In Napa Valley, sipping and savoring are ways of life.
Found on many a traveler’s bucket list, this sun-drenched region of Northern California includes the cities of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga and American Canyon. The area is packed with more than 500 vineyards and wineries, over 150 restaurants and countless other charms. It’s one of the world’s top wine regions, producing varietals enjoyed around the globe.
While a trip to Napa Valley is any oenophile’s dream, there’s more to discover than wine. Napa Valley is an active region with abundant natural beauty in its inviting Mediterranean climate, plenty of historic sites and a renowned culinary scene for any foodie to enjoy.
Here’s a definitive group guide to Napa Valley, whether you’re putting together an upscale itinerary focusing on food and wine or want to showcase the region’s laid-back and outdoorsy side.
Main Attractions
Castello di Amorosa
Modeled after a medieval Tuscan castle, Castello di Amorosa is a winery in Calistoga that doubles as one of Napa Valley’s most popular venues and attractions. Its award-winning wines and distinct architecture draw in more than 400,000 visitors annually. Groups of more than 15 can participate in a private tour through the castello, from its caves to its turrets, finishing with a guided tasting. The experience lasts about two hours. Several more exclusive versions of the tour add on a specialty pairing with charcuterie and chocolate or, for groups of less than 20, an Italian-inspired meal.
Castello di Amorosa, photo courtesy Visit Napa Valley
The Hestan Kitchen at CIA at Copia
The Culinary Institute of America at Copia offers one of the country’s premier cooking classes in the heart of Napa. Foodie groups looking for an unforgettable, hands-on culinary experience can book a private class to prepare a range of mouthwatering morsels, from fresh pasta to French cuisine. No time for a class? CIA at Copia is home to the The Grove Restaurant, which serves delectable dinners and weekend brunches. The institute’s museum contains more than 4,000 culinary artifacts, while the culinary garden features the seasonal ingredients used at the institute, and the marketplace features unforgettable culinary souvenirs.
Domaine Carneros
Another Napa gem, Domaine Carneros is a scenic winery with an elegant French-style chateau and gardens. It’s known for its selection of sparkling and still wines, which visitors can sample by the flight while overlooking the estate’s rolling, vineyard-covered hills from the chateau’s expansive terrace. Wine tastings are accompanied by charcuterie boards brimming with local ingredients and bold flavors. Groups of nine or more must reserve private tours and tasting experiences by contacting the winery.
Sequoia Grove Winery
Sipping wine under giant sequoia trees in Napa Valley is an experience that may be unique to Sequoia Grove Winery, which has continuously been recognized for its wine portfolio and its sustainability efforts. Its tasting room is housed in a restored 1908 barn and was voted “Best Napa Valley Tasting Room” by Napa Valley Life Magazine in 2020, 2021 and 2023. With advance reservations, groups can arrange a tasting or an evening event that pairs food and wine at this Rutherford winery.
Wine Blending Workshop
One of the best ways for groups to take in the Napa Valley wine scene is to blend their own bottles. Multiple vineyards and wineries throughout the region offer blending workshops that let groups make their own wine during an educational and tasty experience. Judd’s Hill winery offers a Bottle Blending Day Camp for groups, which features a tasting, lecture and the opportunity to blend their own Bordeaux-style wine. The group can also bottle and label the wine and take home a case at the end. Other wineries with similar options include Raymond Vineyards and Bennett Lane Winery.
Honorable Mentions
If you have real wine aficionados in your group — or if you have a hard time getting into some of the marquee wineries in the area — here are some other great places to consider.
- Jarvis Estate Winery: A winery that has an underground cave with a waterfall.
- Stags’ Leap Winery: A winery known for its distinct microclimate in the Napa Valley.
- Chateau Montelena: A winery centered around an ivy-covered chateau.
- Sterling Vineyards: A winery with an aerial tramway and unique Mykonos-inspired architecture.
Sterling Vineyards, photo courtesy Visit Napa Valley
Hidden Gems
di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art
The di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art features an impressive array of the region’s contemporary art, with both a permanent collection and rotating exhibits from Bay-area artists. The gorgeous museum sits on a 35-acre lake and features multiple galleries and a sculpture park set on 217 acres. Groups can take a private guided tour of the museum on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, if arrangements are made in advance, though large groups may have to split into smaller groupings of 15 or so to maintain a high-quality experience.
Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park
For a lesson on Napa Valley’s long history of agriculture, groups should head to St. Helena to visit the Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park. The park features a historic, water-powered grist mill built in 1846 that’s been partially restored. It offers guided tours to learn more about the region’s history of agriculture and the mill itself, as well as a beautiful property with hiking trails and picnic areas.
Olive Oil Tasting
Though wine is all the rage in Napa Valley, the region is also home to many olive orchards — many existing vineyards even diversified by planting olive trees, which have growing requirements similar to grapes. Round Pond Estate in Rutherford has 2,200 olive trees and its own olive mill. It offers tours of the property, complete with a wine or olive oil tasting paired with delectable small bites and the estate’s red wine vinegar blends. Grove 45 in St. Helena is another popular place for an olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting. The property’s olive trees date back to the 1880s and today produce one of the region’s most popular olive oil brands.
A chef-prepared meal in Napa Valley, photo courtesy Visit Napa Valley
Napa Zero Proof Tours
As one of the top wine regions in the world, Napa Valley may be the last place you’d expect alcohol-free travel to take off. But the world of alcohol-free travel is growing for a variety of reasons, from medical necessity to mere preference. Napa Zero Proof Tours is a tour operator that offers public and private alcohol-free tours that still showcase the best of the valley. It partners with local businesses to provide delicious mocktails and nonalcoholic wines and beers, as well as small plates that showcase the region’s culinary prowess. There’s also plenty of history and culture along the way. Contact Napa Zero Proof Tours to arrange a private group experience.
