Get a $50 Discount For Two on the Napa Valley Wine Train!

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Get a discount on the Napa Valley Wine Train

Get up to $100 Off the Dinner or Lunch Napa Wine Train Experience!  New Deal on the Napa Castle Train Excursion!

Now Priority Wine Pass members can get $50 off the gourmet dinner or lunch experience on the Napa Wine Train. Hop aboard the refurbished luxury dining car and experience for yourself what life of the rich and famous was like.  It's a ton of fun for all ages and there's simply nothing else like it, a quintessential experience for those coming to Napa.

Wine Train Gourmet Lunch or Dinner: (Downtown Napa) $25 off tickets pass members and up to 3 guests ($80 Savings) Reservations required please call (707) 253-2111 and mention you are a wine pass member during booking. At check-in please bring ID and wine pass to obtain special pricing. 

Castello Di Amerosa Wine Train Tour: (Downtown Napa) $25 off tickets for pass members and up to 3 guests ($80 Savings) Reservations required please call (707) 253-2111 and mention you are a wine pass member during booking. At check-in please bring ID and wine pass to obtain special pricing. 

Collective Tour on the Wine Train-St. Supery, Beringer, & Raymond: (Downtown Napa) Starting November 1st 2018 receive $35off tickets for pass members and up to 3 guests ($140 Savings) Reservations required please call (707) 253-2111 and mention you are a wine pass member during booking. At check-in please bring ID and wine pass to obtain special pricing. 

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Dining on the Napa Wine Train

The Napa Wine Train leaves downtown Napa and travels up the valley to St. Helena. Guests who are assigned first seating, dine on fresh soup or salad and their choice of entree in the dining car while traveling up the valley, and will be served dessert with coffee or tea in one of the lounge cars on the return trip. Those guests with a second seating assignment will be served appetizers in one of the lounge cars while heading North to St. Helena and will enjoy their fresh soup or salad, choice of entree and dessert in one of the dining cars on the return trip.

All the rail cars are expertly finished with Honduran mahogany paneling, etched glass partitions, brass accents and original artwork. Guests are invited to explore the train where they may visit the kitchen car to see our chefs in action or the observation deck to enjoy an unobstructed view of the valley.

How to Get Your Discounted Tickets to the Napa Wine Train

All holders of the Priority Wine Pass get this discount. And remember, the Priority Wine Pass not only gets you this exclusive discount but you get tons of other deals as well, including two for one tastings, tours, and discounts at over 75 Napa and Sonoma wineries.  And for my readers who get the pass I offer to build you a free custom trip itinerary, a stop by stop agenda to make sure you get your money's worth from the pass.  Forget the coupons, delete the phone apps, there's no clipping, no tweeting, no fumbling, just show the pass and get free wine - and now get $40 off the Wine Train's Gourmet Lunch or Dinner Excursion.  For complete details go to prioritywinepass.com and search for their Wine Train offer.

To get a Priority Wine Pass just click this link to go to a special Local Wally offer, $39.99 per couple. 

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Beautifully restored Napa Wine Train

Top Napa Restaurants with NO or LOW Corkage Fees: Napa on a Budget

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cork·age fee (noun) a charge made at a restaurant for serving wine bought off the premises.

You've been tasting great wine all day in Napa so when it's time for dinner I don't blame you for wanting to bring in that "special" bottle you thought you would save for 10 years and wanting to open it that night. Bringing in your own bottle is a great way to extend the Napa experience to dinner while saving a few bucks in the process, as long as you dine at restaurants with NO or LOW corkage fees. Napa dining just got a lot cheaper!

For those of you who not familiar with this a corkage fee is what they charge to open your bottle. Dine at one of the restaurants below who have No or Low Corkage Fees and you get to have it all, a great dinner with a great bottle while keeping enough money in your pocket that you can buy another bottle to take home tomorrow!

TOP NAPA RESTAURANTS WITH NO OR LOW CORKAGE FEES

8 Noodle Shop:  Delicious Asian cuisine with Seasonal local ingredients, fresh homemade noodles and traditional ramen, rice, additions and appetizers.  Corkage Fee $12.

Allegria Ristorante:  Elegant Italian-Californian restaurant located inside a historic bank, with vault seating available. Corkage Fee $10, waived on Monday night.

Atlas Social: Gastropub serving New American small plates in a rustic space with communal tables & modern flair. Corkage Fee $15.

Azzurro Pizzeria e Enoteca:  Vibrant Italian eatery known for thin-crust pizzas plus small plates, pastas & lots of local wines. Corkage Fee $15.

Boon Fly Cafe at Carneros Inn: Casual Californian dining option with a lively vibe & modern roadhouse feel, at the Carneros Inn. Corkage Fee $15.

Ca’ Momi Osteria:   Industrial-chic enoteca serving elevated Italian pizzas, pastas & mains. Corkage Fee $15.

Castello di Amorosa:  No, it's not a restaurant but rather the famous Napa "castle" winery. If visiting there get a bottle to open that night and go to a participating restaurant who will waive the corkage fee. More info here: Castello di Amorosa FREE corkage fee partners.

