Napa Valley is known around the world for its award-winning wines while its temperate weather and proximity to the San Francisco Bay area make it a popular destination year-round. Yet, there’s so much more to Napa in addition to its spectacular wines, and with all that there is to do, it’s hard to believe the valley is just 30 miles long and a few miles wide.

Wander through art galleries and stroll through gardens. Get outside and go kayaking, boating, stand up paddling, bicycling, or hiking. Dine in acclaimed restaurants that have earned Michelin stars. And, of course, sample some of the wine that’s blended by more than 475 winemakers. Another reason Napa Valley is even more appearing is the state's announcement that masks are no longer be required indoors.

Here’s a sampling of what Napa Valley has to offer.

Why Napa?

• The average daily temperature is 72°F
• Served by four international airports within 100 miles: San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland International Airport (OAK), Sacramento International Airport (SMF), and San Jose International Airport (SJC). Sonoma County Airport (STS) is about 30 minutes away, and the private Napa County Airport is about 10 minutes away.
• More than 475 wineries and more than 150 restaurants, 10 of which have earned Michelin stars.

What’s New in Napa?

• The new Napa Valley Welcome Center features interactive and tech-forward amenities to help customize area adventures.
• Bread & Butter Wines opened a tasting room on the Silverado Trail.
• The new Wilfred’s Lounge—a tiki bar—opened in downtown Napa. Its rooftop terrace overlooks the Napa River and the lounge is available for private events.

See

Go For a Walk

In the heart of Napa Valley is Yountville, a charming, picturesque town that’s all about passeggiata, or the art of the stroll. It’s here that the valley’s first grapevines were planted, and Yountville’s microclimate has its own American Viticultural Area (AVA). A walking tour showcases unexpected boutiques, tasting rooms and restaurants; the town is considered the culinary heart of Napa Valley. The Yountville Art Walk features a collection of more than 35 outdoor sculptures from local and world-famous artists, and many of the town’s tasting rooms feature artworks, too.

The Eye of the Beholder

The di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art sits on 217 acres in the scenic Carneros Region at the south end of the Napa Valley. Indoor galleries house a permanent collection of Northern California art, along with contemporary exhibitions. Outside, a 1/3-mile trail winds through the Sculpture Meadow and, as its name suggests, past dozens of sculptures. A variety of spots on the center’s grounds are available for private events, including the 4,500 square foot Gallery 1 with views of Winery Lake, the courtyard, and the century-old olive grove.

World Class Wineries

With more than 475 wineries throughout the valley, chances are you’ll find just the right one to fit your group. From Cabernet Sauvignon, considered the king of red grapes in Napa Valley, to the lightest Pinot Grigio, not to mention the nine other varietals grown in the region, every winemaker strives to pull the grapes’ best qualities to make the best wines. In addition to tasting rooms and tours, many of wineries boast fantastic meeting and event spaces, like those amongst the vines and inside wine caves.

For more activities and ideas ask your ALHI GSO about working with Global DMC Partners

Do

Up, Up and Away

Wow your guests with an unforgettable Napa Valley experience: a hot air balloon ride. Your group won’t mind waking early to arrive at the lift-off spot before sunrise. They’ll climb into baskets to rise into the sky and watch the day unfold over the valley from up in the air. While some baskets are more intimate for couples, others can hold up to 40 guests, so it’s easy to accommodate large groups. Afterwards, enjoy breakfast and recount the experience, a memory that will last a lifetime.

Get Creative

The oenophiles in your group will delight in the opportunity to blend their own wines, especially when they’re ushered through the hands-on process by a master winemaker. Everyone can blend their own to suit their tastes or make it a team-building event by splitting your group into teams and have each team work together to develop a unique blend and flavor profile. Then, ask each team to present their blends to a panel of judges who will determine the best blend of them all.

Get Out

For a different perspective of Napa Valley, get out of meetings and onto the water. The Napa River runs 50 miles from Mt. St. Helena to San Pablo Bay. Of those 50 miles, 17 travel through an estuary from the Trancas Street bridge in Napa to Vallejo. Take a guided kayak or stand-up paddle board tour to learn about the area’s history as you paddle downriver, and keep an eye out for wildlife: bird, otters, beavers, deer, rabbits, turtles and even harbor porpoises have been spotted.

For more activities and ideas ask your ALHI GSO about working with Global DMC Partners

Eat

The French Laundry

Along with being one of the best restaurants in the world, Chef Thomas Keller has led the culinary team at The French Laundry in Yountville to three Michelin Stars. The chef’s daily nine-course tasting menu (and a vegetable option) highlight French cooking techniques and the highest quality ingredients available. The restaurant can accommodate private events for up to 60 guests for an evening they’ll never forget.

