Angele Restaurant & Bar

Sunday, June 17, 2007
Napa with my family

Angele is a great Napa restaurant in downtown by the water. They have an amazing French menu (see site) and a nice outdoor patio to enjoy a sumptuous dinner after a long day of winetasting.

The French onion soup was good as was the gazpacho. I had a housemade fettucine with spring vegetables, which was pleasantly light. Aggressively had the macaroni gratin also that put me over normal eating volumes I think. Very good though. The lamb in my dad's stew was incredibly soft, just melted.

Angele has a corkage fee of $20, which they will waive with each bottle of theirs that you buy. Totally worth opening one of your own from the day I think.

540 Main Street, Napa, CA 94559
(707) 252-8115

Vine Cliff Winery

Sunday, June 17, 2007
Napa with my family

Vine Cliff is a beautiful winery off of Silverado Trail near Oakville. It has a really exclusive feel, as you roll through the black gates and ring in with your appointment. There are beautiful paths and gardens along the vineyards, not to mention the mansion at the top of the hills. Unfortunately the house belongs to the Sweeneys (of the Embassey Suites fortune) and we don't get to go there, but still pretty to look at from afar.

The tasting includes four wines and a tour of this amazing cave where they keep the barrels. Apparently it is available for private events, though I can't imagine the cost for it.

Definitely need an appointment for this one. There is a $25 tasting fee (which gets waived for every $100 of wine you buy). It is a beautiful place and worth taking the parents once (but only once).

7400 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558

(707) 944-2388

Elyse Winery

Sunday, June 17, 2007
Napa with my family

Elyse is my favorite winery and I had the pleasure to take my family there after graduation. The tasting room is housed in a small cottage with one bar that can host maybe a dozen guests at a time. I think you need an appointment (see number below), but they were pretty flexible.

The tasting was 8 different wines this time. Their 2005 Chardonnay is amazing, super buttery but still a bit tart. Also a huge fan of their 2003 Cabernet Sauv from Morisoli Vineyard, a nice earthy cab though a bit pricey at $65. The 2005 Elyse Petite Sirah from Rutherford is also very nice, very dry and heavy and makes you crave steak. We also got to try some of their desserty wines, a great Petite Sirah Port which was an elegant chocalatey drink and also the 2006 La Peche which was a great white dessert wine (like ice wine).

Elyse is about 10 minutes from downtown Napa off of St Helena Hwy (Rt 29) on Hoffman Lane. The winery looks like just another residence, with a driveway where Otis, their dog, comes out to greet guests. Such a nice friendly place, with excellent wine!

2100 Hoffman Lane, Napa, CA 94558
(707) 944-2900