Napa Valley Now

California’s most celebrated wine region is buzzing with stylish hotels, smart tasting experiences, and talented new players.

By Stephen Wallis

July/August 2010

https://www.departures.com/lifestyle/wine-spirits/best-napa-california

Yes, the economic downturn hit Napa Valley pretty hard. Declining land values, tighter credit, and consumers buying fewer premium bottles of wine have pushed a number of winemakers to the brink. And some predict the hangover could last a while, with quite a few foreclosures and distressed sales of vineyards before things turn around. The prices of many Napa wines will almost certainly come down, especially after the huge 2009 harvest left a glut of Cabernet grapes. Not a bad thing for wine drinkers!

Actually, there’s plenty of good news for visitors to this epicurean paradise, as the success of recent years has brought more quality options than ever in the form of sophisticated restaurants, new and improved hotels, and intimate, hands-on experiences with wine and food. Lessons learned during the nineties dot-com boom encouraged thoughtful development, and all across Napa Valley the watchwords are sustainable, organic, and local, local, local.

“Green is not a political statement anymore—it’s almost a necessity,” says John Conover, general manager and partner at PlumpJack Winery and its newer sister, Cade, which just joined nearby Hall as California’s only gold-LEED-certified wineries. With sexy state-of-the-art architecture and an eco-smart approach, Cade and Hall are representative of the new generation that’s defining Napa today.

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