The Great Wild Mustard Party

Every year, Mother Nature throws a divine party in the Napa Valley after the rainy winter in early spring. It’s a time when the hills are emerald and a crisp air still lingers. Then, as if by magic, the valley is suddenly swathed in neon yellow. The wild mustard reaches its crescendo by late March when the air is tinged by its sweet, delirious scent.

What could be more glorious fields of verdant vineyards and golden flowers? On this Special Edition trip, it’s an invitation to get outside after months of hibernation. It’s time to break out the sparkling wine to celebrate and welcome spring around the table and in the vineyard.

Over three days, discover what gives Napa its sense of place. Understand Napa’s unique geography, which makes its wine terroir among the most diverse in the world. Visit iconic wine projects from the foggy hills of Carneros and Coombsville to the folds of the Oakville grade, Pritchard Hill and Howell Mountain. Learn about how Napa is combating climate change with generative, dry farming and how the valley has branched out beyond Cabernet into other grape varieties. Soak up the sunshine with an al fresco picnic lunch (with a view), stroll charming villages, have a romp through the markets, and raise your glass to say “cheers” many times. 

Pure magic.

The Slow Life: Despite the glitzy image chiseled out by the wine industry, Napa and Sonoma are still very quiet, rural places. Here, rolling hills are dotted by dairy farms and cattle grazing, and many small villages often have a population of 200 (or less). General stores actually provide provisions and stand alongside the local baker, or an antique dealer, and usually a produce stand. There’s a countryside charm that reminds us of Europe, but with that carefree, outdoorsy spirit that is uniquely Californian.

Some Quality Time with Mother Nature: Let’s face it, after winter, we are already to take it outside. Cabin Fever! In Northern California wine country, thanks to the mild winter, our spring is a delight and luckily terroir doesn’t just mean only world-class wine. It also means fantastic hiking with Napa’s mash-up of rolling hills, gentle valleys, and sunny-to-misty microclimates. You can go leisurely, historical, or hard core to burn off (wine) calories, which nearly always rewards you with a jaw-dropping view. Game? We can steer you to the best trails. 

Saturday Mornings: While many sleep off Friday night’s wine charades, those that rise early are treated to a magical sunrise high above the valley as night fades into day with vineyards as the backdrop. Land to a cup of piping hot coffee and the valley’s best patisserie before setting off on an early morning market romp to commune with locals to shop for what’s seasonal and what the market’s weekly harvest is. While we’re at it, we’ll do a little historical whirl around Napa with some stops to savor (another) coffee at our favorite roaster and pick up some local olive oil, of course.

This is a small group trip with limited space. Please contact us for a full itinerary with prices. If you have a private group or the dates don’t work, write us to discuss made-to-measure options using this itinerary as a base.

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