Romantic Getaway to Napa Valley (4/04)
Written by JimVatcher/ Edited by Todd Elliot (4/04)
There’s something very romantic about Napa Valley. Green hills rolling in the foreground of larger green hills, hawks effortlessly soaring in the gentle breezes above the valley, cloudless blue skies and warm sunshine, the dramatic lines of gnarled vines that appear to be holding hands, unified across wavy fields, and wine. Ah yes, the wine. Grapes that are born, nurtured, and cared for until their velvety juice is ready to make a symphony in the pallet.
It’s hard to believe that the Napa Valley had basically no accommodations, restaurants, or for that matter tourists until the landmark victory of some California wines at the 1976 Paris tasting. Napa Valley was born.
One of the original places that had accommodations for tourists is a bed and breakfast just off highway 29 in Yountville called the Oleander House. This quaint bed and breakfast is conveniently located in the heart of Napa Valley, it’s wineries and it’s award winning restaurants. It’s a perfect place to come and unwind and still have all the comforts of home.
You are first greeted by a beautiful garden full of wisteria, roses, and wild rosemary which is cut and given away to guests in the summer along with freshly grown heirloom tomatoes. The house, which has five guest rooms, is comfortable and homey. All rooms are elegantly decorated and spacious with high cabin like ceilings, queen size beds, balconies, baths, air conditioning and a bottle of wine in a silver bucket to greet you. No televisions are a blessing. Grab a book from the den and enjoy a glass of brandy or just sleep. There’s nothing like a nice long sleep after a full day of sunshine and wine tasting.
In the morning you awake to a bountiful breakfast that is served at 9 a.m. Ham and swiss puff pastries, oatmeal brulee, cherry soufflé, chicken and apple sausages, scones, fresh fruit medley of pineapple, strawberries and mango. This is not your “Dennys” like breakfast. Breakfast is always something different and a bit exotic. If you have any special food requests, don’t hesitate to ask, it will be taken care of. Breakfast is also a great time to chat amongst the guests to find the latest recommendations of places to eat, places to see and wines to tastes.
What sets the Oleander House apart from other places is the warm hospitality of innkeeper Kathleen Mathews. She is the genius behind the garden, the decor and the breakfasts. She’s spunky, fun, and free spirited and takes a real pride in her job and making her guests feel comfortable and at home. She’s non intrusive, but will be more that happy to join the conversation when invited, which is almost always. The Oleander House is a great value and a memorable place to stay.
When visiting the valley take full advantage of some of the world class food that is available. Napa Valley probably has the finest bunch of restaurants per capita than any other place in the world. One such restaurant in the quaint town of Yountville is Bouchon. Highly acclaimed chef Thomas Keller of the French Laundry is behind this hip little dining spot. The menu is French bistro style where you can get anything from caviar to a steak with a cone of fries. The restaurant is small and loud, but it has a great energy and atmosphere. You’ll have to wait for your table even with reservations, but it is a great opportunity to sip champagne in the courtyard and talk to some of the friendly locals or enjoy some fresh oysters at the oyster bar. Each table gets a ramekin of warm pistachio nuts, which was a nice surprise and deviation from bread and butter. Starters such as cream of celery soup and mixed greens with warm goat cheese with toasted hazelnuts is a great start. The roasted leg of lamb with flageolet beans in a thyme jus was an amazing combination and the white sausage was so tender and light it was hard to tell the texture difference between the sausage and the potato puree it came with. Do we even need to mention the large selection of great wines? That goes without saying in Napa Valley. Some of the dinner specials go fast so you might want to make early reservations.
In Rutherford, just off the beaten path of highway 29 is the Rancho Caymus Inn. Stepping into the Rancho Caymus transports you to another place. It has a southwestern flair with smooth wooden beams, dark rot iron gates and door knobs, stone walls and arch ways. The 26 rooms surround a beautiful courtyard rich with vines, trees and bougainvillea. The rooms are split level with high, spotted wooden beam ceilings. The first level has a sitting area and a fire place which is very cozy. You take one step up to the bed room, bathroom, and outside to the private balcony. The balcony doesn’t look out to much, but it’s peaceful. The wood and iron in the room looks like it has lived and experienced for 100’s of years, but somehow still looks modern and new. It’s a room that you can just lay there and stare at all the rich textures that surround you. The Rancho Caymus is the type of place that will leave a lasting impression long after you’ve left.
Also in Rutherford is the ever so popular Rutherford Grill. This crowded spot for lunch or dinner is famous for their delicious BBQ Ribs(which fall off the bone), tender Rotisserie Chicken with fresh herbs, famous crunchy, tasty cornbread, and grilled jumbo artichoke among many other fabulous items. More and more tourists are finding out about this great place and No Corkage Fee on any outside wine bottles. Kitchen Manager and Chef, Don Wetherell, keeps right on top of things so all goes well. Don has worked at Houstons Restaurant in NY(which is affiliated) besides growing up in the restaurant business. He has been with the company over 9 years now. For more information, please visit online at www.houstons.com and click onto the Rutherford Grill. Located at 1180 Rutherford Rd. in Rutherford, Ca. 94573.
The wine is the real star of the Napa Valley. With competition of more and more wineries, the wine is getting better and better. You can’t see all the wineries in one or even two visits. The key is to take your time, don’t rush through the wineries. Spend some time on a picnic with one of your favorite bottles of wine. Melt into the landscape. It’s the time and the place to stop, breath, drink, and appreciate being alive.
- Oleander House Bed and Breakfast
- 7433 St. Helena Hwy.
- Yountville, CA 94599
- Rancho Caymus
- 1140 Rutherford Rd.
- p.o box 78 Rutherford, CA 94573
- Bouchon
- 6540 Washington St.
- Yountville, CA 94599-1315 707-944-1565