Tour Vin – A Visit to CIA at Copia is a Must

Published on: February 26th, 2020

On your next trip to Napa Valley, we recommend a visit to The CIA at Copia in downtown Napa. This amazing venue, an extension of the CIA Culinary College in St. Helena, offers dining at amazing restaurants, hands-on cooking classes, special tasting events, a self-guided tour of a culinary arts museum and special space for that special party or wedding. Looking for space for a corporate event? This is the perfect place to enjoy food, wine and conversation. 

Ever hear of Guest Chef Pop-Ups? Well, listen to this: Every Monday night features a different chef offering various cuisines and guests have the opportunity to watch the chef prepare an excellent meal in the Hestan Kitchen! 

On March 23, the CIA will offer a Ramen Pop-Up, featuring guest-chef Rodrigo Vazquez. And, it’s the perfect time of year for a big bowl of Ramen. If you are in Napa on March 30, be sure to stop in and sign up for The Brazil Project Pop-Up and enjoy small bites and classic Brazilian dishes.

Perhaps you prefer a traditional restaurant setup, and here are a few to enjoy: 

• The Restaurant at CIA Copia (indoor or outdoor)
• Grove (for a relaxed outdoor space)
• Contimo Provisions (the perfect stop for a quick, fresh bite, prepared daily)

Let us know how we can help plan your next trip to the Napa Valley. Spring time in the wine country is beautiful and you shouldn’t miss out!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge 

Tour Vin Goes Back in Time at 1881 Napa

Published on: January 28th, 2020

On Tour Vin’s most recent trip to Napa Valley, we visited an amazing history museum called 1881 Napa. Set behind the Oakville Grocery in Oakville, this unique venue includes galleries featuring depictions of Napa’s early pioneers and a collection of old wine making tools and artifacts. 

What would a wine museum be without classic Cabernet Sauvignon wines? We indulged in a tasting featuring 16 distinct AVAs, which highlighted the different and diverse terroirs!

Records on this historic site where the original Oakville Grocery building stood date back to 1874. It began as a dry goods, grocery and hardware store, and a large, two- story house stood just north of the store where the museum is now. 

In 1996, Leslie Rudd purchased the property and restored both buildings. When Leslie passed away in 2018, well-known entrepreneur Jean-Charles Boisset purchased the property and transformed both buildings to its present state. 

We must say, he did an amazing job improving the Oakville Grocery and enhancing the museum to be an attractive comfortable place where visitors can learn the history of Napa Valley. Check out our pictures and see for yourself!

We recomend you stop in, learn the history of Napa Valley and enjoy a wonderful wine tasting experience. Don’t forget – contact us to help plan your next Napa Valley vacation!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Wine and the Love of Art

Published on: November 27th, 2019

Napa Valley is, of course, known for its food and wine. But, did you know that art is also a huge part of the attraction to the valley? Whether strolling through Yountville or visiting Hess Winery, visitors can see how integral art is to the wine country experience.  On a regular basis, we at Tour Vin stop in to visit the Quent Cordair Fine Art gallery in downtown Napa to see the what’s new on the showroom floor!

Established in 1996, these folks showcase paintings, sculptures and drawings that  always amaze visitors. Their focus in art is to celebrate happiness and joy that complement the Napa Valley experience. Visitors can also enjoy the works of painters and sculptors from around the world, as well as emerging artists who have a story to tell. 

Taking pictures in the gallery is not allowed, so we encourage you to check out their website at www.cordair.com and visit the space on your next trip to Napa Valley. Linda will be there to greet visitors and will be more than happy to show you around!

Have a great holiday!

Ed Pollard

Tour Vin

Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Fall Festivities Abound in Napa Valley

Published on: October 31st, 2019

Over the next couple of months, Napa Valley has scheduled some incredible wine and food events that you don’t want to miss – wine release parties, winemaker dinners, farmers markets and annual events like Cabernet Season. In fact, we at Tour Vin will be in Napa in November enjoying all the valley has to offer.

Here are a few activities to consider when planning your next trip.

• November 7-10: The famous Blood, Sweat and Tears Band at the Blue Note Napa. A  wonderful music, food and wine event.

• November 9, recurring weekly on Saturdays: Calistoga Farmers’ Market. Enjoy fresh seafood, breakfast treats and locally grown produce.

• Recurring weekly on November Fridays and Saturdays: Live music at The Grove, CIA at Copia. Excellent food, wine and cocktails.

