The Great 72 Hour Wine Escape - ESCAPE TO NAPA

DAY 1

La Belle Epoque

First, we’ll see you comfortably ensconced in what we fee is one of the nicest Bed and Breakfast accommodations anywhere in wine country.

La Belle Époque, located in Old Town Napa, is a stunning Queen Anne Victorian with exquisite antique appointed accommodations, fine amenities, and impeccable guest services. This luxury bed and breakfast is noted for its original stain glass windows, award-winning wine receptions in the private wine cellar and celebrated gourmet breakfasts. The owners provide the type of hospitality you only read about in travel magazines, you won’t want to leave the grounds!,

You’ll find Old Town Napa a gem perfectly preserved from the last century. Boasting the second largest collection of pre-1906 Victorian architecture in California, Napa enjoys its 150 year old role as the capital of northern California Wine Country.

From La Belle Époque you can explore the Magic of Old Town with its Victorian village neighborhoods, historic churches and the restored Napa Valley Opera House. Or take a stroll through COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts Museum and Gardens along the Napa River. Shop in quaint shops and galleries. Indulge in fine food at open air cafés and award winning restaurants.

From the congenial porches of La Belle Époque Suites, relax and watch the slow pace of the neighborhood's daily life - reminders of the ways of the past. You’ll find it a pleasure to visit with the neighbors and shopkeepers – who delight in taking time to show our Angel’s Share guests their home-town hospitality. Don’t be surprised if you’re invited inside by a neighbor for a glass of wine and a slice of Napa blackberry pie!

(Note: all rooms are “nonsmoking,” smokers are welcome to use the outside decks and patios.)

Our first stop is Darioush Winery, an exciting new winery specializing in classic Bordeaux style wines. Nestled in the eastern slopes of the Napa Valley near the Oak Knoll and Stag's Leap appellations, the Darioush vision is to craft elegant and complex world-class wines in the finest Old-World style while expressing the delicious fruits of one of the Napa Valley's finest Estates.

We begin by taking a walk through the winery, which is under construction, and what many are calling the most fabulous building in California’s wine country. The new winery will comprise of a 22,000 square-foot state-of-the-art winery facility, the classical design of which was inspired by the Persepolis, the ancient Persian city founded by Darius I, the first king of Persia.

Darioush produces their wines in extremely small quantities from 100% estate grown fruit. These exceptional wines are much sought after, and we’ll take a private tour through the tasting and barrel rooms and production facilities. We like the mouth-watering Darioush wines so much that we’ve placed them on list for our Angel’s Share “Cult Wines Classic” tasting—right up there with Harlan Estate, Byrant Family and Grace Family!

Our next winery visit for the day is Nickel and Nickel Winery in Oakville.

The wineries dotted along the flat, tidy expanse of the Napa Valley appellation of Oakville are celebrated for producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and other outstanding red wines. In fact, the region’s vineyards are some of the most coveted in the valley.

Established by the partners of Far Niente Winery , Nickel & Nickel produces 100 percent varietal, single-vineyard wines that best express the distinct personality of each vineyard. The winery’s current releases include Napa Valley Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as a Russian River Valley Zinfandel from Sonoma.

We’ll taste the wines in a private tasting session, and tour this state of the art winery and grounds. The winery is actually located on the historic, 19th century John C. Sullenger farmstead, a 42-acre vineyard property situated directly north of Opus One and across Highway 29 from the Robert Mondavi Winery.

The renovation of the old farmstead involved extensive historic restoration and construction, including the preservation of the Queen Anne home and barns on the property that were built in the 1880s. Although a state-of-the-art winery has been built, the original look and appeal of the 19th century American farmstead belies thet fact that the property houses a cutting-edge winemaking operation. We’ll start by taking a private tour of the 30,000 square-foot barrel cellar and press area has been dug underground and connects to an above ground fermentation barn. Our fabulous private wine tasting takes place in the classic New England barn, built in 1770, which was actually moved to the winery. The structure is composed of hand-hewn pine and hemlock beams; century-old pine siding, aged to a rich, barn-red patina, covers the exterior.

Next, we’ll visit a wonderful local deli and bakery “a place where the winemaker’s eat” for a superb picnic basket lunch which we’ll enjoy al fresco— and not just anywhere. You’ll enjoy your afternoon picnic amongst the vines in a real working vineyard in the Napa Valley.

After lunch we’ll taste and tour one of the hidden jewels of the Napa Valley—

Noah Winery in Yountville. This is one of the hidden treasures we know about because we live here—trust us, the wines are fabulous. Run by two “surfer dudes” Noah is turning out superior vintage dated Merlots, Zinfandels and Cabernets. We love their wines because they’re excellent and affordable! You’ll meet the winemakers themselves and taste a variety of vintages, plus a “surprise” tasting directly from the barrel, depending upon what’s available during our visit.

This is superb chance to “get up close and personal” and find out what wine-making in California is all about. We guarantee you’ll love these two guys, and you’ll come away with a better appreciation for the winemaker’s craft.

We return in the early evening for a Wine Tasting at La Belle Epoque. A chance to chat about the day’s winery visits with other guests. Premium Napa Valley wines and superb hors doeuvres are served from 6 to 7 pm

Evening: Dinner at Auberge du Soleil Restaurant