Because Napa Valley is known both for its incredible wine and cuisine, it’s only natural that both wineries and restaurants would seek opportunities to pair them together in new and inventive ways.
We are also lucky that, year after year, new cohorts of talented chefs graduate from the Culinary Institute of America and start their careers in Napa Valley. These new minds bring fresh ideas and continue to push the boundaries of cuisine at restaurants and food purveyors up and down the Napa Valley.
Food & Wine Pairings
Some of the most creative pairing experiences we’ve seen is the Bacon & Wine Experience at Priest Ranch. This tasting pairs four cuts of pork belly with four Priest Ranch wines at their Yountville tasting room.
Handwritten Wines’ Bread & Butter Experience pairs four wines with three artisan domestic butters, accompanied by cheese and a charcuterie board. RD Winery in American Canyon is the first Napa Valley winery to create an Asian-inspired pairing menu, a nod to the winery’s Vietnamese roots.
Unique Dining Experiences
Wineries of course are not alone in creating unique gastronomic experiences in Napa Valley.
The Napa Valley Wine Train offers a variety of dining experiences on their beautiful restored Pullman rail cars, but our favorite is Tasting on the Rails, which features a seven course meal paired with seven local Napa Valley wines.
The Grove at Copia offers a 3D Experience where chefs prepare and serve four courses alongside 3D animation right at your dinner table. And at the Meritage Resort and Spa, guests can take a cooking lesson with a side of comedy at Cooking with Comedians.
No matter what your tastes, you’re bound to find an experience in Napa Valley that is unlike anywhere else in the world.
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Photo credit: Napa Valley Wine Train