Napa Valley or Youtenville...which is better?
Feb 26th, 2003, 01:56 PM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,489
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Alooohaaa,
Yountville all the way, IMHO.
We usually stay at The Bordeaux House or the funky Railway Inn but there are all sorts of places like Villagio, Napa Inn, Vintage, Maison Fleurie, Oleander House, et al.
What we like is that it's all within walking distance to each other, away from the Hwy. and you have Fr Laundry, Napa Grille, Bouchon's, Bistro Jeanty, Hurley's, Piatti's, Pac Blues Cafe right there, too.
You also have Vintage 1870 with all sorts of nice shops and restaurants.
Great place to begin and end a bike ride thru NV.
Man! I'm ready for a trip back there now!
Kal
Yountville all the way, IMHO.
We usually stay at The Bordeaux House or the funky Railway Inn but there are all sorts of places like Villagio, Napa Inn, Vintage, Maison Fleurie, Oleander House, et al.
What we like is that it's all within walking distance to each other, away from the Hwy. and you have Fr Laundry, Napa Grille, Bouchon's, Bistro Jeanty, Hurley's, Piatti's, Pac Blues Cafe right there, too.
You also have Vintage 1870 with all sorts of nice shops and restaurants.
Great place to begin and end a bike ride thru NV.
Man! I'm ready for a trip back there now!
Kal
Feb 27th, 2003, 06:42 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We stayed at Maison Fleurie and loved it...our stay was almost 5 years ago and we stayed at several of the Four Sisters Inns in California. They were all good values and pleasant. In Yountville we enjoyed dinner at the French Laundry (easier to get reservations then!) and Bistro Jeanty which had just opened.
Feb 27th, 2003, 12:43 PM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,854
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cath4,
Better is a relative term. They are very close to one another so if you don't like one, in 30 minutes you can be in the other. Sonoma and Napa (towns) are less than 30 minutes apart.
What are you looking for in the way of experience? What time of year are you going? Do you mind paying a tasting fee? Do crowds bother you? These are the types of things we'd need to know to determine which is better for your particular needs.
Better is a relative term. They are very close to one another so if you don't like one, in 30 minutes you can be in the other. Sonoma and Napa (towns) are less than 30 minutes apart.
What are you looking for in the way of experience? What time of year are you going? Do you mind paying a tasting fee? Do crowds bother you? These are the types of things we'd need to know to determine which is better for your particular needs.
Feb 27th, 2003, 01:30 PM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,854
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Different wineries in either location offer free tasting or charge a fee that is later applied to any purchase made at the winery. There are many winery lists available that can tell you if there is a fee for tasting and where the winery is located.
I know some people feel that the wineries in the Napa Valley routinely charge while those in Sonoma do not. In my experience it's more mixed than that simple explanation.
I know some people feel that the wineries in the Napa Valley routinely charge while those in Sonoma do not. In my experience it's more mixed than that simple explanation.
Feb 27th, 2003, 01:37 PM
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We are going in late October. Stopping in Napa before we head off to Hawaii. I'm looking to relax and be in a quaint town. Yountville looked much more apealing than the city of Napa. I don't really know where to stay either. I was hoping to stay in a nice B&B, but I keep getting mixed reviews. HELP!
Feb 27th, 2003, 02:33 PM
#12
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,489
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Aloohaaa,
Ah, the ol' "Taste better-less filling" debate on SV vs NV? ;-)
I'd say "quaint" is more Sonoma, especially the town square area.
We've only stayed there once, The Sonoma Hotel B&B and I felt like Gulliver in Lilliput but have been fans of Sonoma.
Della Santina's is still on of our fave retaurants. And we like the little Irish Pub located down the alley behind the old theater.
But we still prefer Yountville simply because of the "walkability" to a lot of stuff/places we enjoy.
As The Suuuuz mentions, you're only a few beautiful mins drive away from each other so you really can't lose. You could lose if you do an "either/or", IMHO.
As for Maison Fleurie, Cath4, Mrs Kal and I stuck our heads in the door during one of our walks on a misty, cold night and found it to be quite "Frenchy" and very warm and welcoming. Didn't ask to see the rooms, tho. May have had a quick glass of wine then continued....
I'm sure you'll enjoy either Valley.
Kal
Ah, the ol' "Taste better-less filling" debate on SV vs NV? ;-)
I'd say "quaint" is more Sonoma, especially the town square area.
