We’re looking at a 3 night visit to CA wine country and are trying to decide where to base ourselves. Considering either the town of Napa or St. Helena.

St. Helena seems to have some great restaurants and is a bit closer to Healdsburg where we would explore one day. Hotel choices look a bit better in Napa though.

i guess we’re looking for convenience, a good location with a nice selection of accommodations and restaurants. We would probably do one vineyard tour but are not wine connoisseurs by any means, like sniff the bottle cap lol.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the advice Stu, will look into St. Helena accommodations. Lots of good looking restaurants there, Gillwoods, Gott’s, Cook’s, the CIA restaurant and Goose & Gander.

We’ll actually be on the Central coast for several weeks and decided to take a few days for an easy road trip to break up our stay. This will be a good chance for us to visit wine country, something we always intended to do but never actually got around to.

I appreciate all your input and suggestions. I’m well aware of the wineries around the central coast. Napa is a more destination specific road trip than anything else for us as we have the time to do it. As I mentioned we’d probably see one winery while there.

You said you wanted to check out Healdsburg as a day trip. Head north from St. Helena and Calistoga into the Alexander Valley and loop down to Healdsburg and the Dry Creek Valley. Return to Napa Valley on Mark West Springs Road.

Book WAAAY ahead; we often visit our son who lives in Napa, and places fill so quickly. The drive Michelle is describing is a lovely one.

We have, trip planner that I am. Staying at the Southbridge in St. Helena, looks like we can walk to many restaurants and shops there. And that drive you describe looks great Michelle, thanks.

We went to Tra Vigne (looks like you’ll be right next to it) for a rehearsal dinner several years ago - what a lovely location, and great food. My favorite home goods store, Napa Valley Vintage Home, is a few blocks away. We always go with our family to Don Giovanni, just down the road, for lunch. of course, there are a plethora of places to eat in the valleys, both Sonoma and Napa.

I don’t think Tra Vigne exists anymore (the building does, but it’s a different restaurant now, I think).

I think sf7307 is right; Tra Vigne is no longer, at least not a Michael Chiarello restaurant. We have always enjoyed Bistro Don Giovanni. Good food, reasonably priced, easier to get a reservation.