• November 13-17: Napa Valley Film Festival featuring a blend of art, film, food and wine.

• November 20-22: 2019 Napa Open Golf Tournament at the Silverado Resort and Spa.

• November 24-January 1: Holidays in Yountville. The town lights it up for visitors as they stroll through the town enjoying music, food and libations. Activities include carriage rides, movies, photos with Santa and of course Nutcracker performances.

• November 30: Napa’s Christmas Parade through downtown Napa. Santa will be there!

• December 7: The Calistoga Tractor Parade Party. Special wines and food bites will be available to purchase while enjoying this fun Christmas event.

Contact us to ensure you don’t miss out – reservations are required for some of these fabulous activities. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all – cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – You’ve Gott to Try This

Published on: September 26th, 2019

There are so many dining establishments to enjoy in Napa Valley. But, which ones are easy to get in on short notice, offer an extensive menu with choices for everyone and fit into the family budget?

One of our choices for a quick bite in between wine tastings is Gott’s. There are even two locations in Napa Valley, one in St. Helena and the other at the Napa’s Oxbow Public Market. Our guests give this restaurant a thumbs up for convenience and affordability, as well as great food!

On our last trip, we stopped in on the Napa location and tried the vegetarian Impossible Burger. The patty is made entirely from plants, and includes American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and Gott’s secret sauce on a toasted egg bun. We wholeheartedly give it a 5-star rating!

The variety of menu options at Gott’s is amazing. Here is a sampling of their offerings:

• Eleven different burgers with your choice of beef, turkey or veggie
• Six different salad options
• Eight types of French fries to choose from
• Seafood tacos
• Sandwiches
• Hot dogs
• Soup and chili
• A variety of beverages, including wines by the glass, shakes, floats and sodas

Of course, Gott’s also has a kids menu with all kinds of goodies. If you like soft serve ice cream, there are also plenty of flavors to choose from.

Restaurants come and go in the Valley, but Gott’s is celebrating their 20^thanniversary and their longevity alone indicates just how good the eatery is. Don’t forget to stop in on your next trip to Napa Valley!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Culinary History in Napa

Published on: August 29th, 2019

There are many fun and interesting venues to visit in Napa Valley that do not include wineries, restaurants, golf or hot air balloon rides. We stopped by The CIA at Copia during our last visit to check out a bit of Napa Valley history and learn about its pioneers. We walked through the incredible cooking school and ate at their restaurant, and also stopped by the amazing Chuck Williams Culinary Arts Museum.

This one of a kind museum features culinary masterpieces and artifacts used by popular chefs from around the world. Over the years, these culinary tools were collected by CIA, some of which were used 100s of years ago. The exhibits are unique and reflect what was available to chefs to create their culinary specialties throughout the ages. Check out these photos:

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The next time you are in Napa Valley stop by CIA at Copia, roam around and check out this wonderful display of history!

Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Plan a Corporate Retreat in Napa

Published on: July 29th, 2019

Year-end is right around the corner – what better time to begin planning that corporate retreat to celebrate a successful 2019? Corporate retreats are a wonderful way to build upon team work, reward your successful sales folks, engage and learn about other businesses in your company, and, of course, set the stage for 2020. 

Napa Valley offers many venues that can support structured team building, meaningful strategy sessions, socializing and getting to know employees in other departments. Team competitions between and across various business divisions are one facet of the retreat to consider. Here are a few activities that bring all employees together in a social setting:

• Golf – Consider an early day of golf at the Silverado Resort. For those that don’t play golf, a few games of tennis will do regardless of expertise. You’ll be surprised how many will enjoy the game even with mixed skill sets.
• Bocce Ball and Cornhole – These old favorites are always fun before or during happy hour, and will definitely encourage friendly competition in your group!
• Hiking and River Kayaking – The Napa River is the perfect place to kayak with team members as they enjoy a guided tour and learn about the river and town history. Hiking is also a great first-thing-in-the-morning activity (after a good breakfast) before strategy sessions begin. The team can hike to the top of St. Helena and enjoy amazing views.

Though it is only July, planning a meaningful corporate event takes time to assure its success. Contact us so we can walk you through the process and share even more of our suggestions!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – Napa Valley’s Buzz

Published on: May 31st, 2019

Napa Valley is buzzing with excitement because of the upcoming 2019 events – you don’t want to miss any of these! With a focus on food, wine and art, here are a just a few coming up soon:

Napa City Nights Summer Concert Series: June 7-August 23 –  

Free family entertainment in the heart of Napa, this annual tradition highlights well-known artists and up-and-coming bands at the Veterans Memorial Park Amphitheater each Friday evening. Genres include jazz, pop, folk and country. With terraced seating, the views are amazing and this venue is within easy walking distance of many well-known restaurants.

