Splendors of Napa Valley

ACCOMMODATION

Welcome to California! After you arrive at the airport and go through customs, your friendly driver will meet you atBaggage Claim and escort you to your vehicle. Once across the San Francisco Bay, you’llbe on your way to the beautiful Napa Valley!SUNDAY

Arrive San Francisco Airport, meetcar & driver.

Private transfer to Napa Valley

Check in to hotel

Afternoon at leisure

Dinner on property

ACCOMMODATION

AccommodationsThis boutique hotel combines the essence of the valley’s rustic roots with an esprit appealing to themodern-day traveler. It’s cosmopolitan yet cozy. Whimsical art and modern fixtures hang above tallleather headboards in the guest rooms, which feature velvet furniture in muted hues, marblebathrooms, fireplaces, and private balcony or patio. The lush landscaping is intermingled with acentral canal, adding to a sense of calm and remove. The inn is ideally located in one of the valley’scharming towns, within walking distance to some of the area’s most acclaimed restaurants, as wellas chic boutiques, galleries and inviting tasting rooms. This is the ideal base from which to exploreWine Country!Arrive San Francisco Airport, meet

car & driver.

Private transfer to Napa Valley

Check in to hotel

Afternoon at leisure

8:00 p.m. Dinner on property

SUNDAY

ACOMMODATION

DinnerAt this popular eatery, a celebrity chef returns to his culinary roots with seasonal farm-to-table cuisineshowcasing the bold flavors of his Italian heritage. The restaurant celebrates both the Old Country andthe Napa Valley with a menu reflecting the chef’s practice of using the finest locally producedingredients in the signature style he has created. The extensive wine list offers hard-to-find favorites of thevalley and interesting Italian selections. The inviting dining room, in a brick building dating back to the1800’s, is accented with hardwood floors, warm fabrics and eclectic light fixtures that add to therestaurant’s charm and comfort. One of our favorites—and sure to become one of yours!Arrive San Francisco Airport, meet

car & driver.

Private transfer to Napa Valley

Check in to hotel

Afternoon at leisure

8:00 p.m. Dinner on property

SUNDAY

ACCOMMODATION

Private Wine TastingThis renowned winery is located on 73 acres in the Rutherford appellation of Napa Valley. The namecomes from a vast Mexican land grant, part of which became the town of Rutherford. The land hasbeen owned and farmed by the same family since the 1940’s; the progenitors of its foundersemigrated from the winegrowing regions of Alsace, France and Rheinpfalz, Germany, and have rootsin Napa Valley going as far back as the mid-1850s. At the age of 19, one of the sons joined hisparents in founding the winery. Its first vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon was produced in 1972. Sincethen, the wines have won high praise and many accolades, including Wine Spectator magazine's"Wine of the Year", for the 1984 and 1990 vintages. The location is still the home base for the family;the current generation perpetuates a proud family tradition of farming and winemaking throughoutthe state of California. You’ll sample a variety of their labels during your seated tasting here today.

MONDAY

Breakfast at hotel (7:00-11:00 a.m.)

10:00 a.m. Depart for full-day winetour

10:15 a.m. Private wine tasting

11:30 a.m. Garden-to-table lunch

2:00 p.m. Signature tour & tasting

4:00 p.m. (approx.) Return to hotel

Dinner on own

ACOMMODATION

Garden-to-Table LunchLocated in the acclaimed Rutherford region of Napa Valley, this family-owned estate is designedaround world-class vineyards, gardens, and olive orchards. The wines produced here reflect thefamily’s dedication to crafting the finest product possible while working to preserve the natural integrityof their esteemed property. Your visit begins with an intimate and informative estate garden tour andguided tasting of their artisan olive oils, flavored vinegars and estate wines. There follows a relaxingfamily-style lunch on the terrace (weather-permitting), which affords sweeping vineyard views. Savorlocal artisan cheeses, meats, breads and other delectable accoutrement, as well as the season’sfreshest fruits and vegetables right from the garden. This may just be the ideal combination of fresh air,fresh foods and fine wine!

Breakfast at hotel (7:00-11:00 a.m.)