Popular Tours
Napa Valley Wine Train
One of the area’s most popular tours doubles as one of its top attractions. The Napa Valley Wine Train is a can’t-miss way for groups to explore several area wineries and the breathtaking scenery of the valley. Experiences range from seven-course meals on board, with wine tastings included, to the Legacy Experience, one of the train’s most upscale packages, which features stops in Napa and at some of the nearby vineyards. There are also packages with immersive excursions to wineries, such as Grgich Hills Estate. Groups of 20 or fewer can book experiences online, but groups of 21 or more must contact the Wine Train in advance to book.
The Napa Valley Wine Train, photo courtesy Visit Napa Valley
Napa Valley Wine Trolley
Another popular way to explore the valley is on board the Napa Valley Wine Trolley’s open-air San Francisco cable car. The classic tour includes a stop at three local wineries and lunch at a local restaurant or winery and can accommodate groups of up to 28. Another popular option takes groups to Castello di Amorosa. Expert guides infuse tours with humor and trivia. Larger groups can charter the trolley for a more customized experience.
Balloons Above the Valley
Viewing Napa Valley from above via hot-air balloon is one of the region’s most breathtaking experiences. Balloons Above the Valley is a hot-air balloon operator that can accommodate groups of 10–60, though not necessarily from one balloon. Tour groups meet a half hour before sunrise at the company’s downtown Napa office, where they can enjoy coffee and pastries during their preflight orientation. Groups should dress in light layers for comfort during their one-hour balloon ride.
Group Dining Favorites
Oxbow Public Market
The 40,000-square-foot Oxbow Public Market, located in Napa just across from the CIA at Copia, is an upscale food hall and marketplace featuring dozens of local and regional food and wine vendors. Groups can purchase meals and snacks from one of the 22 vendors then shop for local food and wine, including artisanal cheeses, produce, meat and fish, local olive oils and fresh-baked desserts. Popular vendors include Live Fire Pizza, Kara’s Cupcakes, Loveski Deli, Napa Valley Distillery, The Olive Press and Hog Island Oyster.
Oxbow Public Market, photo courtesy Visit Napa Valley
The Charter Oak
The Charter Oak in St. Helena is an upscale restaurant with menu items highlighting fresh garden produce, choice cuts of meat and bold flavor combinations. Options include fresh salads bursting with seasonal veggies and hearth-roasted mains, like grilled chicken thighs, California halibut and skirt steak. Much of the menu can be enjoyed family style, and group dining is a snap to arrange, thanks to the restaurant’s variety of elegant indoor and outdoor spaces. Whether they want to eat by candlelight in a historic building or dine under a canopy of mulberry trees and fairy lights, The Charter Oak is an experience groups won’t forget.
Bottega
Located in Yountville, Bottega is an Italian restaurant with multiple private dining spaces, making it a perfect choice for groups to enjoy lunch or dinner during their stay in Napa Valley. Popular appetizers include a shaved brussels sprouts salad, calamari and traditional antipasti of cheeses and salami. The restaurant’s raved-about hearty mains include rigatoni served with rabbit, zucchini lasagna, ricotta gnocchi, braised short rib and a daily risotto. Customers also love Bottega’s selection of handcrafted cocktails and the extensive wine list.
Evangeline
Evangeline, a French and Creole fusion restaurant with a large patio and an approachable menu, is found within walking distance of all downtown Calistoga’s most popular attractions. Its menu items rotate seasonally, but popular main dishes include its wagyu burger, roasted lamb, shrimp etouffee and gumbo. Reviews also praise the restaurant’s oysters, seasonal salads and desserts. Groups can dine on its casual brick patio with advance notice.
Group Lodging
Meritage Resort and Spa
The Meritage Resort and Spa is a 467-room property surrounded by acres of vineyards in the heart of Napa Valley. It’s known for its luxurious amenities, including tasteful guest rooms, its own private nine-acre vineyard, two pools, a hot tub and a renowned spa in a wine cave, Spa Terra. The property also features six restaurants and bars as well tasting rooms. Groups staying at the Meritage Resort will also enjoy shuttle service to downtown Napa.
Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection
In Calistoga, Solage, an Auberge Resorts Collection hotel, is a sprawling oasis with an abundance of amenities to promote relaxation and wellness. It features gorgeous mountain views and 100 sleeping rooms decorated with warm earth tones and natural materials. Two on-site restaurants, Solbar and Picobar, offer seasonal meals with fresh, local ingredients, accompanied by regional cocktails and wine. A 20,000-square-foot spa offers a full range of services to help guests unwind, while pools, pickleball courts and a collection of fitness classes promote health and wellness while staying at the property.
Solage, an Auberge Resorts Collection Hotel, photo courtesy Visit Napa Valley
Embassy Suites by Hilton Napa Valley
Just one mile from downtown Napa, Embassy Suites by Hilton Napa Valley has 205 guest rooms and a Mediterranean-inspired aesthetic. A lobby lounge and the Poolside Grille serve a fresh, casual menu with Napa-sourced wines. A large outdoor pool, fitness center, room service and complimentary breakfast make it a great value for groups staying in the valley.
Bardessono Hotel and Spa
For a more boutique feel, Bardessono in Yountville offers 36 guest accommodations consisting of villas and suites. Small groups will enjoy the range of amenities and the hotel’s sustainable design, including its focus on local artwork. The hotel’s amenities include a full-service spa that promotes oneness with nature. The on-site restaurant, Lucy Restaurant & Bar, serves organic, farm-to-table cuisine and prioritizes sustainable practices by preparing meals exclusively with regional ingredients.
