Although there are many lovely places in Northern California’s wine country, there’s no town quite as charming as Yountville. The picturesque hamlet is where Napa’s founding father, George Yount, established a village in the 1850s. It’s also where the region’s first wine grapes were planted in the 1860s and where, some hundred years later, a chef named Thomas Keller took over Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star restaurant The French Laundry. Today, Yountville has a vibrant winemaking community, an eclectic art scene and sophisticated restaurant offerings.
If you plan a trip to the area, here’s where to stay, taste and eat. Travelers should note that reservations to the following wineries and dining establishments are highly recommended.
Day One
Start the morning with coffee and a croissant from Keller’s Bouchon Bakery. It’s across the street from Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Bardessono Hotel and Spa, our suggested resort for your stay in Yountville. The chic and modern property is in the city’s heart and within walking distance of many tasting rooms and eateries. Bardessono is unique because it’s wine country’s only LEED Platinum-certified hotel, meaning you can rest easy knowing you’ve selected lodging that’s both exquisite and eco-friendly.
The sleek-yet-welcoming rooms boast private patios and can be transformed into spa suites. While Bardessono has a small spa, guests can enjoy specific treatments in their rooms, which have minimal, masculine décor; deep soaking tubs; and outdoor showers. There’s a rooftop pool with pretty views of the surrounding vineyards, an all-day restaurant called Lucy that serves seasonal farm-to-table California cuisine and an onsite art collection curated by the San Francisco-based Andrea Schwartz Gallery. Interesting sculptures, provocative paintings and soothing water features are found throughout the public spaces, making it easy for you to enter a relaxing state.
For your first tasting, head up Washington Street to Silver Trident Winery. A boutique, family-owned and operated establishment, Silver Trident isn’t your typical tasting facility. The team refers to it as a “tasting home,” and that’s what it feels like. It’s a series of intimate and luxurious rooms — one is decorated like a dining room, another outfitted as a library and so on — and they’re all furnished exclusively by Ralph Lauren Home. Everything inside is for sale, including the squirrel and deer portraits, the linen curtains and the twig chandelier.
Book the pizza pairing, and you’ll be in for a delicious treat. You’ll sample five of Silver Trident’s small-production wines, each paired with pizza. For example, a slice of butternut squash and feta pie is enjoyed alongside the clean and crisp sauvignon blanc, while the heartier short rib- and fennel-topped pizza accompanies the rich and luscious proprietary red blend. Silver Trident also offers a puppy pairing if you’re traveling with your dog and a wine-only option if you’re not in the mood for food — but since there’s no other pizza pairing in the valley, why not indulge?
If you’re still hungry, head next door to The Kitchen at Priest Ranch. Although it’s a casual, order-at-the-counter spot, chef Dan Solomon’s cuisine is excellent, and the atmosphere is inviting. With a brisket-and-chuck blend, American cheese and house-made pickle, Solomon’s smashburger is a local favorite. In addition to fantastic fries, The Kitchen also serves all-day breakfast, satisfying salads and seasonal soups.
For a midday treat, move to Priest Ranch Winery’s tasting room and partake in its “Taste the Terroir” experience. You’ll get four wines and artisanal chocolates crafted by local chocolatier Chris Kollar exclusively for the winery. Each sweet has a distinct topping meant to mimic the type of soil in which the grapes are grown. The chocolates are splendid, and the estate-grown wine is wonderful. The sauvignon blanc pairs perfectly with white chocolate and lemon.
Take a break from wine and wander through town. You might not find many shops, but if you look closely, you’ll discover treasures in unexpected places. The city mandates that all tasting rooms be 25% retail, so cookbooks, gifts, clothing and culinary tools are mixed in with the vino. Even the spa at Bardessono has something to offer, like local jeweler Elizabeth Wilmore’s earrings made from repurposed Chanel buttons.
Art is vital to Yountville, and along Washington Street, there are more than 30 distinct sculptures, from rock mushrooms to a life-like man sitting on a park bench by Seward Johnson. Each piece has a QR code, so art lovers can learn more about its design and listen to a self-guided audio tour. There are also docent-led art walks for those interested in diving deep into the town’s collection.
