Tag archives for napa valley
James Conaway’s long love affair with wine began with a column at the Washington Post and inspired him to pen two non-fiction books on the subject — but he eventually came to realize that fiction has advantages over journalism when dealing with “a subculture as broad as the Earth and as deep as history itself.”
What better way to sample the culinary delights of a region than by peddling along its backroads, enjoying the scenery and working up an appetite for the next meal?
Here are ten great itineraries for all you food- and wine-loving cyclists out there.
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When I knew I’d be passing through Monterey County, I thought Cannery Row, not wine. What I discovered was a “wine sleeper.” A grape-growing hotspot waiting for its time in the sun…
Follow Shannon’s adventures on Twitter @CuriousTraveler and on Instagram @ShannonSwitzer.
The Awe-Enlightening Di Rosa Preserve
Posted by James Conaway on March 14, 2012 
The sheep on that hillside off Highway 28, just north of San Francisco Bay, remind me that this place, called Carneros, is named for rams. It was once considered useless for anything but pasture, but today extensive vineyards indicate a different reality — primo chardonnay and pinot noir and, indirectly, art. Those sheep aren’t moving…
Free to See: 10 U.S. Places to Tour
Posted by Intelligent Travel on October 24, 2011 
Ever wonder what goes on inside an Olympic training center, a chocolate factory, even the Supreme Court? Now’s your chance. Take one of these 10 FREE tours. Get a sneak peek of the list below, then find all 10 online. Plus, we want to hear from you. Tell us about a great free tour near you.
The Radar: Climbing Volcanoes, ‘Dirtiest Hotel’ Sues TripAdvisor, Beyond Napa Valley
Posted by Giovanna Palatucci on October 24, 2011 
The Radar: Top travel news, stories, trends, and ideas from across the web. Got Radar? Follow us on Twitter @NatGeoTraveler and tag your favorite travel stories from the web #ngtradar. Check back the next day for our daily roundup.
The Radar: New Napa Valley Welcome, Hotel Food Carts, Taxi Cab Guide
Posted by Giovanna Palatucci on April 11, 2011 
Napa Valley debuted its downtown Welcome Center this month. The new 2,400-square-foot high-tech center is aiming to go “print-on-demand.” The center is equipped with television screens and iPads to display information and those wanting to take brochures on the road will soon be able to scan QR codes to “bump” information right onto their mobile device. Download the Visit Napa Valley app, GPS-enabled to help visitors navigate to wineries, restaurants, hotels, and spas. [The Napa Valley]
Getting the Dirt on Napa’s Organic Wine
Posted by James Conaway on October 2, 2008 Contributing Writer Jim Conaway gets the dirt, literally, on Napa Valley’s organic wine business. The barn is old, red, and lovely, topped by a droll weathervane – an elongated frog in mid-jump – and surrounded by a riot of blooming mustard and other chest-high nitrogen-fixers. This dense, nutritious jungle overruns the nearby vineyard and nearly…
Napa Valley Nostalgia
Posted by it on September 8, 2008 Last night, I opened up a bottle of Pinot Noir brought back as a souvenir from my recent trip to California, and realized how lovely it was to revisit Napa Valley through the smell and taste of my first sip. But I have to admit it also got me longing for barbecue. “Come again?” I’m…
Napa Valley: Foodie Globe-trotting
Posted by Katie Knorovsky on June 5, 2008 Napa’s clinking-glass culture is an incubator for more than world-class vino. Proof: Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen in downtown St. Helena, which globe-trots via diners’ taste buds each Wednesday for their year-and-running Supper Club. Aptly named, Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen is a white-linens eatery cached behind Main Street with a scene that feels more neighborly than swanky. Head…
Culinary Conquests
Posted by Jeannette Kimmel on October 9, 2007 Calling all food enthusiasts: Wake up and smell the oregano. The Culinary Institute of America has recently designed five food-centric getaways that won’t leave you hungry. The CIA “Sophisticated Palate,” a selection of epicurean adventures that offer lectures on cooking techniques, traditions, food and wine pairing, and of course, wine tasting, encourages its guests to…
