Hi Fodorites:

I actually live in London but my British boyfriend and I are headed to San Francisco for Christmas and New Years. We plan to stay in San Francisco over the Christmas holidays (23rd thru the 5th of January) and we were thinking of heading to Napa Valley to a B&B and wine tours for a few days around New Years.

Questions - a) are the wineries even open for tasting on New Year's Eve/Day ... b) is it realistic to expect we could book a restaurant and also a B&B last minute as we don't know our plans - we have hotel room in SF from the 23rd thru the 27th and then we will have a laptop to book the rest of the trip...c) any suggestions for a B&B or small mansion - my boyfriend loves huge bathtubs and big comfy beds and fireplaces - I saw the Manor Mansion - is it good?? d) is a place called Mustard's still in existence - had dinner there years ago and loved it e) I understand it's best to rent a chaffeured car when winery touring any recommendations???

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!!!

ttt

kittrdg,
I do not have any recent experience with spending the holidays in the wine country, but I would advise you to find out about the restaurant for New Year's Eve dinner as soon as you can. Most places will have a special menu, reserved seatings only. Choose your lodging first and have them advise you.

Hi London,
Napa wineries on New Years eve are generally open although with some shorter hours. New Years day, a few are open.
We stayed at The Napa River Inn and they had an old fashioned claw foot which my wife and I loved.
Mustards is still open and they have another place in St. Helena called Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen which has superb food.
We took two days of wine touring while we were there with an English guy named David. His company is called Eclectic Tour. He arranged all the appointments with small hillside and mountain vineyards and not the tourist places. He also arranged our reservations at the local restaurants. So, although I can't give you an answer about availability on B&B's and restaurants, I'm sure David can.
Hope this helps and wish you a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

One of my favorite NY's was spent at Indian Springs in Calistoga. We had a late dinner at Tra Vigne and returned to the hotel. There was not a soul at the olympic size mineral water pool. We skinny dipped. I can't tell you how wonderful it felt. The next day we had spa treatments and then returned to the pool. A soft rain fell. We floated about in that same warm pool with rain falling on our faces. DIVINE!

Try Calistoga, St. Helena or Yountville - but BOOK NOW. New Years is booked MONTHS in advance. Also check with Sonoma County Visitors Bureau. Sonoma Valley is lovely and more quiet than Napa Valley. If you have trouble booking, try Bodega Bay - west of Sonoma and Napa. Enjoy your stay!

PS - Black Tie Transportation has superb limos to Wine Country. (w.blacktietrans.com). If you can't get anything in Sonoma or Napa County, try the Livermore Valley wine country 45 miles east of San Francisco. Livermore Valley Winegrowers.