On the patio at Mumm Napa anymore celebrations Not just for Raise a glass of bubbles from the Napa Valley every day Indulge your senses with bubbles from the sparkling houses of Napa Valley. For some, bubbles are the epitome of luxury, a toast to an occasion, a splurge or the accent to a culinary feast. The sparkling wine houses in our valley offer diverse experiences for the bubble lover in us all. Here are a few of the places my friends and I like to visit when we want to celebrate our valley. Domaine Carneros, known for its certified organic, estate-made wines, is situated on the Napa side of Carneros, a region which straddles Napa and Sonoma Counties. What many do not know is that they offer “elevated experiences.” Try a connoisseur’s tasting experience, the sparkling suite, vinyasa in the vineyard, or create your own sparkling cuveé. The Sparkling Suite experience provides a private chateau balcony seat overlooking the estate vineyards. It includes a private tasting for two of Domaine Carneros sparkling wines and pinot noirs, paired perfectly with caviar, charcuterie and all the necessary accoutrements. As a keepsake, you’ll be gifted with your most memorable wine of the day! (www.domainecarneros.com) Bubbles and art make a wonderful pair. Mumm Napa is the destination for the art lover. It offers a beautiful outdoor patio area overlooking the west-facing vineyards, or grab a glass of bubbles and stroll through the halls of their Fine Art Photography Gallery at Mumm Napa to see the current art exhibition. Currently, “My Life through My Lens: Photographs by Graham Nash” is on display through January 31, 2015. It is a rare look at the rocker’s life on the road and at home over the past forty years. (www.mummnapa.com) While some of the destination spots are New World outposts of the world-renowned houses of Champagne, Schramsberg is touted as “America’s House of Sparkling Wine.” Founded by Jack and Jamie Davies, it was the first winery to produce sparkling wine in the Napa Valley. A real hallmark of Schramsberg wines is the time and care that go into each bottle. The J. Schram is a perfect example of this because it goes through hand riddling and has a hand-selected dosage formulated for it; it is hand-labeled, hand-wrapped and placed into boxes by hand to be made ready for sale. The caves at Schramsberg were built by Chinese immigrant workers in the 1800s and are the oldest caves in the Napa Valley. They are the perfect vessel for housing sparkling wines. This is a unique alternative to the outside vineyard tasting experience. (www. schramsberg.com) No time to take in a tour? No problem! Stop by the latest hot spot in downtown Napa, méthode bubble bar by Empire (see full article on the downtown Napa map at the back). This newly renovated space has a lively bubble bar in the front and a cool speakeasy-style lounge in the back. The méthode’s sparkling wine list includes glasses from all the aforementioned wineries. But don’t worry if you can’t decide; you can order a flight and sample all three. The avant garde, chef-inspired menu offers an array of bubble friendly bites to toast the Napa Valley. (www.bubblebarnapa.com) 22 www.nAPAVA L L E Y L I F Emagaz ine.com NEW YEAR’S EVE EVENTS All events listed on Wednesday, December 31 City Winery Presents Los Lobos 10:00 pm, 1030 Main St., Napa. Citywinery.com or (707) 260-1600. NYE with Siena with Ballroom Celebration Meritage Resort & Spa 875 Bordeaux Way, Napa. Cost $145, 6:00 pm – 1:00 am. NYE with Trinitas Cellars and Ballroom Celebration Meritage Resort & Spa 875 Bordeaux Way, Napa. Cost $225, 6:00 pm – 1:00 am. NYE Ballroom Celebration Meritage Resort & Spa 875 Bordeaux Way, Napa. Cost $60, 9:00 pm – 1:00 am. Napa Valley Wine Train’s 2014 Blackjack Ball (800) 427-4124 Napa Valley Wine Train’s NYE Dinner & After Party (800) 427-4124. Gourmet Express Cost $245, Vista Dome $275. 4:45 pm – 1:00 am Napa Valley Wine Train’s NYE After Party Only (800) 427-4124. After Party Only Cost $65. 10:00 pm – 1:00 am NYE with Morimoto Napa 610 Main St, Napa. Info and reservations, (707) 252-1600 or MorimotoNapa.com. NYE Bash in Calistoga Tickets are $100 per person when purchased by Dec. 30 and $125 the day of the event. (707) 942-5111. Tickets and overnight packages may be purchased at VisitCalistoga .com NYE Bash at Silverado Resort & Spa Chef Jeffrey Jake is offering a four-course menu showcasing steaks and sustainable seafood in the Royal Oak from 5:30-9:30 p.m. for $95 per person, with optional wine pairing. Also includes entry to the New Year’s Eve Extravaganza in the Silverado Mansion, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. for $75 per person. Advance reservations are required; call (707) 257-5431 or email dining@silveradoresort.com. 1600 Atlas Peak Road, Napa. NYE Bash at Westin Verasa Napa Tickets are $195 per person for the Red Tie Dinner at La Toque with access to the Red Tie Party, and $75 per person for the Red Tie Party at Bank Café and Bar only. For reservations, email mvillanueva@westinnapa.com. by Monica Martarano James
NVLife_NovDec_2014
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