineyard View Room on Friday, February 21.

As part of Napa Valley Restaurant Week, which runs from January 26 to February 1, you can take advantage of two amazing Harvest Table offers, a two-course lunch special for $20 and a three-course dinner special for just $46. Your meal will begin with a hearty serving of curried carrot soup, followed by either a sumptuous butternut squash risotto or freshly-harvested local rock cod. Dinner includes a delectable dessert as well, roasted apple tart with whipped Caramelia, toasted pecans, and hazelnut crumble. Of course, no truly gourmet experience would be complete without a glass of world-class California wine, which is why your meal will also include pairings from renowned Napa Valley vintner Hunnicutt Wines. As an added bonus, Justin Stephens, the proprietor of Hunnicutt, will make a special appearance during the week to share his viticultural expertise. To learn more about all the exclusive Restaurant Week offers at fine dining establishments across Napa Valley, check out the official website here.

This holiday season, the Church of 8 Wheels comes to St. Helena’s own Lyman Park, where you and your family can enjoy St. Helena Jingle All the Way – Napa Valley’s Winter Wonderland Roller Rink, an out-of-this-world roller skating experience with dazzling light displays, killer music, ice igloos, and the perfect glass of wine or cup of hot cocoa to sip by the fire. Now through December 29, the Winter Wonderland Roller Rink will be open for fun every Thursday and Friday from 4 – 8 P.M. and Saturday and Sunday from noon – 8 P.M. Each day at the rink will feature a different selection of mouthwatering culinary delights, wine, and musical entertainment. The Grinch, Santa, and various characters from Disney’s Frozen will also make appearances on select days. As an added bonus, you can take St. Helena’s first-ever Holiday Winter Trolley from the door of the Harvest Inn, through charming downtown St. Helena, all the way to the Winter Wonderland Roller Rink. For full details of St. Helena Jingle All the Way, see the official website here.

Blending classic concepts with playful flourishes all her own, Martin’s work has been praised by prestigious industry publications like California Home + Design and House Beautiful. Martin is also the singular force behind the dazzling and aptly named Martin Showroom right here in St. Helena. Nestled among the quaint shops and restaurants of Main Street, the 2300-square-foot showroom is a sanctuary of artistic whimsy, from one-of-a-kind furniture to handmade jewelry, to art and design literature, to breathtaking objets d’art collected from around the world, and so much more. During your stay at the Harvest Inn, be sure to stop by the Martin Showroom for one of the most exhilarating aesthetic experiences you’ll enjoy this year.

Address: 1350 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574

Interspersed with the film screenings themselves is a thrilling array of other events, including industry mixers, lavish dinners, parties, panel discussions, and more. The Festival Gala is one of the most highly-anticipated Napa Valley parties of the year. As an attendee, you’ll have the chance to strut along the red carpet, mingle with celebrities, and indulge in the outstanding culinary and viticultural creations of over 50 local wineries and restaurants. The Vintner Circle Dinners, another elite feature of the festival, bring together VIP guests with filmmakers and other acclaimed film industry professionals at one of 20 exclusive Vintner Circle wineries, including St. Helena’s own Revana Estate Vineyard, for a decadent multi-course feast prepared by award-winning Napa Valley chefs and their dedicated culinary teams. The Napa Valley Film Festival takes place from November 13 – 17 at various locations across Napa, Yountville, Calistoga, and St. Helena.

If, in addition to indulging in the finest food and wine Napa Valley has to offer, you’d also like to learn how to prepare exquisite meals yourself, consider taking one of the many fun and informative classes at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone (CIAG). Though some courses at the renowned culinary school are months-long endeavors, CIAG also offers a range of one-day demonstrations and hands-on cooking classes, from artisanal bread baking, to preparing novel vegetarian meals, to breakfast and brunch favorites, to small bites for your holiday party, and many others. For a more vigorous but still compact and manageable experience, we especially recommend the three- or four-day CIA Boot Camps, designed to immerse you fully in the thrilling world of the professional chef.

Address: 2555 Main St., St. Helena, CA 94574

Among the 5000 or so titles, you’ll find everything from French cookbooks to Russian history, to classics by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jane Austen, to the latest New York Times bestseller (a small portion of the inventory is new, particularly the very fine children’s section, which is all but certain to stock the perfect volume to entertain your little one during the long trip home). Drop by Monday through Saturday from 10 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. or Sunday from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M. to browse the shelves and take advantage of the friendly staff’s expert advice for your late summer reading list. If you arrive to find a “back in 5 minutes” sign and a line of people by the front door, don’t be discouraged. You’ll be glad you waited.

Address: 1315 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574

This multi-day extravaganza, which brings together the region’s leading culinary and viticultural experts for an unparalleled celebration of gourmet food and fine wine, has raised more than $108 million for cancer research over the last two decades. If you’ll be visiting Napa Valley on Friday, August 2, we hope to see you at the “Rock the V” Party, where, from 6:30 – 11 P.M., you’ll have the opportunity to chat with top food and wine professionals, sample delicious gourmet creations and prized varietals, and take part in a wine auction showcasing customized wine blends from Napa Valley’s elite winemakers. As if that weren’t enough, Con Brio, the acclaimed seven-piece Bay Area band headed by charismatic frontman Ziek McCarter, will be belting out a sensational mix of soul, psych-rock, and R&B that will keep the adrenaline pumping well into the night as revelers dance beneath the stars. The fun will then continue after hours at the underground Silent Disco.

The “Rock the V” Party will take place on Friday, August 2, from 6:30 – 11 P.M. at the Estate of Yountville, 6481 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599.

