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What's New In The Legendary Napa Valley: Summer 2011 Update


America’s Great Wine Capital Pours it on With a Rich Variety of New Travel

Experiences in Summer 2011

Home to world-renowned wines, Michelin-starred restaurants, exquisite resorts, unparalleled natural beauty and inspiring art collections, the Napa Valley also continually innovates to offer visitors new reasons to come and stay longer. For Summer 2011, new hotel offerings, unique excursions and exciting educational opportunities featuring wine, food, art and more are being uncorked. What’s more, it’s within driving distance of Southern California.

Following are a few examples of what guests can look forward to during future visits to the legendary Napa Valley (http://www.LegendaryNapaValley.com):

CELEBRATING NAPA VALLEY MILESTONES, EXCITING NEW
EXPERIENCES, AND MORE:
  • AWARD WINNING VISIT NAPA VALLEY MOBILE APP NOW AVAILABLE FOR ALL SMARTPHONES – In addition to iPhone and iPad users, the Platinum Adrian Award winning Visit Napa Valley mobile app is now available to all smart phone users including those with Android, Blackberry, Windows, and Palm devices. The Universal Mobi Application (UMA) provides all the same great features as the iPhone application including GPS based maps, winery selection based on varietal, events, exclusive offers from local merchants, weather reports, hot news, and much more. For more details and to download the app visit http://www.legendarynapavalley.com.
  • THE AUBERGE DU SOLEIL CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY – The iconic Michelin-starred restaurant and premier luxury resort is celebrating its 30th anniversary by presenting a year of special culinary offerings and experiences including a 30th anniversary getaway package, a special prix fixe two-course lunch menu for $30 and a new “30-Year Journey Through Wine” list featuring 30 consecutive vintages from around the world and the Napa Valley beginning with 1981. For more details visit http://www.aubergedusoleil.com.
  • SUMMER SUNSET CRUISES ALONG THE NAPA RIVER - This summer, Kayak Napa Valley will introduce sunset cruises to Downtown Napa for guests to enjoy the City of Napa’s “Summer Nights” concert series from the water. The special cruises will be available on select Friday evenings through July and August. Additionally, Saturday moonlight cruises, beginning at dusk, will be offered on July 16 and August 13. For more information visit http://www.kayaknv.com.
  • HISTORIC NAPA WALKING TOUR EXPANDED - The only professional history and architecture tour in the Napa Valley, the Napa Walking Tour is led by George Webber – historian, actor and wine/beer expert. The three-hour tour includes a walk along the Napa River, visits to magnificent Victorian mansions, an overview of the history of Napa from prehistoric past to the present day, and a micro-brewery tour and tasting – all part of Webber’s unique brand of Edutainment. New for summer 2011 is the addition of a humorous wine lecture and tasting presented by “Professor Vine” at the Ceja Winery Tasting Room. Tours are $35 per person and include wine and beer tastings. For more details visit http://www.napawalkingtour.com.
  • DI ROSA PRESERVE PRESENTS NEW ZOMBIE-PROOF HOUSE – This summer, June 18 - Sept 17, 2011, Di Rosa preserve presents Zombie-Proof House, a new exhibition featuring Bay Area artists and exploring the widespread preoccupation with apocalyptic scenarios, exemplified by the prevalent notion of zombies in language and pop culture. The exhibit tries to expose the absurdity of paranoia and resuscitate the idea of hope. Visit http://www.dirosaart.org for more information.
  • NAPA BOUTIQUE WINE SHOP TO HOST CHEESE-AND-WINE PAIRING WORKSHOPS WITH JANET FLETCHER – Author of two bestselling books on cheese and San Francisco Chronicle cheese columnist, Janet Fletcher, is partnering with Napa’s Back Room Wines in a new series of cheese-and-wine pairing classes. The 90-minute guided sessions, billed as “Cheese Meets Wine,” will feature six cheeses and four wines and offer the chance to taste with an expert and learn why some pairings succeed and others don’t. Fletcher hopes to introduce participants to cheese-friendly wines they may not know and lesser-known artisan cheeses, like Meadow Creek Dairy’s Grayson or Goat’s Leap Hyku, a cheese rarely available outside Napa Valley. Classes will be offered at Back Room Wines the first Thursday of every month. Price is $65 per person. For more details visit http://www.janetfletcher.com.
  • CULINARY INSTTITUTE OF AMERICA AT GREYSTONE (CIA) EXPANDS WEEKEND CLASSES – The CIA provides visitors of The Napa Valley with more opportunities to engage in a culinary learning experience from expert chefs. “Students” get a taste of the CIA experience while enjoying the company of fellow food and wine fans. Classes include topics like – artisan breads at home, cake decorating, food and wine pairing, seasons in the wine country, tastes of the Napa Valley. For more details visit http://www.ciachef.edu.


