Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year in Napa Wine Country. The leaves are changing colors and the weather is cooling off, bringing fresh air and pumpkin spice with it. As grapes are harvested across the valley, the smell of fermenting wine fills the air!
Traveling can be a challenge right now, so we want to take you on a Strala-guided journey through the Napa Valley. Here are our seven favorite things to do in wine country. Family and friends approved, add them to your list for your next fall visit!
1. Breathe in the fresh air!
This year, we’re especially looking forward to cooler weather and the return of crisp air to the Napa Valley. We are ready to dust off our bikes and cruise the Vine Trail, which runs from Downtown Napa to Yountville, or hike one of the many trails around the valley, such as the Westwood Hills Trail. We recommend a glass of our 2019 Strala Sauvignon Blanc to cool off after working up a sweat.
Photo by Napa Valley Bike Tours
2. A soup sipping tour through the Napa Valley.
As soon as the weather cools down, we’re on the hunt for the best fall dishes in town – soup! From French Onion Soup at Angèle to Minestrone soup from Fillipi’s Pizza Grotto to Tomato Soup from Bistro Jeanty, there’s always a hearty dish that is sure to warm up any foggy fall day. Our 2017 Strala Pinot Noir is a versatile wine that pairs with a range of soup dishes.
Photo of the French Onion Soup at Angèle.
3. Pumpkin-picking at a local patch.
A fall afternoon that is family and friend approved – picking up pumpkins from a pumpkin patch! Find the perfect pumpkin to carve, stop to watch the pigs, climb the hay pyramid, get lost in the (kid-sized) hay maze, and take festive holiday photos at Stanly Lane Pumpkin Patch or Pick of the Patch by ABC Tree Farms.
Photo by I Heart Napa
4. Seasonal macaron flavors and hot chocolate at Bouchon Bakery.
Crisp, fall mornings, and colder evenings call for hot chocolate and seasonally-flavored macarons at Bouchon Bakery in the charming town of Yountville. The pumpkin and caramel flavors melt in your mouth, and we look forward to them every year! Add the 2016 Strala Cabernet Sauvignon to your hot chocolate for an adult beverage that’s sure to warm you up and pair wonderfully with macarons.
Photo from Bouchon Bakery
5. Recline your car seat and enjoy a movie at a drive-in theatre.
Not too hot, not too cold – the weather is just right for the outdoor movie experience! A night out in St. Helena at Cameo Cinemas is just what a socially distanced fall evening calls for, especially when they’re playing Hocus Pocus.* If you’re riding shotgun, we recommend a glass of our 2018 Strala Proprietary Red Blend once you’ve parked and tuned in for the night.
Photo from Cameo Cinema
*Unfortunately, Cameo Cinemas has closed for the season amidst the fires in California this year, but fear not – there are other drive-ins in Concord and Sacramento!
6. Ride into the sunrise on a hot air balloon.
Rise with the sun in a hot air balloon and experience the Napa Valley awakening from above! Hot air balloons launch before dawn when the winds are at their calmest, and it’s definitely worth the early morning wake-up call – the lush, rolling hills, vineyards, and gorgeous coastline are a sight to behold! Complete your morning with brunch nearby, or host your own brunch with our 2016 Strala Blanc de Blanc and an easy-to-set-up crepes bar.
7. Wine tasting with Strala Vineyards in St. Helena.
You can’t enjoy fall in the Napa Valley without wine tasting! We look forward to hosting you at the Brasswood Estate in St. Helena for a tasting of our current release wines or for a lunch pairing at the Brasswood Bar + Kitchen. A beautiful combination of fruit from select vineyard locations, attention-to-detail winemaking, and the commitment to the highest quality wines is the result of our passion for wine and the wine country lifestyle, and we want to share it with you! To make a reservation, click here.
We can’t wait to explore all that the Napa Valley has to offer this fall and appreciate you joining us for the ride. Although we can’t bring everything to you, we can bring you a piece of the Napa Valley with our Private Virtual Wine Tasting Experience, where you’ll taste through three wines (two red and one white) with one of our wine ambassadors. Fill out our Reservation Form here to purchase your Tasting Kit and schedule your private tasting.