Celedon: Upscale Eclectic comfort food is served in cozy digs with weathered brick walls & rustic courtyard.  Corkage Fee $15.

Compadres Rio Grille: Easygoing eatery offering Mexican dishes along with California wines, plus a patio with river views.  Corkage Fee $10.

Downtown Joe's: This long-running, casual spot for house-brewed beers & burgers features patio seats & water views. Corkage Fee FREE first bottle, $10 each after.

Fume Bistro: Local haunt offering American fare in an inviting, contemporary space with a pergola-covered patio Corkage Fee $10, waived Tuesday nights.

Hurley's:  A Yountville favorite, casual Californian-Mediterranean eatery with a lively bar, stone fireplace & spacious patio. Corkage Fee NONE.

Gott's Roadside:  Unpretentious hamburger stand with gourmet burgers and other standards.  Corkage Fee:  $5

Hog Island Oyster:  Inside the Oxbow Market, freshest seafood in Napa Valley. Corkage fee $15.

Kitchen Door: Oxbow Market cafe offering Eclectic fare in a casual space with industrial accents & outdoor deck. Corkage Fee is $12.

Market:  Seasonal American comfort fare served in a cozy bistro with rustic stone walls & an old-timey bar.  Corkage Fee NONE

Mustards Grill: Quintessential Napa restaurant with upscale versions of your favorite comfort foods. Corkage Fee $15, waived with a reservation.

Pacific Blues Cafe: Relaxed upmarket eatery with a patio offering creative American fare, plus beer & classic cocktails. Corkage Fee $5

R+D Kitchen: Sushi, salads & American dishes are offered in a modern space with outdoor seating. Corkage Fee NONE

Rutherford Grill: Lively restaurant offering American comfort foods & a robust wine list in stylish digs with a patio. Corkage Fee NONE.

Tarla: Seasonal, locally sourced Turkish & Greek dishes share the menu at this casual bistro & bar. Corkage Fee $10, donated to charity.

UVA: Popular hangout for pizza, pasta & other Italian eats in a casual space with live music.  Corkage Fee NONE.

ZuZu: Popular riverside spot offering Spanish tapas & an eclectic wine list in relaxed surrounds. Corkage Fee $10.

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NOTE:  Always a good idea to verify their fees when making your reservation! 

Five Napa Wineries You Should Not Miss (But Most Do)

Anthony Bourdain knows what I'm talking about.  He says to skip the Eiffel Tower when visiting Paris, to not fight the crowds at the Louvre, to take a selfie in front of Notre Dame but not go in. Instead he goes to a bistro, orders wine and cheese and gets into the local scene.

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Tasting wine away from the crowds

That's my advice for Napa and Sonoma. You want to see Mondavi, go to your supermarket shelf. You want a tram ride, go to Disneyland. But if you want good wine, if you want a wine tasting experience that surprises and delights and surpasses all expectations, then you need to follow me.

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No doubt, winery tours are the essential field trip experience for first timers.  But do you really want to walk through the hot vineyards or stare at a stainless steel tank?  No, you came to taste wine and that's why I love Bell Wine Cellar's Grape to Glass Tour, a 90 minute experience that's mainly focused on tasting wine, not looking at it.

There's a bit of vineyard talk, a bit of barrel talk, but mainly it's tasting deep inside the winery and tasting, from sparkling wines to deep Napa cabs. The wines are serious but the tasting experience fun for all levels, it's my favorite tour for first timers and wine lovers.

BELL WINE CELLARS
AVG BOTTLE PRICE:  $60
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED:  info@bellwine.com
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
DEAL:  2 for 1 WITH PRIORITY WINE PASS - NORMALLY $50 PER PERSON.

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Canihan Winery near Sonoma

This doesn't look like a winery at all.  There are no big screen TV's, no hostess, there's not a tour bus in sight. Instead of a sign there's a mailbox with the address.  Instead of a tasting room there's a barn. And inside the barn is Bill Canihan, the guy responsible for making some of the best Pinots in all of Napa and Sonoma.

This is no prop, no marketing creation, Canihan is unpretentious and honest, a hard working guy making wine he hopes you will love. It's my latest find, my favorite new "hidden" winery, make reservations and experience Canihan Wines.

CANIHAN WINERY
AVG BOTTLE PRICE:  $50
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED:  (415) 990-9270
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
DEAL:  2 FOR 1 WITH PRIORITY WINE PASS (NORMALLY $25 PER PERSON), TASTING FEE TOTALLY WAIVED WITH PURCHASE

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Pity the fools who are lining up to try to get another sip at one of the big mega wineries.  Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards takes you deep into the caves with a small group to sample some of Napa's most exquisite wines.  Barrel tasting, of course, and you can even reserve a spot to do some wine and food pairing with the winemaker.