EXPANDED WINE COUNTRY LODGING OPTIONS AND OFFERINGS:
  • NEW HOTEL YOUNTVILLE OPENS – Set on 6 acres amongst heritage oaks and vintage olive groves, the new Hotel Yountville features 80 rooms, The Hopper Creek Kitchen, 4,000-sq. ft. Spa AcQua, stunning outdoor pool area, Y bar, and more. In-room amenities include oversized spa tubs, steam showers for two, fireplaces and private decks. The Hopper Creek Kitchen boasts an open kitchen, swank seating, large hearth and terrace dining under a majestic oak. The hotel also provides complimentary bicycles for guests. Rates start at $395. For more information visit http://www.hotelyountville.com.
  • MARRIOTT RESORT & SPA COMPLETES $7 MILLION RENOVATION – The Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa has undergone a $7 million in renovation project that is scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2011. Renovations include upgrades to guest rooms, suites, meeting space, the spa, restaurant and bar, and the introduction of a new indoor/outdoor lobby featuring fire pits and a 600 bottle floor-to-ceiling wine wall. In addition, the hotel boasts a large new culinary garden that will be used by the Chef to create nightly specials. The hotel also launched its new restaurant and bar, VinEleven, in March. For more information visit http://www.napavalleymarriott.com.
  • SILVERADO RESORT & SPA NEARS COMPLETION OF GOLF COURSE RENOVATIONS – Under new ownership, by World Golf Hall of Fame member and lead golf analyst for NBC Sports, Johnny Miller, and Troon Golf; the Silverado Resort & Spa is recently underwent renovations to the property's two championship golf courses, completed in April 2011. Major renovations include a complete bunker and turf renovation and the addition of new tees on the North Course, making the total yardage approximately 7,100 yards, and reshaping of fairway lines, recapturing of lost green area, enhancing edging and grooming, and new on-course furniture for the South Course. The resort has also appointed Peter Burwash International (PBI) as the new luxury tennis manager. Recognized for world-class instruction, PBI will manage program development and daily tennis activities for Silverado's 13 plexi-pave tennis courts. For more information visit http://www.silveradoresort.com.
  • INDIAN SPRINGS RESORT EXPANDS SPA AND ART OFFERINGS – At Indian Springs Resort, guests will find the relaxing Buddha Pond and newly expanded spa, with nine new treatment rooms, including couples’ rooms, and a beautiful new pavilion with fireplace overlooking the Buddha Pond. The resort has also expanded its art collection, now featuring outdoor glass pieces by renowned glass artist, John Lewis, and a series of special lighted bird installations by artist Guy Petersen. For more information visit http://www.indianspringscalistoga.com.
  • HARVEST INN COMPLETES RENOVATIONS – The Harvest Inn completed a range of renovations throughout the property in February, including the addition of a new fitness center complete with state-of-the-art equipment and free weights; the addition of three new spa rooms; expansions to the Inn’s South Pool, and renovations to all guest bathrooms. For more information visit http://www.harvestinn.com.


EXCITING NEW WINE EXPERIENCES AND TASTING ROOMS:
  • B CELLARS PRESENTS NEW WINERY AND TASTING ROOMB Cellars introduces its new winery and tasting room, located at 400 Silverado Trail in Calistoga. Features crafted Napa Valley blended wines from esteemed winemaker Kirk Venge, a second-generation Napa Valley winemaker with an established and well-earned reputation for his artisan approached for crafting Napa Valley, Rhone and Italian grape varietals. For more information visit http://www.bcellars.com.
  • BELL WINE CELLARS INTRODUCES THE ABC’S OF WINEMAKINGBell Wine Cellars now offers a daily Grape to Glass Wine tour discussing the ABC’s of winemaking. The in-depth experience includes a stroll through the Yountville vineyard to learn more about the terrain and climate, a tank and barrel discussion, barrel tasting, and a tasting and artisan cheese pairing. The tour is $30 per person and includes one bottle of wine (per couple) to take home. For more details visit http://www.bellwine.com.
  • GOOSECROSS CELLARS TRANSFORMS DOWNTOWN TASTING ROOMGoosecross Cellars is remodeling and renaming its Downtown Napa tasting room – Wineries of Napa Valley. Scheduled to open July 2011, the new tasting room will be named Top Flight - Wine Tasting & Beer Bar and will offer wine tastings and wine flights along with craft beer on draft and flights of beer. Small plates of appetizers paired with wine and beer will also be available. For more details visit http://www.goosecross.com.
  • HILL FAMILY ESTATE ANNOUNCES NEW GARDEN TOUR & TASTING – The winery is now offering a Garden Tour and Tasting for guests that includes a premium tasting and tour of Hill Family Farm and Jacobsen Orchards; exclusive purveyors of produce for some of Yountville’s Michelin-starred restaurants. For more details visit http://www.hillfamilyestate.com.
  • LONG MEADOW RANCH WINERY & FARMSTEAD FEATURES NEW WINE, FOOD AND TOUR EXPERIENCESThe Logan-Ives House at Long Meadow Ranch Winery & Farmstead features an array of new and engaging experiences for lovers of local food and wines including olive oil tastings, distinctive full-circle farming tours, and mountain ranch excursions. Lunch and tour experiences range from $85 to $150 per person. For more information, please visit http://www.longmeadowranch.com.
  • SCHWEIGER VINEYARDS OPENS NEW TASTING ROOM – This past April, Schweiger Vineyards celebrated the opening of its stunning new tasting room. Set 2,000 feet above The Napa Valley floor, guests can enjoy incredible views of the region, while savoring artisan style wines. The new tasting room offers balcony service and sit down paired tastings. Guests can also enjoy full estate tours including a descent into the barrel room. Four tasting options are available: a 3-flight Salon Tasting, a 6-flight “Dedication” Tasting, a full Vineyard Tour & Tasting and a Charcuterie Paired Tasting. For more details visit http://www.schweigervineyards.com.
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