8 Napa
Near the river in
downtown Napa, the
stands inside the Oxbow
Public Market (www.
oxbowpublicmarket.com; 610
& 644 First St; h9am-7pm
Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm Sun;
cv) offer everything
from fresh-roasted
organic coffee to
cranberry baguette
sandwiches with pea
shoots and fontina.
Sample a beef frank at
the counter of Five Dot
Ranch (www.fivedotranch.
com), an all-natural beef
purveyor with a holistic,
sustainable, open-pasture
program combined with
low-stress handling. The
family has been raising
California livestock
for seven generations.
Top it off a couple of
stands over with the
funky, creative and
organic flavors of Three
Twins Ice Cream (www.
threetwinsicecream.com) –
try the Strawberry Je
Ne Sais Quoi, where the
creaminess is cut with
an unexpected dash of
balsamic vinegar.
The Drive » Leaving Napa,
take picturesque Hwy 29 (St
Helena Hwy) 12 miles north to
Oakville, driving past the Napa
Valley foodie destination of
Yountville.
9 Napa Valley
The huge, corporate-
owned winery of
Robert Mondavi (www.
robertmondavi.com; 7801
Hwy 29, Oakville; tours $15-25,
bottles $19-150; h10am-
5pm) draws oppressive
crowds, but if you know
nothing about wine,
the worthwhile tours
provide excellent insight
into wine making.
Otherwise, skip it –
unless you’re here for one
of the wonderful summer
concerts, ranging from
classical and jazz to R&B
and Latin.
A half-mile south,
just after the Oakville
Grocery, take a left onto
Oakville Cross Rd and
drive 2.5 miles, passing
through vineyards
to Silverado Trail.
For hilltop views and
food-friendly wines,head south another 2.5
miles to visit chef-
owned Robert Sinskey
(%707-944-9090; http://www.
robertsinskey.com; 6320
Silverado Trail, Napa; tastings$25, bottles $22-95; (^) h10am-
4:30pm), whose discreetly
dramatic tasting room
of stone, redwood and
teak resembles a small
cathedral. The winery
specializes in organically
grown pinot, merlot
and cabernet, great
Alsatian varietals, vin
gris, cabernet franc and
dry rosé, and small bites
accompany the vino.
54 p57
The Drive » Continue south
on Silverado Trail to Napa,
picking up southbound Hwy 121
(Sonoma)/Hwy 29 (Vallejo) and
turning right as it merges into
westbound Hwy 12 (Sonoma).
Stay on Hwy 121 until Hwy 37,
and take it west. From Hwy
101, it’s 20 miles back to San
Francisco via the Golden Gate
Bridge.
TRIP HIGHLIGHT
WINE TASTING 101
Even if you know nothing about wine, you can enjoy
it with gusto. Inhale the wine’s aroma by burying
your nose deep in the glass. Swirl it and look at its
color before letting it hit every part of your tongue.
It’s OK not to drain every glass (in fact, it’ll dull your
taste buds if you do). Use the containers on the
counter to empty your glass and prepare for your
next taste. You won’t be offending anyone!
NORTHERN.CALIFORNIA..
2
.SAN FRANCISCO, MARIN & NAPA
LOOP