I live in the SF Bay Area and visit Napa and Sonoma frequently. Not sure what type of food and wine you like, budget. I will provide some general recommendations. If you provide more details about your preferences, I can make different recommendations.
Day 1: Napa
- Start your day with breakfast at Model Bakery (near Oxbow market). They are famous for their english muffins and have a wonderful egg/sausage breakfast sandwich. Outdoor seating only and lines get crazy midmorning, but they move quickly. Alternatively, you can try a favorite local restaurant, Winston's, again downtown on 3rd street.
- Yountville is a cute town with local tasting rooms, outdoor artwork, the renowned French Laundry, and many local restaurants. My favorites are Bouchon Bistro (a taste of Thomas Keller's culinary empire without the French Laundry prices), Bouchon Bakery for classic french pastries and sandwiches (take away only), Bistro Jeanty (more country French). If you want to eat outside of town at again a local's favorite, my go to is Bistro Don Giovanni. They have an outdoor patio. Mustards Grill is also a good option, again off 29.
- Beringer's is a beautiful property and if you are going to take a tour, it is one of the best. Pricey, but worth it. If you want to eat closer to Beringer, there are a few great options. Two of my favorites are Charter Oak run by Christopher Kostow (3-star Michelin Chef from Inn at Meadowood prior to the restaurant burning down). Hyper fresh, seasonal, wood fire. The courtyard is beautiful. I always get the bread and wood fire cooked Avocado. Menu changes with the seasons. A bit more casual option is Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch right across the street. Ranch-style cooking. They have an amazing weekday happy hour. If you want an amazing desserts that look like works of art, you can try Understudy next to the 1-Michelin Star Press right off highway 29.
- If you want to try a completely different experience than wine tasting, I highly recommend Raymond Vineyard's Winemaker for the Day. It is a half-day experience in which you learn about the art of blending, then blend and bottle your own wine. They do an amazing job of creating a label based on your photos and then keep them on file for future orders.
- Dinner in Napa in the evening, so many choices. For something casual with wonderful burgers (my favorite is the Ahi burger, my husband's is the green chili burger). It is right next to Oxbow market, no reservations. Also in Downtown for a taste of the Amalfi Coast is Scala (owned by the same family that owns Bistro Don Giovanni). A16 or Oenotri for Italian, especially pizza. Angele for French food overlooking the Napa River. Zuzu for Spanish Tapa. Napa is also nice for a stroll after dinner and many of the shops are still open in early evening.
Sonoma:
I am assuming you want to visit the Sonoma Plaza and wine taste. There are a lot of different options. The Sonoma Square is super cute. There are wonderful tasting rooms on or near the square, including Walt (we are members) that highlight 1000 miles of Pinot, Sojourn (Pinot and Chardonnay) and Three Sticks (in an old adobe) of our favorites. Places to eat downtown include Tasca Tasca for Portuguese tapas, Girl and the Fig (french bistro) are two of our favorites. They also have a cheese shop and bakery for something lighter. If you want a break from wine tasting, Prohibition Distillery has a super fun tastings of spirits and retro candies. There is something about trying a Melon and Mint gin with Pop Rocks that makes me smile. Also in Sonoma near downtown is Chateau Buena Vista, California's first premium winery. Also near Sonoma is great hiking trails in Glen Ellen at Jack London Park and if you want to stay for dinner, Glen Ellen Star is a local favorite. If you are there on Wednesday, they have a neighborhood night, pre-fix menu for $49 and free corkage.
