Embassy Suites is often full of families so if you're looking for a more romantic few days this might not be your best bet. February esp if it's Valentines weekend might be fine but as a couple, we've stayed away from them . The free hot breakfast brings out hordes of (sometimes) ill mannered children....
The Elm House inn is a lovely older building taken over by Best Western so it might be more of what you are looking for.
Wineries that are open to the public are usually open 10 AM-5 PM or so. You will need to look at individual wineries for details.

I'm not sure what the scenery aspect is for oyu but February might be cold and rainy with no chance to sit outside.

what about the Villago Inn and Spa in Yountville?

OK so what is your actual budget? Villagio is quite upscale, will be at least 250/night probably more if it's for Valentines Day?

My husband and I went to Yountville every February for about five years to celebrate our anniversary. We would stay at the Lavender Inn http://www.lavendernapa.com/

They have a "stay one night, get the second night free" deal that we would always book. They also have two other B&B's in the area with the same deal. Check out the website.

Yountville has many good restaurants within walking distance. Many times Lavender Inn will have wine tastings right there. Check to see if you will be there during the "dining week" where many restaurants offer special menus for a good price.

Have a fabulous time!

We were just spent a weekend in Napa (we're from SF) and stayed for around $100 a night in Napa at the Wine Valley Lodge. It's a pretty basic motel, but was clean and well-situated in Napa.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...alifornia.html

You may be able to walk to tastings if you stay in a hotel near a downtown area if you are OK with tasting rooms, but there is not going to be any place in Napa Valley that is really going to offer walking distance to wineries. You'll need a car. If that's not an option you can book a van/limo tour, take cabs, or do the wineries along the Napa Valley Wine Train.

If you are looking for additional things to do in Napa you can check out this article:

http://independenttravelcats.com/201...-without-wine/


Good luck!

Not sure where you are visiting from but here are my recommendations for February 2014:

Cut your trip in half and double your budget. You will still have a great time.

February is holiday month (Presidents/ Valentines). If you are not holding something (place to lay) as you read this, you may need to move your dates.

The Lavender Inn is not within your budget, nor will it be with the black out dates for the above mentioned promotion. However, things change, so give it a try.
It is right around the corner from The French Laundry (also not within your desired budget) which makes it popular for those who can get a reservation months in advance.

Finally, you may do well to try and select wineries that do not charge a fee or where you can present a two-for-one tasting coupon. The Visitor's Bureau for Napa may be able to assist you with info.as for how/where to seek these vouchers out.

Having said that, you mention tasting rooms with views. I think you may want to prioritize if you want tasting rooms(walking distance in two Napa Valley towns), or if you want budget ones (car), or if you want ones with views (car).

Also is it the views or the wine you wish to see? Of course you can do both, but maybe give this some additional thought.

If you are going for cheapie or free tastings, factor in the increased amount of time you will spend waiting to be poured--each wine.
You will not be alone or in some intimate setting. Think crowded... The freebie folks are a different type of wine taster. Not good or bad, just different.

Transportation by taxi, limo, limo-bus, etc. will cost you triple your hotel budget--per day.

I can't get into your dining options as your budget and updated decisions will guide that for you.

However, as self admitted foodies, you know you have to have money to partake. Mind you, if it come to this,any and all of the burger places along 29 are considered excellent and affordable. You have to really work to have a bad meal in the valley.

Finally, The Napa Valley Wine Train does not stop at wineries. Please go to their website if this is of interest to you. It will snatch a full day to get from your hotel and back. Traffic will be significant in February unless you stay away from the holidays and weekends.

I hope this helps if this trip is still in the works or if not, may those who are looking to travel to this area find the replies of use as they plan or ponder.

Enjoy!

We were in the Napa & Sonoma area in Dec/Jan one year and really liked it. It was cooler and rained some days, but when the sun came out it was gorgeous. There were almost no tourists so it was quiet and un-crowded. The vines were cut back so the plants were bare.

As I recall Napa and Yountville were only 10-15 miles from each other. Both are trendy and expensive areas, but you'll be going in the off season so you may get better deals.

I personally liked Yountville better. I would splurge and eat at The French Laundry - it is one of the best world class restaurants and would be a fun experience. I think the same owner owns Ad Hoc just down the street which is a little "cheaper."

http://www.adhocrestaurant.com/
http://www.adhocrestaurant.com/

opps, meant to add this instead of a second ad hoc web site.


http://www.frenchlaundry.com/

BIG fan of Youtnville and the funky Railway Inn. Off season so the rates might be high 90s/low 100s but walking distance to all the restos in Y'ville. Across the street to Hurley's, Bouchon's, Bouchon's Bakery. Next door to Bottega and Pacific Blues Cafe.

Short walks to Bistro Jeanty, Redd, Ad Hoc, Addendum, Redd Wood, and the two newbies in the old Gordon's Wine Bar and Napa Valley Grille.
Groezinger's used to have wine tasting and if you find one of the "young gun" owners in a good mood they may open a bottle or two.

I think Bottega's Micheal Chiarello's <i>Napa Style</i> has wine tasting and there might be a bizz in Vintage 1870 marketplace that also offers it. Jessup Cellars also has a place there but it's all Jessup stuff.

OK, sure a lot of folks are going to get mad at me for saying this, but in downtown Napa, there are several walking distance tasting rooms, as well as several wine bars and places like "Bounty Hunter" - now it is not ideal, but they exist. Yountville also has a few high end wineries in town, but again, if you seek bucolic, you will likely be disappointed.

Also, unless one of you is going to be a "designated driver" I would not recommend the car route - the local police and CHP take over imbibing in a tasting room just as serious as any other DUI. As someone mentioned, getting a wine tour and/or a driver is a nice option, but that too, as also mentioned, will likely set you back at least $300-$500 and more...

On lodging, sadly, I can only echo what others have said - we used to stay frequently in Wine Country, but have cut back because of the costs. But to stay at any of the Napa hotels, you are looking at closer to $300 a night. But good luck!

Are you going to get mad because people don't seem to be mad at you? :-))

We stopped in "Downtown Napa" a few mos ago and they have done/are doing a pretty good job in revitalizing the area.

Stopped at the Downtown Joe's Brewery for lunch. Nice riverfront area. Great walking, biking and kayacking area.

Love to see a show at Uptown Theater.

Still might have a prob getting inexpensive lodging in that area.

Avoid Napa- nothing worthwhile there. We stayed at the Villago Inn and Spa in Yountville. It is a good choice. Really nice breakfast included. There are several restaurants you can walk to and many more in Rutherford and St Helena. You can find better deals that booking through the hotel. We used Hotels.com and saved a lot.

If you have a car you can go to dozens and dozens of wineries within 30 minutes from Yountville. Don't forget that it is winter and there will not be any grapes growing. You will need a reservation at most.

mrt, I don't think you will necessarily need reservations for many wineries as Jan is an off season. We visited in late Dec/Jan one year and there were only a few people at each winery we visited. It's always a good idea to have reservations at the more popular restaurants though.

I prefered St. Helena and Yountville rather than Napa.

You absolutely need reservations in January to taste. If you have found ones that don't take reservations, then you will clearly be just fine.

It is Restaurant Month in January in Napa. You need reservations since this is the time where folks fine dine for a fraction of what the normal cost is.

<i>You absolutely need reservations in January to taste.</i>

Huh? You don't need reservations to taste at most wineries, no matter the month. If there are some smaller wineries that only do appointments, then make them a week in advance and you will be fine.

:-?