ANDERSON'S CONN VALLEY
AVG BOTTLE PRICE:  $75
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
DEAL:  2 for 1 CAVE TASTING (NORMALLY $65 PER PERSON) WITH PRIORITY WINE PASS

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Relaxing Dutch Henry in Calistoga

An industrial building for tastings, picnic tables under the trees, bocce ball next to the vineyards, Dutch Henry is a hidden gem in the Calistoga area. Make reservations and you can even taste inside their caves, an incredible experience. Make this your last stop of the day and give yourself enough time to buy a bottle to sip under the trees. Relaxing and fun.

Tip: Bring some cheese and bread for a delightfully low key picnic experience.

DUTCH HENRY WINERY
AVG BOTTLE PRICE:  $50
WALK IN'S OK BUT RESERVATIONS REQUIRED FOR CAVE TASTING
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
DEAL:  2 for 1 WITH PRIORITY WINE PASS

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Food and Wine Pairing at B Cellars

Wine and food pairings taken to the extreme, B Cellars goes beyond the nibble of cheese and expands it into a four course meal.  The four course pairing costs $135 per person but those with lighter appetites (and wallets) can still experience B Cellars with a $60 food pairing experience that takes you through the gardens, caves, and back to a seated table where the chef is preparing tasty bites to go with each wine.  Outstanding experience for those who love food as much as they do wine.

B CELLARS WINERY
AVG BOTTLE PRICE:  $75
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
DEAL:  VIP OAKVILLE TREK TASTING, $300 PER COUPLE INCLUDES TASTING, TOUR, FOOD, PAIRING, AND TWO SIGNED BOTTLES IN WOODEN GIFT BOXES WITH PRIORITY WINE PASS.

Tasting Etiquette
Unlike the big wineries who see thousands of people a day these small boutiques have limited visitors.  Therefore, visit them expecting to buy a bottle or two (or more), of course assuming you like their wine.  If not it's always a nice gesture to tip the person who poured your wine - standard restaurant tipping rules apply so a $50 tasting = $10 tip.

Wine Pass
Get these deals and many others with the annual wine pass.  The Priority Wine Pass is the easiest way to get Napa deals and discounts without jumping through hoops. No tweeting before tasting from a phone app, no searching for an expired coupon, just flash the card or image on your phone and get these and other Napa tasting deals!

Napa Valley & Sonoma Crush 2018: Top 5 Tips You Need to Experience Harvest

Chris Loxton explains the wine production process in Sonoma

What is Crush?

In the Fall is when the grapes get harvested and wine production kicks in. This is called crush, as in crushing the grapes, and there really is no better time to come to Napa or Sonoma than when the grapes are being harvested. The aroma of ripening fruit in the air mixes with the excitement of anyone who has a stake in wine, from the growers to the drinkers. If you have never been to Napa or Sonoma and can pick one time to visit then this is it!

1.  When do they harvest grapes in Napa and Sonoma? 

Crush happens when the grapes are ready. Simple enough, right? Well, not quite because some years like 2015 grapes were ripe as early as July whereas other years they've held on until October.  It's all a guess (darn you Mother Nature) but one thing is for sure - it is crowded in Napa Valley and Sonoma in Fall as visitors flock hoping to be there at the right time.

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Crushing grapes at Nickel & Nickel

2.  Where can I see Grapes being Crushed into Wine?

If you really want to see actual grape to wine production then book a tour. Good basic tours can be found at big wineries like Mondavi and Cakebread as well as smaller ones like Bell Winery who has an excellent "Grape to Glass" tour that's available two for one with the Priority Wine Pass (get it here). A walk through the vineyards, the smell of ripe grapes being crushed, it's intoxicating - and that's before you even have a sip! 

Booking tours is a good tip during crush as the giant tasting rooms can get more crowded than Costco the day before a holiday. Tours limit the number of people you are with and taste away from the crazy crowds. More time, more wine, sounds perfect. My favorite tours where you can see wine production are:

• Frog's Leap: How fun to walk around the farm (an old frog farm!) while learning about wine, happily sipping along the way?

• Bell Winery: Small boutique with big wines, one of the best tours if you are as focused on tasting great wines as you are learning about them.

• Inglenook: Historic winery and huge production area. A lot to see and do here as well and the setting is so beautiful you may not want to leave.

• Mondavi: This place gets packed so do the tour instead of fighting for a space at the bar and see how wine is made. Good value tour, though tastings a bit skimpy at the end.

• Castello di Amorosa: The Napa castle couldn't get more crowded if they were giving the wine away so get far away from the crowds and do their tour that takes you deep into the castle. Tour is more focused on the castle than wine but still a fun time and you will still see production during crush.

• Cakebread: One of my favorite mini-tours, all tastings are done in small groups so no crush of people during harvest crush.

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Mike Grgich stomping grapes

3.  Where Can I Stomp Grapes in Napa like they Did in "I Love Lucy"?

If you want to roll up your pants and stomp some grapes with your bare feet like Lucy did then head to Grgich Hills where $30 gets you some stomp time and a t-shirt where you can stomp your red stained feet on to take home. Here's all the info on Grape Stomping at Grgich Hills. No, you don't drink the stomped grapes and no, they don't make it into wine later. I mean, would you drink that wine?