It’ll be dinner time after a break at the hotel. The hottest new restaurant is Ciccio, where you’ll find a warm, bustling, rustic environment with a tiled ceiling and marble-topped wooden tables. Chef Christopher Kostow’s cuisine is rustic Italian, and everything on the menu, from the towering chopped salad to the pillowy cacio e pepe gnudi, is superb. There’s something for every eater, from pepperoni pizza to whole wheat rigatoni with flowering broccoli. The food is simple but sublime. If you’ve had enough wine, try a cocktail. The gin martini features smoked olive oil and rosemary, while the Boulevardier has strawberry-infused Aperol.
Day Two
Grab fruit and a pastry from Lucy’s bar or order room service. As most of yesterday was spent in town, it’s time to venture out to the nearby vineyards. No trip to wine country is complete without stopping at one of the area’s famed sparkling wine houses, and Chandon is a five-minute drive from downtown Yountville. The winery underwent a significant transformation in 2024, and it’s chicer and more sophisticated than ever. Native grasses and plants dot the landscape, making the winery feel lush even in hot summer.
We suggest booking a culinary experience, such as a lunch or brunch pairing that showcases winemaker Pauline Lhote’s sensational sparklers. Different food offerings are available depending on the day of the week you go. On Thursdays, for example, you’ll find fried chicken and the reserve Brut; on weekends, it’s five courses of elegant bites such as roasted duck with carrot puree and butternut-squash goat-cheese agnolotti with the Étoile Tête de Cuvée. Whichever journey you choose, you’ll get your fill of bubbles and have time to unwind in a gorgeous, inviting setting.
After lunch, hop in an Uber and take a 10-minute drive to the Silverado Trail for a tasting at Odette Estate Winery. The contemporary tasting room has incredibly high ceilings and a wall of windows overlooking the vines. The team is committed to sustainability and growing organically by using environmentally sound practices (the roof is covered in solar panels, the winemaking lab is made of recycled shipping containers and rainwater is captured for irrigation). A tasting experience includes a cheese plate and a pour of the Odette Reserve Chardonnay, a bright, acidic white with a refreshing mouthfeel and peach and honeysuckle aromas. The cabernet sauvignons are stellar, lush and drinkable now but also ideal for aging.
There’s still time for one more tasting, so pop into Stewart Cellars, which is back in town on Washington Street and just a 10-minute stroll from Bardessono. It’s one of the few places in Yountville that accepts walk-ins. Interior designer Ken Fulk is behind the eclectic décor. Cozy leather chairs, animal accents and Scottish elements like the Stewart family’s tartan make the space feel like a wise and worldly traveler’s home.
The multi-generational family-operated winery specializes in single vineyard wines, and it partners with one of Napa’s most sought-after vintners, Andy Beckstoffer, to produce a collection of cabernet sauvignons exclusively from Beckstoffer’s grapes known as The Nomad. Winemaker Blair Guthrie’s Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is a favorite and pairs well with everything from roasted chicken to grilled mushrooms.
After relaxing at the hotel — this may be the perfect time to rest at the rooftop pool or hit up the spa for a facial — dinner with Thomas Keller is a must. Yountville could be called “Kellerville” because the esteemed chef owns and operates five restaurants around town. Getting a reservation at The French Laundry isn’t easy, so head to Bouchon Bistro if you haven’t booked well in advance. With the latter, you’ll still get to experience Keller’s exemplary service, outstanding wine curation and delicious cuisine at this take on the classic French bistro. Order oysters on the half shell, beef tartare, moules frites or a croque madame. Everything on the menu is scrumptious and transports diners to a quaint eatery in Les Baux.
After dinner, walk up the street to another Keller establishment, RO Restaurant & Lounge. The newest addition to the toque’s lineup, RO is a popular bar with a see-and-be-seen vibe. It’s dark and atmospheric, with live music on weekends and a menu of prestige champagnes and innovative cocktails. RO stands for “Regiis Ova,” as in Kellar’s caviar brand, so if you’re in the mood for a few more bites, order a sampling of his golden ossetra, Siberian and royal caviar. It’s the ideal way to savor your last few moments in dreamy Yountville.
