Train history of wine is very successful in Napa
Climb aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train, and you are immediately en route to the wine lover's heaven.
Experience Napa is all about wine, of course, but it is also about enjoying the good things of life. The visitor types Napa happen considerable time visiting several vineyards in the region where each will offer its special and vintages – usually ten to 15 dollars for a few sips – And there are few homes in Napa that are not upscale. Fine dining is considered de rigueur for any serious visit to what is now the home base for hundreds of basements.
It is therefore appropriate that the Napa Valley Wine Train is one of the most popular tourist attractions an place which is the definition of elegance. As visitors enjoy expensive wines for a fraction of their cost, the visitor who boards the train wine becomes a little taste of pampered rail travel – think Orient Express – for a fraction of what it would cost for the real thing.
We stayed the night before in San Francisco, but we were still able to make our way to the wine train station Napa approximately 10:30 on the train lunch. The Wine Train also offers a tour, but the dinner was fully booked when we called for reservations weeks ahead. The lunch train, however, has its advantages: the journey is three hours in broad daylight, no matter what time of year and it costs a bit less.
You'll want to plan to be patient during the boarding process. With hundreds of guests and passengers engaged the dining rooms, and in some cases, different meals, you just need a little time to get everyone signed in and out of the train. But now, we waited for boarding staff, the Wine Train offered a conference on wineries in Napa Valley – Always a crowd pleaser, – a couple of glasses of wine to taste.
Once on board, it is clear that the process of wine out all the stops to make this as luxurious as possible. We sat on plush chairs facing each other with a table between the two. Others sat in our car more comfortable stuffed swivel chairs side by side so that customers could still view the passing scenery or easily chat with one another. This car was particularly drawn in red and gold with accents of natural wood, giving a feeling of luxury and feel very different from a typical car, for example, Amtrak.
This is a historic car, in fact, there is a whole story behind this train and railway. The track was built in 1864 by San Francisco's first millionaire, Samuel Brannan, and was used for visitors to its new Resort called Calistoga. In 1885, Southern Pacific bought the Napa Valley Railroad, which provided regular passenger service to the Napa Valley until the 1930s. It has been used for freight for some time after, but it was not until 1987 that a group of concerned citizens founded the Napa Valley Wine Train and bought locomotives and cars restored 1910-era Pullman rail the new service.
During our three hours on board, we were treated waves of meals and drinks from wine (not included in the price of meals, per course), appetizers, salad, main course – which, during our trip was a choice between salmon and beef entr? – And dessert. Everything was exquisitely prepared and the presentations rivaled what you would find in a restaurant gourmet expensive.
The trip took us back a portion of the valley to St. Helena and back to Napa. There are beautiful views throughout Track colorful vineyards and hills just beyond the valley. Weekend Wine Train offers a variation of this lunch, which allows passengers to disembark and spend some time at a local manufacturer before making the return trip to Napa.
We returned to Napa totally relaxed and decided to visit few wineries before checking into our resort. The choices are endless and, in Napa, there are several major wineries that have put Big Money in their centers. There are also some small family wineries. They all want you to buy cases or bottles of wine to take back home, but, in Napa, we have noticed a trend in recent years towards more responsible for the wine tasting. Or it may be a case charging the same, but receive less wine. In this context, we doubt it has to do with traffic Napa is the weekend and is a way to reduce line the tasting bar.
A tasting is cheaper to V. Sattui Winery, which was bustling with people lining up for wine tasting 5 $. Located in St. Helena, this is a stop for visitors who want to grab a bottle of wine and picnic on the beautiful grounds. The winery even sets a buffet line on the ground, offering barbecue for those who do not bring their brown bags. Interestingly, V. Sattui does not sell no wines anywhere other than the Producer, by correspondence, or on the website of the company.
Although V. Sattui is typical of a relatively producer small family, the other end of the scale is Domaine Chandon, which we found in Yountville. With a park, spectacular and a four-star gourmet restaurant just steps from where the wine is made, Domaine Chandon is an example of a producer-owned to a large conglomerate that distributes its products worldwide. During a previous trip, we had the 45-minute tour of this massive installation, believed to be well worth the time. Small groups are taken step by step in the process of wine all the way to growing vines to bottling product.
We concluded our first full day in Napa Valley with a short drive from our lodging for the evening, the Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa. Like many other homes Napa Valley, the Silverado is steeped in luxury and offers a feast for the senses. Located next to a golf 18 holes, the Silverado is really a series of cottage suites which are reached by winding walkways through and alongside picturesque flower gardens, alleys, golf courses and ponds.
Each of the cottages to a unique Silverado? r and ours felt like a little cottage a Room with full kitchen and living area, dining table, fireplace and separate bedroom. A large screen flat TV has been in the lounge, just outside the sliding glass door was a patio and chairs where we could sit and watch the golfers just meters away.
The Silverado has reminded us a little of Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia, a favorite of ours is pretty similar – they are both village-style rooms connected by trails that meander through the property with surprises at every turn. With 1,200 hectares in total, customers encounter Silverado many pleasant surprises for reasons that are green with trees and vegetation and impeccably maintained.
Silverado is the perfect complement Today on the Napa Valley Wine Train and another excellent example of the spirit of the Napa Valley.
A GLANCE
WHERE: The Napa Valley is about 45 miles north of San Francisco, about 60 miles southwest of Sacramento.
WHAT: The Napa Valley has become famous because of grapes grown in this location. Grapes grown in different climates, soils and locations have different characteristics and Napa Valley grapes are judged among the best the world for the manufacture of several varieties of wine. Consequently, more than 300 wineries now located in the valley. Many restaurants lodging and shopping have also come to the valley.
WHEN: Any time of year. A special bonus is available in August and September during the annual harvest. Sometimes you can see first hand how grapes are crushed. Note: Most of them do not like Lucy Ricardo did.
WHY: The Valley has an almost mystical atmosphere that is hard to describe, but easy to discern.
HOW: To start planning your trip to Napa Valley, or go to www.napavintners.com www.napachamber.org. To learn more about the Napa Valley Wine Train, call 800-427-4124 or Appointments www.winetrain.com. For more information on the Silverado Resort and Spa, phone 800-427-4124 or visit www.silveradoresort.com.
About the Author
Cary Ordway is a syndicated writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, publisher of www.northwesttraveladvisor.com, focusing on Pacific Northwest travel and www.californiaweekend.com, covering California vacations.