4.  OMG, it's so crowded!  How can I get away from the crowds?

Wineries during crush can get more crowded than Costco before a holiday. Think wall to wall people. Correction, wall to wall people who have been drinking wine all day! Not my style and probably not yours. So make it easy on yourself and make every stop a "reservations required" winery. These are often smaller wineries who have legal crowd limits so your experience during crush isn't much different than if were the dead of winter. You can also upgrade tastings at many of the larger wineries where you have a time and a spot just for you.

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Gott's Roadside is a budget crowd pleaser

5.  Where Should I Eat in Napa during Crush?

You would think with the huge amount of restaurants in Napa that getting a reservation a few days before would be a no brainer but if smart people are already booking their spots right now. The most popular restaurants book up very fast during crush so if you have your heart set on going to Mustards Grill or Bouchon or any of the other well know restaurants don't delay.

On the other hand, should you find yourself in a bind know there are some local strategies that won't let you go hungry, such as:

• Bouchon has a great bar that is first come, first served. Come a bit early and grab a spot!

• Rutherford Grill's bar is my favorite spot and also open seating. You might need to hang around for a seat to open but these are prime spots and require no reservations.

• Bistro Jeanty has a communal table (open seating) that works just fine. In some ways it adds to the fun.

• The Bounty Hunter is ultra casual and has beer can chicken and BBQ and an extensive wine list. Located downtown.

• Zuzu's is hugely popular and doesn't take reservations so your chances are as good as the next guys to get a table.

• Don't forget Gott's, the gourmet burger place that's affordable and delicious.

• Looking for Napa on a Budget cheap eats? Here's my list.

TIP:  How Do I Get a Deal in Napa during Crush?

Hate to sound like a broken record but get a Wine Pass, just $39.99 for my readers  There's no posting on social media required like a phone app, no digging in your pockets trying to find a coupon that probably expired, you just flash the card or show it on your phone and you get two for one tastings.  And if you want me to build you a custom agenda for a fantastic CRUSH experience I'll do so for no charge. I make sure that if you get the pass based on my recommendation that you get more than your money's worth.

No unhappy readers, that's my motto, and so far of the thousands who have bought it the feedback is around 99% positive. Local Wally has never recommended something I don't love so trust me when I say this is the best way to stretch your wine tasting dollar!

New Napa Deals! Wineries, Balloon Rides, More!

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Newest Offers from Priority Wine Pass! Updated 8/15/16

NAPA WINE TRAIN

Get $40 off the Lunch or Dinner experience with a Priority Wine Pass.

Wine Country Balloons

Splurge on a Napa or Sonoma hot air balloon ride without breaking the bank! Priority Wine Pass members get $90 off per couple. Normally $225 per person, show them your card and it's only $179 with pickup anywhere within Napa or Sonoma.

Pine Ridge Winery

One of my all time favorite wineries on the Silverado Trail, Monday-Thursday 2 for 1 tastings with reservation by emailing concierge@pineridgewine.com
(707) 252-9777 and 10% off wine purchases Friday-Sunday.

AUBURNJAMES WINERY

A hidden gem, get two for one tastings, a special VIP pour of their high end wine ($125 a bottle), a free cheese platter and a free tour, only for Local Wally readers. Normally $35 per person just for the tastings but two for one with all of the extras.

SADDLEBACK CELLARS

Coming with a big group?  Saddleback Cellars welcomes you and even offers a two for one deal with the Priority Wine Pass. Imagine that, while other wineries want to charge your group MORE money Saddleback wants to give you two for one's. That's my kind of winery!

River Terrace Inn

Incredible offer, River Terrace Inn is one of my favorite hotels in downtown Napa.  Walk to Oxbow Market, downtown restaurants and tasting rooms, and now get 15% off their best rate. You will need to call their reservations department (866) Napa-Fun and tell them you are a member of Priority Wine Pass and that your rate code is PWPASS to receive the special.  

Anthem Limo Service

Big groups take note! Anthem will take up to 8 people for 6 hours around Napa or Sonoma for only $475, normally $800. He can even pick you up at SF Airport, each additional hour only $60. This is a great deal for big groups who want to taste without driving. Just mention Priority Wine Pass as well as Local Wally's Napa Tourist Guide to get this offer.

Platypus Tours

This is my favorite tour company in Napa and Sonoma. If you book with them please tell them Local Wally referred you!

Travel Food & Wines (Yountville)

I am loving all the deals in Yountville. Park you car and walk to each winery and drink away with no worries about driving. Check out Travel Food & Wines and get a 2 for 1 tasting experience with your Priority Wine Pass ($20 value)  for unique and hard to find wines of Napa Valley (By Appt Only: email: laura@travelfood.com).

Don't Have a Wine Pass Yet?

I got you covered!  It's good for a full year and I'll even help you pick out your wineries and plan your day - for free! To get your pass just click here and you are good to go!

