Two weekends ago, I tagged along with Keegan on a work trip to Napa and Sonoma. We got into town a day before the festivities kicked off, so we used our free time to try Etude Wines and eat at Ad Hoc. The rest of our trip was largely organized for us, which was kind of lovely. It was really nice to just relax and let someone else do the work.

The Napa/Sonoma area is small, but jam-packed with the most wonderful restaurants. Full of culinary giants, it is a foodie’s paradise. I can’t wait to go back and try even more spots – Bodega, Morimoto, Gott’s Roadside, Bistro Jeanty and Bouchon Bakery – to name a few. Below, I’ve included the restaurants we tried, along with our favorite wineries from the trip.

GO:

Etude Wines – We stopped here and relaxed on their expansive patio, splitting a tasting menu. It was absolutely perfect. (Pictured above)

Bell Wine Cellars – We ate a delicious lunch here and sampled some wines. The owner is heavily involved in production. We caught him operating a forklift, which was pretty cool.

Gundlach-Bundschu – This was my favorite spot. It’s one of the oldest wineries in Sonoma and is gorgeous – the wine is pretty fantastic too.

Stag’s Leap – If you’re not familiar with the story, Stag’s Leap helped put Napa wines on the map. In the 70’s, they bested French wines in a blind taste test conducted by European experts. Their wine is still spot on today.

EAT:

Ad Hoc – Yountville – This was easily one of the best meals of my life. Period.

El Dorado Kitchen – Sonoma – A seasonal, locally sourced menu, my favorite item here was the s’mores inspired profiteroles.

The Girl and the Fig – Sonoma – Technically, I didn’t eat here, but they catered one of our lunches at a winery, so I’m counting it. I tasted their food, right? And, it was so good I went back for seconds.

STAY:

Riverside Terrace Inn – Napa