10:00 a.m. Depart for full-day winetour (see Important Info)

10:15 a.m. Private wine tasting

11:30 a.m. Garden-to-table lunch

2:00 p.m. Signature tour & tasting

4:00 p.m. (approx.) Return to hotel

Dinner on own

MONDAY

Signature Tour & TastingRaised in a traditional Italian family, this seminal Napa Valley vintner grew up with a deepappreciation of wine and food, and believed that sharing them with family and friends was one oflife’s great pleasures. A trailblazer and visionary, he saw the potential of the then-unrecognized NapaValley to be a pre-eminent winegrowing region, capable of producing vintages that would be equalin quality to the great wines of the world. In 1966, he built the first major winery in the valley sinceprohibition, and helped establish the foundation of the modern-day California wine business. Early on,he introduced such fine winemaking techniques as cold fermentation, stainless steel tanks, andFrench oak barrels. His impact on Napa Valley and the U.S. wine industry in general cannot beoverestimated. The winery, with its mission-style architecture, expansive archway and bell tower, hasbecome an enduring landmark that evokes California's winemaking history. Your visit here today willinclude an informative and interesting tour of the property, concluding with a seated wine tasting.

MONDAY

Breakfast at hotel (7:00-11:00 a.m.)

10:00 a.m. Depart for full-day winetour

10:15 a.m. Private wine tasting

11:30 a.m. Garden-to-table lunch

2:00 p.m. Signature Tour & Tasting

4:00 p.m. (approx.) Return to hotel

Dinner on own

A trip on the Wine Train is a return to the bygone era of gracious rail travel. Your scenic journey throughthe heart of Napa Valley takes place via a vintage railcar. Built entirely out of steel in 1915 bythe Pullman Standard Company and used as first class coaches for Northern Pacific Railway’s premièretrains, these cars were the height of technological advancement of their time, with electric lights,steam heat, and arched windows. After acquiring them in 1987, the Wine Train undertook an extensiveproject to restore them to their former glory, lavishly appointing the interiors with Honduran mahoganypaneling, brass accents, etched glass partitions, and velveteen fabric armchairs. Your excursion todaywill be as relaxing as a luxury cruise. In between a four-course lunch prepared by the Wine Train’s aceculinary team, you’ll tour and taste at three of the valley’s most interesting and iconic wineries. Sit backand enjoy the ride!

TUESDAY

Breakfast at hotel (7:00-11:00 a.m.)

10:00 a.m. Taxi to Wine Train Depot

10:15 a.m. Arrival at Wine Train Depot

10:45 a.m. Wine Train departure

4:45 p.m. Return to Wine Train Depot,meet taxi for return to hotel

5:00 p.m. (approx.) Return to hotel

Dinner on own

Wine Train

Hot-air BalloonWhat a way to wake up--get carried in a spectacular Hot-air Balloon! Your adventure begins atdawn, when the winds are gentle and the light from the morning sun makes the valley shine like ajewel. Once aloft and floating on a sea of tranquility, you will experience the joy of flight while youview breathtaking vistas. The trip will last an hour, but the memories will last a lifetime. Earthboundonce more, you will toast the occasion at a Champagne celebration and breakfast—a grand endto an auspicious occasion.

WEDNESDAY

5:15 a.m. Depart hotel

6:00-10:00 a.m. Hot-air balloon ride & breakfast

Remainder of day at leisure

7:00 p.m. Departure for dinner viaprivate sedan

7:15 p.m. Arrive restaurant.Cocktails in the bar.

8:00 p.m. Dinner on the terrace

Food-&-Wine-Paired DinnerA memorable experience awaits you this evening. One of Napa Valley’s first great culinaryestablishments, this restaurant opened in 1981 and continues to be a premier dining destination. It hasconsistently earned a Michelin star for the last twelve years. The cuisine combines the riches of theWine Country with a Mediterranean flair, using locally sourced ingredients in ways that surprise anddelight. The restaurant has one of most extensive wine cellars in the valley, boasting more than 15,000hand-selected bottles, affording almost infinite opportunity for inspired pairings. The elegant yet serenedining room is accented with abstract paintings, exposed beams and warm wood furnishings. Ahallmark of the restaurant is its professional yet warm and friendly service. Your meal here will be acomplement to the breathtaking view—each a masterpiece in its own right.