Silver Trident Winery in Yountville Review

Silver Trident Winery

6495 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599  |  (707) 945-0311

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Everything is for sale at Silver Trident Winery in Yountville

Lately I've been getting a ton of requests for wineries you can walk to, areas where you can spend a few hours sightseeing and tasting wine along the way. For those people I recommend Yountville, a picturesque town filled with scenery, top end restaurants, and lots of tasting rooms. One of the most unique is Silver Trident Winery, a tasting room that looks more like a Ralph Lauren show room than a winery tasting room.  I mean it - nearly everything inside is Ralph Lauren, from the sofas to the corkscrews, and everything is for sale.

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Yes, you can taste sitting on that couch.  Don't spill the red wine!

Silver Trident has different rooms for tastings, from fully decked out dens to fancy dining rooms where the chairs cost $7,000 apiece and are so comfortable it almost seems reasonable. I know, it's a bit disconcerting at first to plop yourself down in such a fancy setting to taste wine, especially if you're like me where the red wine while sitting on the sofa is a guaranteed disaster. Thankfully they sat us in the dining room, surrounded by original art by Jacques Pepin, the famous French chef.  Now I don't mean to sound like a hillbilly but bring on the wine!

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Little bites to go with the wine at Silver Trident

Wine and Food Pairing

Hey, this is nice!  A bit of small bites comes out with the tastings, a mini-wine and food pairing experience that usually is an upgraded extra at other wineries but comes with reserved tastings. Oh yeah, make a reservation to make sure you get a spot. Walk-In's welcome if it's not busy but you want to call ahead to get this sort of VIP treatment.

The wines ranged from a lovely rose of Pinot Noir to deep dark Cabernet Sauvignon that Napa is famous for. The wines were complex, lively, and very drinkable. Get a bottle of that Rose and open it with a nice baguette and some cheese and it's pretty much a perfect day.

Pouring wines and spouting off philosophies at Silver Trident

Now you might think that this is going to be too stuffy, too hoity-toity, but it's not! In fact, it's one of the friendlier wine tasting experiences you might have. Perhaps it's because their background is from the ocean cruise industry where fine hospitality is a requirement. From the greeter to the server to the sleeping dog in front named Keith Richards, everyone was welcoming and trust me, you don't have to be a wine expert to love their wines and this experience.

And if the furniture is a bit out of your price range, isn't it fun to dream a little?

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Farm Restaurant at Carneros Inn Review

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Farm Restaurant inside the luxurious Carneros Inn

FARM RESTAURANT :  CARNEROS INN

4048 Sonoma Hwy, Napa, CA 94559  |  (707) 299-4880

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At a Glance:  FARM is a destination restaurant inside the luxurious Carneros Inn focused on delivering an elegant yet casual dining experience using the finest farm to table ingredients. Expect stellar service and stunningly beautiful plates.

Perfect for:  Special occasion dining, romantic dining, impress your date dining.

Wally Says:  Modern farmhouse, gourmet chefs, I never knew farmers were such foodies!

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Napa is filled with lively, upbeat, bistro-vibe restaurants but where do you go when you want a more refined, more elegant dining experience? For that I go to FARM, the upper end restaurant inside the Carneros Inn that features foodie worthy dining in a relaxed and sophisticated setting. The design features a living room styled alfresco lounge, patio dining, cathedral ceilings and two fireplaces, white tablecloths, the works. Date, be impressed.

TIP:  If you're driving in for dinner, come a bit early to walk the grounds of this unique resort. It's really unlike anything you've ever seen, a place to bookmark for your next visit.

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Fancy cocktails to start the evening at the Carneros Inn's FARM.

One of my dining rules is to always start with a cocktail, especially when it's served at a trendy looking bar serving custom craft cocktails. Modern, hip, the bar at FARM is welcoming and friendly and the cocktails creative and sophisticated. And of course, the wine list at FARM is extensive, even featuring wineries within walking distance to the resort. For dinner corkage is $25, waived if you purchase one of their bottles as well.

Farm to Table Dining

Lobster Risotto (photo by Tomomi http://tinyurl.com/jyccpn7)

Turnips and Salmon (photo by Cameron http://tinyurl.com/zxsnfkr)

Soft shelled crab (photo by Cherlynn http://tinyurl.com/ztc8oua)

Egg, asparagus, and truffles (photo by Meridith http://tinyurl.com/zouyjep)

Simply stunning plates, beautiful presentation, and flavors, oh yes, the flavors are fresh and vibrant. Make sure you get the Agnolotti, tiny ravioli's with fava beans, green almonds, fromage blanc, and lemon preserve. It's a starter so the portion is tiny but it's so good that you'll need to watch your table manners when the person next to you wants a bite. Um, no, get your own!

In fact, everything appears to be over the top delicious at FARM. Designed by Executive Chef Aaron Meneghelli, the farm-to-table menu showcases simple, elegant food based on the natural abundance of the surrounding region. FARM is refined in presentation and flavors and each dish includes at least one element from the on-site farm. And yes, vegetarians get more than the obligatory nod with plenty of options, all equally delicious.