Merryvale Vineyards

Immerse your guests in the California winemaking lifestyle with a private dining experience at Merryvale Vineyards in St. Helena. Small groups of up to eight guests will enjoy the Profile Estate Picnic at Tre Posti, where they’ll dine on the Estate Vineyard deck with views of the vineyards. Merryvale’s Historic Cask Room is considered one of the most spectacular special event spaces in Napa Valley. Here, two stories of century-old 2,000-gallon casks line the stone walls to set the scene for an exquisite dining experience for up to 112 guests.

Farmstead at Longmeadow Ranch

Farm-to-table dishes and elegant wines blend to create a memorable menu for your guests at Farmstead at Longmeadow Ranch in downtown St Helena. The indoor and outdoor event spaces can be reimagined to coincide with your vision, from the Barn and Potting Shed to the private covered patio and cafe, which is a particularly fun spot for cocktail hours under a massive Blue Atlas spruce tree. Groups of up to 300 can be accommodated on the sprawling lawn.

For more activities and ideas ask your ALHI GSO about working with Global DMC Partners

Stay / Meet

Carneros Resort and Spa

Surrounded by 28 acres of rolling vineyards and picturesque countryside, Napa’s Carneros Resort and Spa is luxurious wine country living at its best. Rather than traditional hotel rooms, guests will have room to move in the resort’s 103 spacious cottages and homes, ranging from 450 to 2,400 square feet of indoor living space, not to mention outdoor spaces. Get down to business in one of the nine meeting and event spaces, all of which total 35,000 square feet and can accommodate up to 500 guests for a reception. Outside, the new 10,000 square foot event lawn sets the stage for a reception or dinner under the stars or host an intimate gathering on the private rooftop terrace on one of the private vacation homes.

The Meritage Resort and Spa

The Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa extends its meetings capacity alongside the new Vista Collina Resort. Together, the two resorts can host any type of event you can think of with a combined 80,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, and 44 venues and meeting rooms. Host a reception or dinner under the stars on the hillside Vineyard Deck overlooking the resort’s nine-acre vineyard, or on the Rooftop Terrace & Lounge with a bird’s eye view of the vineyards and beyond. Impress your guests with team building activities varying from outdoor yoga to cooking classes and group wine tastings. At the end of each day, adjourn to one of the 467 guest rooms, suites, or luxury retreats.

Vista Collina Resort

Alongside the The Meritage Resort and Spa right next door, the new Vista Collina Resort extends its meetings capacity for a combined 80,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, and 44 venues and meeting rooms. The resorts’ flexibility easily accommodates intimate groups of just a few to large gatherings of up to 1,500 for a reception on the Village Lawn. Natural light floods event spaces, and state-of-the art audio visual ensure your guests won’t miss a beat. When it comes to dining, your guests will be delighted with the dishes you’ve chosen from the catering menu inspired by the resort’s new Olive & Hay. Surprise them with a meal in the one-of-a-kind Estate Cave that can easily accommodate up to 200 guests.

The Estate Yountville

New to downtown Yountville is The Estate, a luxury destination set on a 22-acre village-within-a-village, complete with two hotels, Hotel Villagio and Vintage House. The Estate is where your guests can settle in and take full advantage of all that Napa Valley has to offer, right at their doorstep. During the day, contemporary and sophisticated meeting venues ideal for board meetings to receptions of up to 1,200 guests in The Pavilion can be transformed to fit your vision. After the work is done for the day, invite your guests to an exquisite dinner highlighting garden-to-table dishes in The Vineyard, or perhaps drinks in the Main House. Though the hotels each have their own style—Hotel Villagio is sophisticated and refined while Vintage House is airy and natural—they do have the common traits of being inviting, comfortable and spacious. Executives can retreat to the five-bedroom Villa at The Estate, complete with its own pool and Jacuzzi.

Silverado Resort and Spa

Boasting a combined 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space, along with state-of-the-art technology, the experienced event planners at Silverado Resort and Spa are ready to make your next event unforgettable. Host a board meeting in the resort’s historic mansion, gatherings of up to 400 guests in the Silverado Ballroom that opens to the outdoors or larger events of up to 3,000 guests outside in the Mansion Gardens. When it comes to team building, Silverado has you covered. A few fun-filled, Napa-centric activities to consider are grape stomping, bocce ball tournaments, olive oil tastings, and even a GPS challenge that gets everyone outside and exploring the resort grounds. And then there’s the two PGA championship golf courses and the region’s largest luxury spa for complete relaxation.