Hidden Treasures

     Many guests to wine country are very excited to see familiar wineries and restaurants and spas.  They make a list of what not to miss, and nothing is left to chance.  It is likely they will have a nice vacation and return home satisfied.  

     As a resident of Napa and a worker in the wine hospitality business I speak daily to guests from around the world.  It is when they are describing a new wine country experience that they seem happiest. The new discoveries energize the visitor and inspire him to be open to wineries, restaurants, and other attractions he may not have considered before.  Recently my local explorations uncovered some new experiences for me. 

     The small town of Yountville has undergone many changes over the past several years.  Through many years of change "The Diner" was a symbol of stability and an earlier era.  I would have wonderful waffles and omelets there, and they had some marvelous Mexican food there, too. 

     When The Diner closed 2 years ago there were many broken hearts in Yountville.   I was there on the last Friday before closing to pay respects, have some pancakes and buy a Tee shirt. The property sat idle until, after a flurry of construction, the "Wine Garden" opened.

     The light yellow cottage with curtains on the windows and lavender in the front yard is warm and inviting.   I walked around back and discovered a wonderland of lawn, flowers, vegetables, small trees, with a few tables placed for in perfect locations for serene enjoyment.  Food and wine purchased at the Wine Garden may be consumed at the tables.

     The gardens are tended in a natural way, something we all can learn from, minimalizing the use of pesticides and fertilization.  The gardens are meant to be enjoyed and appreciated by Wine Garden patrons.  I am sure the gardens will have plants growing all year long, considering Yountville's climate.

     The interior of the attractive building is charming as well.  There is a cozy winetasting bar where tasters can sample food along with their wines.  This is an uncommon practice for Napa winery tasting rooms, so the Wine Garden has added a new twist to the sampling experience.  Several of the Valley's wines are poured  by the glass or as part of a sampling flight. 

     The restaurant has inside tables and a marvelous array of tempting menu choices.  I will definitely go back and try the food next time, as I was on time constraints this visit.  I did glance at a menu, and the heirloom tomato salad with Blue Cheese seduced me.  I ended up taking a serving along to have for lunch.  Other menu choices included oysters, pastas, more salads, macaroni and cheese with ham and cherry tomatoes, and items off the grill.  The steak with red onion marmalade sounded nice.  Maybe a Zinfandel would be perfect.  The desserts were creative and decadent.  There was even an homage to the Diner.  You could get a milkshake served like the Diner used to do.

     Yountville is evolving into quite the dining destination.  The successful Bouchon Restaurant has spawned a bakery.  The morning I visited, the September sun was beaming through the trees, and people were waking up on the patio with latte and apricot spice scones.  The muffins and bread in the ovens were tantalizing my nose before I walked into the cuter than cute shop.  I came to learn the bakery supplied goods for the French Laundry and the Bouchon restaurant next door.

     The goodies all looked great, and very rich.  Eclairs, tarts, scones, and macaroons.  Upscale sandwiches and giant cookies were winking at me.  The latte was of another world.  The smattering of guests appeared to be lodge or bed and breakfast tourists, with espressos or latte, skimming the morning paper and enjoying the quiet of a Yountville morning. 

     Yountville has a world-class champagne producer, Domaine Chandon. They now produce regular wines as well.  The grounds of the winery are indeed gorgeous with the fountains, weeping willow trees, old oak trees, and flowers. There is even an outdoor sculpture of a mushroom garden!  Their tasting rooms are beautiful, the wines are nice, and it is fun visiting an old friend, Domaine Chandon.

Thanks, Robert