Expect to spend around $60 per person before drinks for an appetizer and entree. Portions are sized appropriately for the rich ingredients though some might want to add a salad or dessert to round it out. A $115 tasting menu features a 5 course dinner, a great option for a special occasion. Service is polite and professional and the noise level low enough for an actual conversation. Wow, what a concept!

So Napa has plenty of good - great - restaurants, so many that it's hard to choose. That said, FARM should make your short list if you're looking for beautiful plates of exceptional ingredients deliciously prepared.

Bon Appetit,

Local Wally

TIP: Doing a day trip to Sonoma? Make FARM your dinner stop on the way back to Napa.

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The outdoor patio at FARM

Now Open for Brunch!

For the first time ever, FARM at The Carneros Inn (4048 Sonoma Highway) is pleased to announce Sunday brunch. Previously only open for dinner, FARM invites guests to enjoy the summer brunch season on FARM’s newly-renovated outdoor patio and with a round of bocce. The family-style brunch will be offered from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. every Sunday, with the first brunch on July 3, 2016.
 
Designed by Executive Chef Aaron Meneghelli, this elevated family-style brunch will be a play on classic brunch items with Napa Valley nuances. Guests will choose four menu items as a table to be shared family-style for $45 per person. The menu will change weekly, depending on the best local seasonal produce, as well as what is being harvested in The Carneros Inn’s culinary garden. A sampling of Chef Aaron’s brunch dishes will include Smoked Fried Chicken and Waffle with pepper jelly; Beets and Berries with fresh ricotta, garden greens, pistachio, and saba; and Fresh Biscuits with Silverado Trail strawberries, foie gras mousse, and Marshall Farms honey, among others

Cheap Eats Napa Valley: How to Dine in Napa on a Budget

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Cheap Eats in Napa:  Napa on a Budget

I'm not going to kid you, dining in Napa can get really expensive but if you follow my advice you can get that Napa dining experience without blowing your budget. And don't forget to check out picnics as a huge way to stretch your dining budget without sacrificing experience.

Eat Where the Locals Do

You don't really think that locals are taking up all the spots at The French Laundry, do you?  Nope, they're eating Napa-Style at these budget friendly restaurants:

• Eight Noodle: $14.99 lunch special with chicken, egg, pork bun, and rice - drink included.

• Gott's Roadside: $10 burger and beer on Tuesday

• UVA: $10 burger and beer on Tuesday

• Kitchen Door: $1 wings on Wednesday

• Hog Island Oysters: Happy Hour deals will make you very happy.

• Bounty Hunter: $10 BBQ plate during happy hour

• La Luna Market: Nothing upscale here, just solid Mexican food to go that will make your next picnic unforgettable.

• Red Rock Cafe and Back Door BBQ: Take out or dine in, this might be Napa's best BBQ. Full dinners for under $20.

• Clement's Italian Takeout at Vals: Take out Italian fare in the back of a liquor store. Seriously! To go food has never been so good!

• Filippi's Pizza Grotto: This is old school Italian, nothing gourmet, nothing fancy, but if you want huge portions of spaghetti and meatballs or giant pizzas oozing with cheese, this is it.

• The Kitchen Door: The "nice" restaurant inside the Oxbow Market with everything from Asian noodles to pizzas, all under $20.

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Wings at Redd Wood

Go Big (But Still Go Budget)

If you have your heart set on dining at the big name Napa restaurants, don't let your wallet boss you around. Instead order smart and enjoy the experience!

• Rutherford Grill: Can get pricey but no corkage fee keeps the final tab in check. Sit at the bar, order a grilled artichoke and split an entree and you get all of the experience at a fraction of the price.

• Bouchon: Leave the American Express card at home. Just order the Croque Madame, a fancy ham and cheese sandwich with Keller's famous fries - under $20. House wines perfectly acceptable here.

• Bistro Jeanty: Lovely French restaurant, get the Coq a Vin (chicken, mushrooms, red wine sauce) for a mere $23.

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Secluded picnic area at Rombauer Winery Napa

Don't do Lunch, Do a Picnic

Picnics and Napa go hand in hand even if you're not trying to save money. I like to start early in the morning at Oxbow Market, gathering cheese and meats and bread before my first tasting. (Tip: bring some ice from the hotel to keep things cool and that extra blanket in the closet). Then I like to aim a tasting at one of the wineries that allow picnics and combine some wine tasting with my lunch.

Remember, not all wineries allow picnics and of those who do some are significantly better than others.  Here is the complete Napa Picnic list but below are my favorites.

• Rombauer: Way off the beaten track, picnic tables under the redwoods, nice and secluded.

• Napa Cellars: Terrific picnic spot with wines by the glass.

• Clos Pegase: Picnic next to the vineyard in the shade, drink wine, fall asleep :-)

• See all of Napa Picnic Wineries with photos of each spot.

Discover Sonoma: Take a Side Trip to Rustic Canihan Winery

Canihan Winery | 1340 Napa Rd, Sonoma, CA 95476 | Appt Only: (415) 990-9270

"Look for the numbers on the mailbox or you'll miss it."