WEDNESDAY

5:15 a.m. Depart hotel

6:00-10:00 a.m. Hot air balloon ride & breakfast

Remainder of day at leisure

7:00 p.m. Departure for dinner viaprivate sedan

7:15 p.m. Arrive restaurant.Cocktails in the bar.

8:00 p.m. Dinner on the terrace

Estate Tour & TastingFounded by a wealthy San Francisco merchant. the first vintage produced here was in 1886, with thebuilding completed in 1888. Unfortunately, the winery fell victim to Prohibition, and ceased operationsfor many years. It was not until 1972, that it was revitalized as a full-time winery by a lawyer, whopurchased a majority ownership in the property. Under his leadership, the vineyard was cleared andreplanted, the chateau outfitted with modern winemaking equipment, and 25,000 square feet ofcave tunnels were dug. He assembled an expert team, including the first winemaker, who laterfounded another famous Napa Valley winery. In 1976, the wine world was rocked when aChardonnay from here won first place over French burgundies in a notorious blind tasting, therebyputting California wines on the map. Today, the founder’s son serves as winemaker, and their winesremain in high regard to this day.

THURSDAY

Breakfast at hotel (7:00-11:00 a.m.)

9:30 a.m. Departure for full-daywine tour

10:00 a.m. Estate Tour & Tasting

12:00 p.m. Winery tour and lunch

2:30 p.m. Winery tour & comparativetasting

4:30 p.m. (approx.) Return to hotel

Dinner on own

ACCOMMODATION

Winery Tour & LunchNestled into the northern edge of the Stag’s Leap promontory is a stunning stone, redwood, and teakwinery. Founded in the early 1980’s, this family-owned, limited-production winery offers some of thebest Pinot Noirs in the valley, as well as intriguing varietals such as Pinot Blanc, Claret and Muscat. Thefacility is designed to allow the winemaker to work with many small lots separately, providing theideal environment for aging wine in an 18,000- square-foot network of underground caves. The goal isto promote the individual character of each vineyard in order to create unique wines with a sense ofplace. Here, strong emphasis is placed on the complementary relationship between wine andfood—not surprising as the vintner’s wife is an accomplished chef and the winery’s culinary director.They believe that “wine should taste good by itself and great with the right cuisine.” During your visittoday, you’ll experience their philosophy in action. You’ll begin with a stroll through the culinarygarden. a walk through the wine production cellar, and a visit to the barrel aging caves, followed byan indulgent three-course tasting of seasonal dishes from the winery’s kitchen, paired with a selectionof their wines.

THURSDAY

Breakfast at hotel (7:00-11:00 a.m.)

9:30 a.m. Departure for full-daywine tour

10:00 a.m. Estate Tour & Tasting

12:00 p.m. Winery tour & lunch

3:30 p.m. Winery tour & comparativetasting

5:00 p.m. (approx.) Return to hotel

Dinner on own

Winery Tour & TastingIn the late 1960’s, an entrepreneur was taken by the Napa Valley’s beauty, as well as its fledglingpotential as a wine growing region. He soon began purchasing vineyards throughout the area.Looking for an insider to advise him, he asked a winemaker to plant and manage his vineyards. Thewinemaker agreed under one condition: in addition to growing grapes, he wanted to create a winerythat would forever raise the standards of California wine. Thus, a beloved institution was born. Fromthe start, their goal was to focus on only one varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon, and to create a wine thatwould have fully developed flavors and velvety texture on the day it was released, not another hard,tannic red wine requiring years of aging to enjoy. Today, they are regarded as one of the topCabernet Sauvignon producers in the Napa Valley, with a near cult-like status and legions of fansaround the world who firmly believe that “Life is a Cabernet!”

THURSDAY

Breakfast at hotel (7:00-11:00 a.m.)

9:30 a.m. Departure for full-daywine tour

10:00 a.m. Estate Tour & Tasting

12:00 p.m. Winery tour & lunch

2:30 p.m. Winery tour & comparative tasting

5:00 p.m. (approx.) Return to hotel

Dinner on own

Alas, today we must bid you good-bye—until next time. We hope you had a wonderful time, and that you’ll come back to visit us again!

Bon voyage...

FRIDAY

Check out of hotel

Private transfer to SFO