Unique Places to Visit in Napa Valley
1. Ashes & Diamonds
I found Ashes & Diamonds on a whim, but it turned out to be such a wonderful brunch date! Most wineries in Napa sport the “old-town” look, so the modern architecture at A&D stood out immediately. The tables were at least six feet apart and all CDC guidelines were adhered. We went for the wine & food tasting experience loved how thoughtfully executed it was. The experience featured five delicious wines and a “family-style luncheon of seasonal, fresh and wood-fired dishes” prepared by their in-house chefs. The chef came by to explain the dishes to us as well. We ended up buying three bottles of their Saffron wine and spent the rest of our time exploring the gorgeous modern property. Highly recommend this place for a relaxing brunch in Napa Valley!
I was able to snap some photos of the property below, but photos truly don’t do it justice. There’s just something so unique about seeing this hyper-modern structure amidst the endless layers of vineyards. Such an inspiring view!
Autumn Photoshoot
Jon and I couldn’t help but have a little photoshoot in A&D’s autumn vineyards. Feel free to check it out via the link below!
2. Yountville
Yountville is the perfect place to spend your Saturday morning. After grabbing a scrumptious pastry from Bouchon Bakery or an English muffin from The Model Bakery, you can explore the V Marketplace for all sorts of artisanal snacks and souvenirs.
I didn’t snap too many photos of Yountville because I was too busy enjoying it, but from these quick iPhone snapshots, you can already see how charming and vibrant this little town is! Yountville is filled with high quality restaurants, boutiques and vineyards, so you can technically spend the entire day here without getting bored.
3. Il Fiorello Olive Oil Company
Rather than spending your entire time wine tasting in Napa, try something different like olive oil tasting! I know what you’re thinking—you’d much rather chug wine than a glass of olive oil… which is fair. But that’s not how it’s done at the Il Fiorello Olive Oil Company. From the moment we were greeted by Denise, we were immediately put at ease and felt right at home. We were given the option to sit anywhere we want, so we chose a little brunch table right next to the backyard garden. The prefix menu for the day included a glass of wine, wood-fired pizza, and homemade olive oil gelato. The lunch also came with up to four tastings of olive oil. What better way to taste olive oil than to drizzle it on fresh, homemade food?! The olive oil gelato was also full of complex, umami flavors. First, you taste the seasalt sprinkled on top. Then, the lemon + mandarin essence hits your palate and the gelato tastes like a sorbet for a split second. It finally settles on your tongue with an aftertaste of creamy vanilla and rich olive oil. The experience was remarkable.
Il Fiorello’s owner, Mark Sievers, also came out to have a delightful conversation with us. We learned about his upbringing in LA, the humble beginnings of Il Fiorello, and his daughter’s impressive wine palette. It was so homey and lovely.
Jon and I have already decided to bring our children here one day to get a taste of Il Fiorello’s incredible hospitality and learn about all the plants they grow on the property! From artichokes to pumpkins, sunflowers, and of course, olives, this property felt like a friendly backyard farm.
More Photos
I’m honestly quite surprised by Jon’s photography skills on this trip! He’s gotten so good at working with tricky lighting. If you want more photos of us interacting with the property, check out the link below!