Notes on Napa

Lola Cristall is Paris editor of Lucire.

The complete Napa Valley experience is a luxurious escape into nature’s beauty, vast fields and gorgeous vineyards. The Napa Valley Wine Train is an unforgettable experience where visitors can explore the area by train. Whether a three- or six-hour-long trip, guests will be able to indulge the very moment they board. The train gets right into the wine and food theme, its carriages dubbed the Cabarnet Sauvingon Lounge Car, Zinfandel Lounge Car, the Grappa Power Car, the Champagne Vista Dome, Le Petite Gourmet Dining Car, Le Chef de Cuisine Kitchen Car, Le Gourmet Express Dining Car, the Silverado Car, the Merlot Lounge Car as well as the Chardonnay Lounge. Each is appropriately opulent: passengers savour a complete dining experience with meticulously catered gourmet dishes, beautifully paired with a glass of wine to satisfy the tastebuds. With various tours to choose from including the Castle Winery Tour, the Raymond Winery Tour, the Grgich Hills Winery Tour or the Ambassador Winery Tour, there are plenty of landscapes to admire. The Napa Valley Wine Train also offers dining journeys, the experiences catered to the individual.

Travellers also crave recreation, comfort and leisure. The Mount View Hotel and Spa assures tranquillity and absolute relaxation. The property preserves its historical elements, offering guests a stay in memorable, outstanding rooms, which have a slightly European touch. Offering a pool, mineral whirlpool and spa, guests can unwind, relax and feel rejuvenated as well as absolutely revived, with their wellness serving as the hotel’s raison d’être. The friendly and welcoming staff makes the experience even more pleasing. Whether guests stay in the Guestroom, Petite Guestroom, Winery Suite, Winery Balcony Suites or Winery Artist Cottages, each room features a range of amenities such as eco-friendly aromatherapy bath products to gourmet in-room espresso machines and Ipod dock. The property is a stunning treat.

BottleRock is a yearly attraction with delicious, mouthwatering cuisine, good music and a slew of succulent wines. The three-day festival puts a number of musicians and renowned chefs on stage. It features more than eighty acts including the likes of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Maroon 5, the Foo Fighters, Gavin DeGraw, Band of Horses, and the Napa Youth Symphony, each performing on one of four distinct stages. The Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage presented talented celebrity chefs including Martha Stewart, Masaharu Morimoto, Roy Choi, Michael Voltaggio, Hubert Keller and many more. The festival offers attendees the opportunity to taste delectable international cuisine, with plenty that vegetarians and vegans can also appreciate.

Covert Estate opened its doors in mid-2016 with wine production occurring predominantly underground. French native and internationally renowned winemaker Juien Fayard is Covert’s co-proprietor. Fayard collaborated with local architect Juancarlos Fernandez as well as artist Richard von Saal to create this elegant ambiance. Appointment-only tastings are hosted within the caves, taking wine-lovers into the core of wine-making. •

Extravaganza BottleRock’s three-day festival celebrates food, wine and music