A Napa Valley Retreat

If you ever feel like you need a break from school, Napa Valley is place to go. It’s close enough to feel accessible, yet far enough removed to feel like a real escape.


Last Saturday, I went to Napa with my three best girlfriends. It was a beautiful sunny day, and given it is the off-season, it was pleasantly quiet. Our first stop was a private tasting at Cardinale Estates in Oakville. The first thing that strikes you when you enter Cardinale Estates is the gorgeous grey, stone building that sits atop a hill. The tasting room has floor-to-ceiling windows that let the light flood in and the balcony has possibly one of the best views of the Valley. Our tasting experience began with a “welcome wine”. It was a Sauvignon Blanc called Intrada that is only available to drink on the premises of the winery and is not for public sale. We then sat down for an intimate lesson on the wines themselves. 

While we were being served a series of vintages from the Cardinale library along with an accompaniment of meats and cheeses, we were informed by our hostess that Cardinale only produces a single wine from each vintage, a Cabernet Sauvignon (with Merlot in the blend) and even this is in limited production. She told us that the typical production varies from about 2000 to 3000 cases per year and it is selectively distributed through the country. I was told that element 47, the restaurant I had dined at several weeks prior, is only sent 12 bottles of their wine per year! The Cardinale tasted fruity, with a mild tannin and a floral aftertaste. 2013, we were told was the best vintage, given the perfect growing conditions.  I bought one to age…but let's see if I can wait till 2027!

Our next stop was Archetype, where we ate a delicious brunch before heading to our next tasting at Opus One. A few weeks ago, we briefly read about Rothschild’s Californian brainchild which he created in partnership with Robert Mondavi. Starting at $450 a bottle, we sadly did not walk away with an Opus One souvenir, however we did have a taste of the 2012 and 2014 vintages as well as the Overture collection wine. Of the three wines, the Overture was surprisingly my favourite. It is the second wine in the Opus One collection and is a multi-vintage blend that is soft and easy to drink. The wines are aged in French oak and like Cardinale Estates, they only produce one vintage per year. Even if you don’t go for the wine, I would highly recommend everyone to check out the Opus One property, which looks like a futuristic space ship in the middle of a perfectly manicured green landscape.

To end the day we had dinner at Bistro Jeanty, an adorable little French bistro in St Helena town. It was an indulgent day of drinking and eating but after a stressful week of midterm papers and exams it was well worth it!