50th Annual Mondavi Summer Concert Series: June through August – 

Enjoy great musical artists while sitting on the lawn or patio in the middle of the highly acclaimed Mondavi Winery. Wine and food are also available at the winery!

Napa Porchfest: July 28 – 

Ready for a free Napa community event for the entire family? Stroll through the residential streets of Napa, specifically the Fuller Park area in Old Town Napa, and enjoy great music on the porches of various homes. Bring along lawn chairs, blankets and coolers, and food vendors will be stationed at Fuller Park.

Calistoga Harvest Table: September 8 – 

What better time to celebrate harvest season in the middle of Calistoga’s downtown district? Approximately 12 local restaurants and 40 wineries will be serving guests who are seated at 1,000 feet of tables in the center of town. Calistoga AVA wines will be served at the 4:30 p.m. social hour, which is open to the public. Advance purchased dinner tickets are a must for a seat at the table. 

This is the perfect time to plan your summer or fall trip to Napa Valley – contact us and we’ll guide you to all the hot spots!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – The 2019 Growing Season is Under Way

Published on: April 30th, 2019

Bud break is in full swing in the Napa Valley! This year, growers say the grape growing season is about a week later than last due to the chilly weather and late winter rains. The good news is that all the water that fell between November and February (35 inches to be exact) has been absorbed into the ground, and adds to the water table to better the grow.

Cover crops throughout most of the valley are in full bloom, and some AVA’s (designated wine grape growing regions in the United States distinguishable by geography) are beginning to plow these plants under, which will replenish the soil with valuable nutrients. 

Peak season in Napa Valley is between May and October –  crowds will increase and hotels will book up fast. Visitors vacationing in Napa in the next few months will be treated to the sights of vineyard managers pruning the vines (primarily in May), tilling the soil and ensuring the vineyards stay healthy throughout harvest. Now is the perfect time to plan your next Napa Valley trip!

If you’re planning on visiting Napa during harvest time, which is usually September/October, it’s a good idea to make your travel and accommodation plans as soon as possible. Since the valley considers this time “high season,”, crowds will be at their peak. However, also during this timeframe, many wineries host harvest parties and you don’t want to miss these special food and wine-based events.

We at Tour Vin visit all Napa Valley venues before recommending them to our clients. Contact us to help plan your next trip!

Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge

Tour Vin – The CIA at Copia

Published on: March 28th, 2019

There are many unique venues in Napa Valley, but few offer an experience that combines food, wine and a historical perspective of the wine region like The CIA at Copia. On our most recent visit to Napa, we toured Copia in downtown Napa and want to share our discoveries!

Restaurants

The Restaurant at CIA Copia is open for lunch and dinner. The menu changes based on the season and centers on a farm-to-table experience. The wine list is expansive, as is their offering of signature cocktails. Guests can choose to dine in the restaurant or sit outside adjacent to beautiful flower and vegetable gardens.

If you’re looking for breakfast or a quick lunch stop, check out Contimo Provisions. Everything is made from fresh, quality ingredients and prepared to order while you wait. Need something to go? They do that, too!

Wine Tasting

A must-stop for a distinctive wine tasting experience is K. Laz at Copia. These folks offer premium wines that are rarely offered by the glass, including Hundred Acre, Realm, Screaming Eagle, Harlan. If you’d like to partake in a wine pairing, they also offer dim sum, cheese and charcuterie or oven pizza to complement the wines. Reservations are required.

Cooking Classes

Some of our guests like to experience a hands-on cooking class while visiting Napa Valley. Copia offers a classic experience in a professional kitchen environment. A few upcoming classes include:

• Chefs CIA Farm-to-Table
• Family Fun-Dim Sum
• Healthy Cooking
• Mastering Mole

While strolling through this amazing complex, stop in The Store at CIA Copia, which focuses on the home and kitchen, and features cookware, linens, home and garden accessories, and pottery.

Now is the time to start planning your next Napa Valley experience. Hotels are currently offering discounts for early bookings, so don’t wait. Contact us to help plan your next trip to Napa Valley!

Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Napa Valley Concierge