Those instructions were from Bill Canihan Jr, the owner of the family winery with roots that go back to Switzerland where his grandfather was born. Looking for a better life, his grandfathers journey led him to San Francisco where he developed a passion for wine, a love that was handed down to his son-in-law who purchased a farm in Sonoma in 1973.  Fast forward a few years and his grandson, once a successful mortgage broker, is responsible for making some of the best Pinot Noirs and Syrahs you'll ever taste. Seriously good stuff!

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The barn serves as the tasting room at Canihan Winery.

This is the tasting room? I like it!

What's most apparent is the stark contrast of the tasting room to the mega wineries popping up in Napa.  Don't get me wrong, I love Napa and love a grand tasting room as much as the next guy but when you drive down the dusty road and end up at a rickety barn you quickly forget about Persian columns and chrome rabbits.  It's a bit like changing the radio dial from rap to John Denver.  What?  No tram ride?  No gargoyles?  Nope, there's not even a bocce ball court! But there's wine, lots of really great wine.

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Bill Canihan pouring his wines in the barn in Sonoma.

The tasting room is the barn, bottles set up on a rustic table made from Redwood barrel staves that were used to age wine in the '60's and balanced on wine barrels. There was no interior designer here and that's fine with me. Bill pours the wine himself on most days, happily telling you about the awards and humbly describing his wines - mainly pinot noir and syrah's. As an occasional fly buzzed by (it is a barn, after all), it just struck me that this is what wine tasting is all about - wine, people, conversation.

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Bill Canihan waves us into the barn.  Yes, this is where you taste!

And Bill is a super nice guy. There's no pretense, there's no script, he's just pouring wines and sipping them with you like he's known you forever.

The first wine produced at Canihan - a 2003 pinot

Empty bottles from every wine produced line the walls

Canihan Winery's tasting room is as simple as it gets

Love. Canihan Wines.

Stacked along the barn wall were empties, every year and every wine he has produced represented, including the 2003 Pinot that started it all and the 2004 Syrah that won his first set of awards. The wines were beyond excellent, really some of the best I've tasted on this trip. Canihan Winery makes small yield, high quality wines, focused on quality and aimed at the discriminating wine lover. But don't let that scare you off - the tasting experience is fun, friendly, and educational (in a good way). Really, even if you are a newbie to wine tasting this is a great stop.

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Bill Canihan from Canihan Wines

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TIP:  Did you know you can get a two for one tasting at Canihan if you show them your Priority Wine Pass? Get yours today and don't forget to use promo code localwally to get my readers' discount! Just $39.99, it opens up two for one tastings all over Napa and Sonoma.

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Corks hanging from the roof in the barn (Canihan Winery)

So good - the wines are impressive.

Canihan Winery in Sonoma

Not a prop! This is a real farm.

Canihan Winery Sonoma

Beautiful rustic seting

Canihan Winery Sonoma

You will want to taste here!

Canihan Winery

Tractors, chickens, and farmhouse dogs, an authentic experience.

In the end you can't help but buy a few bottles. And that's my wine tasting etiquette tip - while it's certainly OK to not buy at Robert Mondavi or Beringer, when visiting a small winery buying wine at the winery is what keeps them in business. Bottles are in the $50 range, quite reasonable for wines of this caliber and a good choice for bringing home to share with friends. Or bring it to dinner that night. Now that's a good plan! Bill waives the tasting fee with a bottle purchase as if you needed more incentive.

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Canihan Winery in Sonoma - Put it on your bucket list of wineries to visit!

Perhaps one of the best wine tasting experiences you will have.

So when the crowds at the giant mega wineries get you down and you want a wine tasting experience that connects to the winery the way the wines connect to the soil, get off the beaten track and take that short drive to Sonoma. Make your way to Canihan Winery and experience wine tasting where the wine - and the people who made them - are the focus.

CANIHAN WINERY: RESERVATIONS REQUIRED - CALL (415) 990-9270 AND DON'T FORGET TO TELL THEM LOCAL WALLY SENT YOU!

TIP:  The restroom is a porta potty so plan ahead :-)

Craving Thomas Keller's Fried Chicken? Bon Appetit's Fried Chicken Recipe is BETTER!

Thomas Keller's Fried Chicken from Addendum

Sometime between riding Sting Ray bikes and today we lost something very important - the ability to cook fried chicken at home. We gladly pay $55 for fried chicken at Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc, putting it up there with the best meal we've ever eaten. And it's good. Really good.  So good I crave it all the time and have been searching for a recipe I can make at home.