We've only stayed there once, The Sonoma Hotel B&B and I felt like Gulliver in Lilliput but have been fans of Sonoma.
Della Santina's is still on of our fave retaurants. And we like the little Irish Pub located down the alley behind the old theater.
But we still prefer Yountville simply because of the "walkability" to a lot of stuff/places we enjoy.
As The Suuuuz mentions, you're only a few beautiful mins drive away from each other so you really can't lose. You could lose if you do an "either/or", IMHO.
As for Maison Fleurie, Cath4, Mrs Kal and I stuck our heads in the door during one of our walks on a misty, cold night and found it to be quite "Frenchy" and very warm and welcoming. Didn't ask to see the rooms, tho. May have had a quick glass of wine then continued....
I'm sure you'll enjoy either Valley.
Kal
Feb 27th, 2003, 03:23 PM
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am entering the debate as well..if you very much wish to try the Napa Valley then Yountville is a lovely place to stay. It will provide you access to the Silverado Trail which has many wineries..many of them good ones. However, there is also Sonoma County which would include a variety of tasting areas. Sonoma itself has been described. I might also suggest staying in Healdsburg which is also about an 1 1/2 hour drive North from SF(straight on 101). This is another small town with many wineries in the area. Tasting is less formal than in Napa. There are some powerful Zinfandels,Pinot Noirs from this area. There are also many lovely inns in which to stay and great places to eat. It will be less of a scene I think than Napa. You can also walk all around the town.I always stay at Camellia Inn which is just off the town square in Healdsburg. CHeck out their website. One of the owners is a winemaker and has nightly tastings. He's won several awards for his wines..and they are impressive!
Feb 27th, 2003, 05:25 PM
#15
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We have stayed at both the Napa Marriott and the Yountville Inn. The Marriott was nothing special, but we really enjoyed Yountville Inn. All of the rooms are the same and they are huge with fireplace, refrigerator. Some have patios or balconies. The continental breakfast included in the room was really good. I would definitely stay there again without hesitation.
Feb 27th, 2003, 06:25 PM
#16
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cath4,
I drove through Sonoma on my way to St Helena (upper Napa Valley) and it seemed a little more quiet than Napa. Unfortunately time didn't allow for spending a lot of time there. We drove over the Oakville Grade, which I highly recommnend. My wife and I stayed at the Wine Country Inn in and had a wonderful stay. There are several great restaurants, like Terra, Pinot Blanc, and Martini House. St Helena is only another 20-30 minutes from Yountville with several great wineries along the way. Definitely cruise the Silverado Trail, it's just a road that parallels the main road through the valley, but it has a lot of great wineries and is really pleasant ride.
If you go to Sonoma checkout PamSF post. I was hoping to get up to that area, but ran out of time. She's also nailed a couple things in other posts, so she knows what she's talking about.
In the mean time checkout these sites for a little info:
http://www.napavalleyonline.com/
http://www.winecountry.com/
http://www.napavalley.com/
Sounds like a great trip. Have fun!
I drove through Sonoma on my way to St Helena (upper Napa Valley) and it seemed a little more quiet than Napa. Unfortunately time didn't allow for spending a lot of time there. We drove over the Oakville Grade, which I highly recommnend. My wife and I stayed at the Wine Country Inn in and had a wonderful stay. There are several great restaurants, like Terra, Pinot Blanc, and Martini House. St Helena is only another 20-30 minutes from Yountville with several great wineries along the way. Definitely cruise the Silverado Trail, it's just a road that parallels the main road through the valley, but it has a lot of great wineries and is really pleasant ride.
If you go to Sonoma checkout PamSF post. I was hoping to get up to that area, but ran out of time. She's also nailed a couple things in other posts, so she knows what she's talking about.
In the mean time checkout these sites for a little info:
http://www.napavalleyonline.com/
http://www.winecountry.com/
http://www.napavalley.com/
Sounds like a great trip. Have fun!
Feb 28th, 2003, 07:08 AM
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Everyone for all the info! I think we'll look into Yountville for our short stay. One more thing...what have you heard about the Villagio or Vintage Inn? Maison Fleurie has availability, so we may stay there.
Feb 28th, 2003, 02:49 PM
#18
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Villagio and the Vintage Inns are both owned and operated by the same people. The Villagio is the newer of the two. I've stayed at the Villagio several times, but not at the Vintage Inn. The Villagio's rooms are quite nice, very large, comfortably furnished with all the amenities. There is also a spa and a pool. The room price includes a very nice champange breakfast.
