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Four Reasons to Stay in Downtown Yountville
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Photo by Kim Palacios - Bottega Restaurant
With a population of ~3,000 and city limits that barely graze highway 29, Yountville is easy to miss. A simple green highway sign marks its exit—this, a far cry from conspicuous estates with fetching plaques that lure visitors off the road. I had been to Napa a dozen times without once stopping in Yountville. My maiden voyage came with a recommendation to sample the sweets at Bouchon Bakery. Since that time, I’ve explored this unique place, and, boy, am I glad I did. Here are four reasons to pull off the road, get out of your car, and stay for awhile:
The Highest Concentration of Hot Restaurants in the Valley. With a staggering six Michelin Stars along the same quiet street, Yountville is home to The French Laundry, Bistro Jeanty, Bouchon, and Redd. The newest additions—Michael Chiarello’s Bottega and Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc—are already known for their world-class cuisine and “California casual” vibe. Though the fare at Bottega is well worth the price, the value at Ad Hoc is unbeatable; with its $49 fixed price menu, you’ll have plenty to spare for wine.
A Strong and Growing Cluster of Luxury Hotels. The Michelin Four Star/AAA Four Diamond Napa Valley Lodge sets a high bar for the area, one that is reached by AAA Four Diamond rated sister properties Villagio Inn and Vintage Inn. The Lodge sits on an out-of-the-way corner of Madison, its cross-street Yountville’s main drag, Washington. The latter two, as part of the centrally-owned Napa Style empire, are at the heart of the action. Bardessono is Yountville’s latest addition—it opened in spring of 2009. Yountville Inn is also worth noting—it is in the midst of massive expansion and renovation that is scheduled to culminate in spring of 2010. The design team on task to update the property is David Shapiro and Lisa Holt, of Milliken Creek fame.
Respite from Driving. Washington Street is barely a mile long, making Yountville appealingly walkable. This means no chauffeured cars, no designated drivers, and no need to waste your hard-earned vacation time getting from A to B.
A Small, but Notable Set of Places to Taste, including Girard Winery and Jessup Cellars. The former is noted for its ’05 Cabernet, and the latter for its Table for Four red blend. In addition to several well-desgned private tasting rooms, Jessup Cellars doubles as a gallery that features the work of local artists. To experience a broader cross-section of wines, V Wine Cellar is a great place to taste, shop, and enjoy a glass or two. This unusual wine store has plush couches for guest relaxation, a flat screen TV, and an outdoor patio that is crawling with locals.
Stay tuned for my upcoming series on Yountille, which will explore several of the aforementioned venues in depth!
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