St. Helena

Faust grows their Cabernet Sauvignon east of Napa in Coombsville—typically Chardonnay country, due to its lower temperatures. But it’s exactly the combination of cooler weather, volcanic soils, and sea breezes that gives Faust’s Cabernet its brightness and minerality. In the Victorian mansion at Faust Haus, you’re likely to try a few of their limited-production Cabs and a few other varietals.

Adults-only Alila Napa Valley took over the old Las Alcobas property in 2021, and it’s one of the nicest places to stay in wine country. The rooms are contemporary, as is the massive barn spa, but it all feels balanced by the old Victorian manor on the property, which houses the restaurant Violetto. Be sure to book a room overlooking the vineyards (they belong to Beringer Estate).

In the grand Victorian mansion at Alila Napa Valley, Violetto is a relative newcomer on Napa’s food scene. (It replaced Acacia House.) Each dish is beautifully put together and flavorfully made, making good use of Napa’s abundant produce and honoring the French and Italian traditions that inform the region’s viticulture. It’s great at both brunch and dinner (there are à la carte, prix fixe, and tasting menu options at the latter). And they make magic with their vegetarian and vegan menus—not every fine-dining spot pulls that off.

Brasswood Estate is like a little village: There’s the winery, a bakery, an art gallery, a bottle shop–slash–boutique, and the beloved Brasswood Bar + Kitchen. Sit on the patio overlooking the vineyard and dine on scallops and short rib pappardelle (for example; the menu changes seasonally). After your meal, you’ll notice everyone is ordering a glass of port and the butterscotch panna cotta—you should do the same. They have excellent absinthe, cognac, and cigar menus, too.

The Model Bakery is best known for their English muffins, which we admit sounds random. But trust us here: They take organic stone-ground flour, roll out each muffin by hand, and cook them in clarified butter on a piping-hot griddle until they’re golden-brown. The results are pillowy—and perfect with jam or sandwiching a bacon, egg, and cheese. They do pastries, cookies, breads, cakes, pies, sandwiches, and pizza here, too. But if you’re a first-timer, it really is all about the English muffins.

Family owned, and still run day-to-day by the Phelps family for the last sixty years, this Napa wine hero boasts over 130 acres of rolling vineyards alongside olive groves, fruit orchards, and bee hives—you’ll struggle to find a more picturesque setting to settle into for an afternoon of tasting. Start off with Phelps’ Insignia Blending Seminar Settle in for a full afternoon (or two) of culinary delights (Insignia is not only the vineyard’s signature wine but is California’s first proprietary red Bordeaux-style blend). This is a hands-on, but highly refined way to learn about terroir and varietal selections as you smell, taste, and experiment with blending the six Insignia components for a sensorially perfect glass of vino. All that tasting builds an appetite and Phelps have created a truly interactive food experience—named playful plates—where guests can continue the tasting experience (led by a seasoned wine educator) but accompanied by delicious, seasonal bites all chosen to complement the wine.

This Italian deli has been serving build-your-own sandwiches since the 1970s. Pick your bread base (we recommend the dutch crunch roll), and then take your pick from the endless meat, cheese, and fixings choice, including “Giugni juice”, the deli’s famous homemade balsamic vinaigrette, which we suggest adding to anything and everything you order. Arrive before 11am or place an online order, as the line can be long.

Chef Chris Cosentino has earned a reputation as one of the culinary world's top talents (he's held his own in the TV sphere as the winner of Top Chef Masters). At Acacia House, his penchant for classic American dishes is evident on the menu. For the vegetarians among us, the whole roasted eggplant is exceptional, finished with capers, pistachios, and blistered tomatoes. If you're looking for a heartier protein, go for the Striped Bass. And if you happen to find yourself tiring of wine, there's an inventive cocktail list from which to choose, which includes a traditional Mexico City margarita.

From Christopher Kostow and Nathaniel Dorn, who earned three Michelin stars for the Restaurant at Meadowood, The Charter Oak has a warm brick-and-wood interior, a substantial patio, and a casual family-style menu that elevates the simple American food: Most of the dishes feature a minimal number of ingredients, like hearth roasted figs with local honey for starters, coal roasted cabbage, and cauliflower with a mushroom au jus. It's hugely popular, so be sure to snag reservations ahead of time.

Many friends of goop credit the Hoffman Process as being the transformational experience in their life, helping them distinguish behaviors and patterns inherited from childhood with who they actually are as adults. The primary outpost is in St. Helena, California, where they offer year-round, week-long programs that are completely immersive (i.e. you check your phone when you arrive), with occasional sessions in Connecticut. This residential retreat will help you break the cycles of compulsive ways of being so that you can begin to make choices from a new place of clarity and love. You can read more about the process here. They also offer scholarships for those who can't pay the full rate.