As part of this program, both the emerging young talent and established faculty perform alongside each other in the Festival Live! Chamber Series, which stages 14 outstanding chamber concerts in intimate venues around Napa Valley. On Monday, July 10, at 7 P.M., the chamber series will play on the Vineyard View Terrace at Harvest Inn, an outdoor extension of the elegant Vineyard View Room. While the Vineyard View Room offers 1050 square feet of dining space to accommodate up to 60 guests, the Terrace provides an additional 1600 square feet for up to 150 people to eat, drink, and relish the ravishing artistry of Festival Live! against the breathtaking backdrop of Whitehall Lane’s Leonardini Vineyard and the majestic Mayacamas Mountains. Harvest Inn is thrilled to be a part of this venerable virtuoso series. We hope to see you there.

Each installment of the Garden Dinner Series will feature a unique, innovative menu that draws on locally-sourced ingredients, many culled from Harvest Inn’s own vegetable, herb, and edible flower gardens. In addition to a multi-course meal, craft cocktails, and exclusive wine pairings, guests of the Garden Dinner Series will enjoy a guided tour of Harvest Inn’s stunning grounds and culinary gardens. Executive Chef Chris Kurth, Director of Food and Beverage Shawn Hyer, and other acclaimed food, wine, and horticulture professionals will be on hand to chat and answer any questions you might have about cultivating a culinary garden and preparing exquisite farm-to-table meals. For the inaugural dinner, which will take place the evening of Thursday, June 6, Harvest Inn will partner with TATE winery, St. Helena. Located less than a mile from our hotel, TATE produces small-batch, handcrafted wines under the direction of renowned winemaker David Tate, long celebrated for his role as general manager of Barnett Vineyards. The inaugural dinner will be a family-style feast featuring an array of delicacies, including roast leg of lamb in hay, alongside curried yogurt, mostarda, and pickled vegetables straight from Harvest Inn’s extensive gardens. The cost is $125 per guest. To make a reservation, please call 707-968-5835 or email Steve Gaebe at sgaebe@harvestinn.com.

For guests who’d like to indulge in the art of film during their stay with us, we recommend a trip to the Cameo Cinema, located just a mile from our hotel. With its classic marquee and bright red vertical sign, the exterior of the Cameo recalls a bygone era of motion picture magic. Once inside, you’ll feel as though you’ve truly entered a portal to the past as you marvel at 1920s décor and movie posters from the Golden Age of Hollywood. The Cameo screens both niche indie films and big-name blockbusters, and the traditional movie-house seating is roomy and comfortable (for a more romantic experience, opt for one of the purple love-seats). Though the Cameo boasts one of the oldest film screens in the country, the cinema’s technology is cutting-edge, with all-digital projection and a sound system that rivals the very best in the industry. You can also purchase a range of drinks and snacks to enjoy, whether you’re in the mood for a bucket of buttery delicious popcorn, a refreshing scoop of gelato, or one of several vegan bites.

Address: 1340 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574

Then, after decades producing some of the finest grapes in the region, di Rosa transformed his vineyard into the site of a now internationally renowned contemporary art center. During your visit to the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, you’ll marvel at galleries exhibiting cutting-edge work from the mid-twentieth century to today by some of the best artists of Northern California, including Paul Kos, Lynn Hershman Leeson, Viola Frey, Jay de Feo, Bruce Conner, Robert Arneson, and many others. You’ll also have the opportunity to stroll through the bucolic natural surroundings, which feature a crystalline 35-acre lake complemented by an extensive sculpture garden.

Address: 5200 Sonoma Hwy, Napa, CA 94559

Located about 20 minutes by car from our hotel, Napa Premium Outlets packs 50 outstanding stores, including Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, Coach, J. Crew, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and much more. If you’re anything like us, a day of shopping really works up your appetite. Fortunately, Napa Premium Outlets has you covered there too with an array of quick bite options to keep you energized, whether you prefer Mexican, American, Chinese, or another of the international flavors on the menu. Once you’ve filled your bags with all the trendy merchandise you can carry, head back to the Harvest Inn, where you can relax with a glass of wine (or two) and indulge in the valley’s freshest farm-to-table fare at our acclaimed Harvest Table restaurant.

Address: 629 Factory Stores Dr, Napa, CA 94558

The museum is divided into three main sections: the Main Gallery, where you’ll marvel at West Coast and world premieres; the Spotlight Gallery, which focuses on local happenings and up-and-coming talent; and the History Gallery, which draws from the museum’s permanent holdings to showcase an ever-shifting vision of Napa Valley’s rich history. Current exhibits include Walt Disney’s Trains, which explores the fascinating influence of the American railroad on the beloved filmmaker’s work, and Land and People of Napa Valley, which shows how one-of-a-kind geology has allowed Napa Valley to become the world-famous wine-making region it is today. The museum is open Wednesday – Sunday from 11 A.M. – 4 P.M.

Address: 55 Presidents Circle, Yountville, CA 94599

Established forty years ago, Napa Valley Aloft is a family-owned organization that has earned its place as one of the finest balloon operators in the region. Even better, NVA is based in the charming V-Marketplace of Yountville, just a quick 15-minute drive from the Harvest Inn. With the friendly, professional staff of NVA, not only will you be treated to one of the safest and most thrilling experiences of your life, but you’ll also have clear views of the sublime landscape below since, unlike their competitors, NVA keeps the passenger load low for each flight. Special deals for small, private parties are also available.

Address: 6525 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599

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.