Story time: When I was 18, luxury retailer Neiman Marcus foolishly hired me on the spot to be a bartender at their very popular bar, Mermaid Bar, inside of the NorthPark Center in Dallas.
With no bartending experience and as someone who couldn’t legally drink, I had never even used a wine opener before.
Let’s just say the company’s policy of allowing shoppers to delight themselves with a glass of wine while splurging on Gucci handbags took a whole other turn that day.
Flash forward to today, as a 34-year-old man. I’d like to say I’ve matured and developed a ‘particular set of skills’, one of which is simply how to pour a glass of wine properly.
Syrah and Malbec have become a weekly staple in my household as I’m sure wine in general has for many of you too.
And if that’s the case, chances are you have either already visited, or plan to visit, America’s mecca of wine – Napa Valley, California – where you should hop aboard the classic century-old Napa Valley Wine Train.
Napa: The Wine Capital Of America
Is attending a wine tasting ever a bad idea? Negative.
Does spitting it out into a bucket after each sip ruin the fun? Definitely not my style, but to each their own!
No matter how you go about it, something about scenic vineyards perks you up. It’s what the kids call “adulting”, at least the fun side of it anyway.
There may be no more iconic wine destination than Napa to ‘adult’. In fact, it’s one of the trendiest destinations in the nation for 2024, gaining international fanfare from the likes of Tripadvisor and Travel + Leisure.
Brimming with world-class wineries (obviously!), Napa is ground zero for the highest quality of wine you can find and some of the most memorable (and unmemorable) trips depending on if you spit in a bucket after sipping.
In all seriousness, Napa is running out of space for awards, with notable venues such as Four Seasons Resort & Residencies, Trefethen Family Vineyards, and Oakville Grocery & Wine Merchant highlighting recent honors from the Great Wine Capitals 2024 Best of Wine Tourism.
All Aboard The Napa Valley Wine Train!
Everybody knows Napa, but not everybody knows about the Napa Valley Wine Train, but it’s a classic.
The Napa Valley Railroad made its debut in the 1800s, but the train as it stands today was revamped in the 1980s and has been going strong ever since.
In a world where everyone loves to flash what’s shiny and new, going vintage is nice for a change of pace.
The most thrilling ride is what’s described as a Tasting Journey – a 6 or 7 hour ride to top wineries, such as Charles Krug and V. Sattui.
Passengers are given multiple options to level up their experience with the Legacy Experience or Grgich Hills Estate packages, essentially full-day trips to top-rated wineries, including lunch, tastings, and grape stomping!
Napa is a place to kick back, relax, and enjoy the finer things in life.
There’s no need to rush to make time for the train; it’s an all-day affair with departures throughout the day and ending with a scenic Vista Dome Dinner for stargazing under a panoramic glass-dome.
Put Down The Boxed Wine And Treat Yourself
Napa is not a budget destination. Although, you can score some great deals on hotels this summer.
The cozy yet comfortable Calistoga Inn Restaurant & Brewery is only $140 late July on KAYAK, which just so happens to be the end point of the train route from Napa.
If you’re like me, perhaps you’ve saved enough on boxed wine and Winking Owl over the years to finally treat yourself to the ultimate luxurious wine adventure.
Prices vary from $285 – $725 depending on the package for the Napa Valley Wine Train, for which you can check availability here.
The cheapest is the Gourmet Express Lunch, while the most hefty price tag covers the full-day Legacy Experience.
If that’s out of budget, you could always try pulling my old trick as a kid by standing in line for Communion at church hoping the preacher accidentally switched the wine and grape juice.
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