Cities

Napa Off the Beaten Path


Christine Sarkis
Christine Sarkis
Napa Off Beaten Path

    Hanging out with winemakers as you sip wine and enjoy the view of the valley. Tasting your way through a garden that's a favorite of some of America's best chefs. Zooming through the vineyard in an all-wheel-drive vehicle on your way to explore the ruins of a former winery: This is a Napa that anyone can experience, but very few actually do. Here are some off-the-beaten-path favorites from Napa native and guide

    Paul Bailey

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    Related story: Behind the Scenes in the Napa Valley

  • A Tasting Tour of the Secret Garden

  • Ryan Hill (pictured, right) leads small tasting tours around Peter (pictured, left) and Gwendolyn Jacobsen's small but fascinating orchard and farm.

  • Santa Rosa Plums at Jacobsen Orchards

  • Santa Rosa plums are among the 120 fruit trees that grow at Jacobsen Orchards.

  • Future Escargot

  • Snails that have been feasting on the abundance at Jacobsen Orchards wait for local chefs to come and collect them.

  • Off-Roading Through the Vineyards

  • A tour at The Terraces includes an exciting drive through the rows of grapevines as well as a stop at the ruins of the original winery.

  • The Vinegar House at The Terraces

  • Six barrels of decreasing size, each made of a different wood to impart a new flavor into the vinegar, is part of the traditional Italian style of aging balsamic vinegar.

  • Traditional Aged Balsamic Vinegar

  • As part of the tour at The Terraces, you can taste small-batch balsamic vinegar being aged in the traditional Italian style.

  • Under the Blue Oak at Aonair Wines

  • This beats a traditional tasting room any day. Sit in the shade with Aonair winemaker Grant Long, Jr., and learn about grape growing, wine making, and what makes mountain grapes so special.

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