Looking for suggestion on Napa Valley Itinerary
 

Planning a trip in late September with my mom and looking to see if this is plausible or better suggestions? Should we flip Thurs/Fri and visit more vineyards on Thursday and wine train dinner Friday night? Any and all suggestions welcome. Different vineyards, other things to do, driving help.....

Wednesday
- Fly into to SFO early
- Fisherman’s Wharf/Pier 39. Eat lunch.
- Drive across Golden Gate Bridge
Check in to hotel in Napa (~45 mi)

Thursday
- Darioush
- Robert Sinskey
- Dinner on Napa Wine Train

Friday
- Kelham
- Kuleto or Cade
- Bennett Lane

Saturday
Drive back to SFO. Fly home.

Depends in part in you wine preferences. In Napa a couple of my preferences are Stag's Leap and Sequoia Grove for reds, Rombauer and Trefethen for Chardonnay, but as I said it's all about personal tastes.
If you like sparkling wine see if you can get in for a tour and tasting at Schramsburg.
If you're in the mood for a picnic lunch and weather permits, you can visit the Bothe-Napa State Park. Of course many wineries also have picnic tables you can use, just make sure you only drink their wine at the picnic.
IMO you're timing looks reasonable, although it may take more than 45 minutes to get to Napa, depending on the time of day.

Personally, I think you could add another winery to Thursday. I would recommend James Cole, Chimney Rock, or Miner which are on the Silverado Trail with the others.

Friday is pretty spread out, but depending upon how you were feeling, you might be able to add another. I'd play it by ear.

Thanks so much! Changing a little as my mom really wants to do a wine and food pairing at Cakebread at 11:00 on Thursday. What would be a good vineyard to stop at before and be able to make Cakebread by 11:00?

Thanks again!

Both St. Supery and Peju Winery are nearby. On the same side of the highway as Cakebread.

Hall and Whitehall Lane might be other choices that are nearby and on 29. A bit past Cakebread, but not that far.

Alternatively, you could pretty easily swing by one of the Silverado Trail wineries mentioned above (Darioush, Sinskey, Chimney Rock, or James Cole) and they wouldn't be that far off the path. You would just go up the Silverado Trail out of Napa and after the winery cut across Oakville Cross Road to get back on 29.

Why Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 39? You'll see zero authentic local culture there. Classic tourist traps. If you'd like to stay along the waterfront, you might consider eating lunch at the Ferry Building (lots of options). If you arrive on a Tues, Thurs, or Saturday, you'll see this place come to life with farm stands and gourmet street food. If you have time, head north a few blocks to Tcho to try some modern artisanal chocolates, or to the brand new Exploratorium!

Thanks everyone. This is super helpful. Not really sure why Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 39...mom has been to SF many times but I never have...just looking for something to see and grab some lunch. Thanks for Ferry Bldg option. I'll look into it.

Now I'm thinking Thursday will be more like this:
9-10:30 Oxbow Market
11:00 Cakebread Wine & Food Pairing
1:00 Robert Sinskey
2:00 Chimney Rock
?????
5:30 meet for dinner on Napa Wine train

Darioush and James Cole are both within a couple of miles of Chimney Rock and at least one of them could easily be slotted into the dead time you have. I don't know about Darioush, but James Cole doesn't require an appointment and a tasting could be done in 30 minutes.

You might just want to return to your hotel and rest after Chimney Rock. There's a limit to how many wineries you can do tasting at and you don't want to be sloshed for the wine train where you will be doing quite a bit of tasting and having wine with dinner.

I think that is a very good point Otis. We'll probably head back rest a little and get dressed for Wine Train.

Friday thinking:
Chateau Montelena
Bennett Lane
12:30 Schramsberg Cave tour
Shopping in St. Helena


Thanks again everybody! This is all really helpful for a Napa newbie.

That Schramsberg tour is really great.