But is there such a thing as gourmet fried chicken?  Mom's have cooked fried chicken for generations and there was nothing to it.  The old school recipe was 1) cut up a chicken, 2) dredge in flour, 3) fry until done.  Well, try that recipe and I guarantee an epic fail!  Somehow the fried chicken scrolls were lost and the gene destroyed.  Fried chicken went from a Sunday standard to a fast food mess.  Now don't get me wrong, I love KFC and will even stoop to supermarket fried chicken and as recently as five years ago was seen with - gasp - Banquet frozen fried chicken.  But none of it was as good as Thomas Keller's, let along my Mom's

Searching for the BEST Fried Chicken Recipe

The recipe I've gone to in the past couple of years is from Giada, the FoodTV chef with the big head and big boobs.  It's a lemon and olive oil brined chicken called Pollo Frito and it's pretty darn good - but it's not traditional fried chicken.  And, sorry Giada, but it fails the next day crunch test,  turning all soggy and a touch greasy after cooling down.  Nonetheless, it's a good alternative and cool to serve up fried chicken with wedges of lemon. 

I've also tried Thomas Keller's rather complicated fried chicken recipe and thought it was a lot of work for rather ordinary results.  Of course, I'm NOT Thomas Keller so it was probably more my fault than his recipe. OK, it was me. Maybe you had good luck with it but mine had me looking for an alternative, something an average home cook could do.

So how happy was I when I found this issue of Bon Appetit with a big piece of fried chicken on it, claiming it was the BEST fried chicken EVER!  Let's give it a whirl!

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BON APPETIT SKILLET-FRIED CHICKEN RECIPE

2 Tbsp kosher salt, divided
2 tsp plus 1 Tbsp ground black pepper
1 1/2 tsp paprika
3/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
One 3 to 4 pound chicken cut into 10 pieces, or equivalent weight of parts (I do just drumsticks and thighs and wings - let's face it, no one wants that breast meat!)
1 cup buttermilk (you can buy powdered buttermilk if you don't want a full carton in your fridge)
1 large egg
3 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbsp cornstarch
Peanut Oil for frying (well, I used vegetable oil but if you have peanut, use it)

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STEP ONE:  Prepare the seasonings
Whisk 1 Tbsp salt, 2 tsp black pepper, paprika, cayenne, garlic and onion powder in small bowl.  Season chicken and put in a bowl and cover overnight.  Overnight???  OK, so if you don't want to wait all night for your fried chicken, 3 to 4 hours sitting in the fridge works just fine.  The idea is to get the spices and salt inside the chicken, not just on the surface, so time is your friend.  Don't skimp on the seasonings!

STEP TWO:  Let's Cook This Chicken!
When ready to cook, take chicken out and let it stand covered at room temp for an hour.  Pour oil into a 10" to 12" cast iron skillet (not non stick) to a depth of about 3/4 inches.  This is critical - you must use some sort of cast iron cooking vessel.  I used a Le Creuset "dutch oven" (aka big pot).  You need the thick pan/pot to regulate the heat. This is not deep frying! This is healthy skillet frying. Tell your skeptical friends that.

Whisk the flour, cornstarch and the rest of the salt and pepper in a bowl.  Whisk the buttermilk and egg together and add a half cup of water and then dip the chicken in buttermilk mixture then dredge in the flour and cornstarch mixture.  No double dipping required.  Place chicken in oil and fry the chicken, turning it every couple of minutes.  Be careful the first time you flip that you don't knock all the breading off the uncooked side.  Use a thermometer and keep that oil in the 300 to 325 degree range.  Bon Appetit says it will take 12 minutes for thighs and breasts, 10 for wings.  Mine took around 18 minutes for thighs and a bit less for the drumsticks.  Use an instant read meat thermometer to check for doneness since raw chicken is not good eats, nor is overcooked and dried out chicken.  Go for 165 degrees internal temperature and check a couple of places on each piece to make sure it is done. And remember, it's chef's privilege to eat that wing right out of the oil - hey, you have to make sure it's done, right?

STEP THREE:  Fry it up, drink a beer!
Figure it will take you about 20 minutes a batch so plan ahead if you are trying to time out a dinner.  You can place the done pieces in an oven at your lowest setting, 175 to 200 degrees, if you want to keep it warm while the others cook.  Place cooked chicken on a rack so it does not sit in its own drippings and stays nice and crisp.

This is the actual chicken I fried and ate!

This is it!  Super crunchy but without cheating like KFC by adding layers of breading.  Not greasy, extremely moist inside and well seasoned.  Just as good the next day cold, retaining a bit of the crunch and keeping all of its fried chicken integrity. I served mine with a bit of lightly mashed white beans tossed in olive oil and a fresh watercress salad for some acidic contrast.

FRIED CHICKEN MYTHS BUSTED!

• No need to soak in buttermilk overnight!  In fact, soaking it is what makes the skin soggy.
• No double breading to create the crust.  
• No salting it right out of the oil.  No need as the chicken is already seasoned perfectly before it even hits the oil.

Best fried chicken ever, as Bon Appetit claims?  Better than Thomas Keller? Well, pretty darn close with the big advantage being 1) you made it yourself, 2) it wasn't that hard and now people think you are a really good cook, and 3) you can eat as much as you want!  So give it a shot, use that Le Creuset dutch oven you got as a wedding gift that has never seen fire, and get ready for some great fried chicken!