my Napa plans, thoughts??
 

just to give you an idea - I will be staying in Napa - Sat, Sun, Mon. Leaving Tues AM for San Francisco for Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri. Leaving Sat AM for Healdsburg for Sat, Sun, Mon.... had to be done this way due to husbands work conference. FINALLY narrowed down the Napa part of the trip. advice, critique, etc appreciated...

Saturday
* noon - arrive in SF
* pick up car
* drive to Napa
* 2 pm? - check into hotel - BW Elm House Inn
* lunch - oxbow public market
* Artesa
* dinner - Bottega

Sunday
* frank family
* rombauer
* picnic lunch and tasting @V. Sattui
* 3:30 pm - Del Dotto, reserved
* dinner - Mustards

Monday
* Goosecross
* peju province
* st supery
* picnic lunch @oakville grocery
* 2:30 pm - Frog's Leap Tour & Tasting, reserved
* dinner - Tra Vigne

If you ever want to get off the tourist routes, you might try the Howell Mountain, Spring Mountain, or Mt. Veeder wine appellations.

Howell Mountain might be my first choice..some delicious reds!

Your itinerary looks good to me. I'm not fond of V Sattui wines nor Tra Vigne for dinner, but they are pretty places.

If it's too chilly for your picnic at Sattui, I recommend lunch at Go Fish which is not too far up the road toward St Helena. It is very reasonably priced, delicious, ample portions - and you may end up spending less than you would for picnic supplies at Sattui.

For your Monday dinner, consider Celadon in the town of Napa or Bistro Don Giovanni or even Bardessono in Yountville. Much better food than Tra Vigne.

Also, when you do your wine tasting, ask if they refund the tasting fee if you buy a bottle of wine. I know they do so at Peju and that may be the case at the others as well.
Enjoy your trip!

I agree about Tra Vigne. I used to love it but now find it so dull.

Bistro Don Giovanni and Celadon are both go-to special places for my Napa in laws.

Skip V. Sattui. It is such a tourist trap and will be such a disappointment when ranked with Frank Family, Rombauer, &
Del Dotto, IMHO.

elnap has a great idea for lunch at Go Fish, then perhaps you could skip Sattui for Robert Sinskey, or a Howell Mt. AVA. Either would be winners ~ PamSF's idea for Celadon or Bistro Don Giovanni are great ideas as well !

R5

PS - My fave story about V. Sattui
http://preview.tinyurl.com/6h3vsv

razzledazzle OMG that story is awful!!!!!
will check out all of the other ideas suggested for dinner/wine! thanks a million

Rombauer was my favorite. Great idea having reservations. I was there last March and we never remembered to make reservations (enjoyed our wine too much) so never got into any good places. If you are staying in Healdsburg, I'd be sure to check out the wine tasting rooms right in town. Williamson was the best as they paired their wines with food and you could actually taste the difference. Kendell Jackson, also in town, opened a $135 bottle of wine for the tasting. We were there for barrel tasting weekend and it was a fabulous experience.

Cade (Howell Mtn.) is really beautiful and you can do a wine and food pairing there. The views and the patio are wonderful.

And check out Ad Hoc in Yountville as a place for either dinner or weekend brunch. It's Thomas Keller's "little place". You get a four course prix fixe @ $49. Menus are available on line.

I would consider some places on Silverado Trail. I really enjoy Resgucci. My favorite value wine is at Milat on the main drag. I alos dicovered Hall and Alpha Omega a month ago. I really liked their wine.

I have never been there but a handful of people told us that they call Del Dotto- Del Blotto because it is wild.