Sunshine & Vines | A Napa Valley Blog

Hi, I'm Ali, and I want to show you Napa Valley.

I live in wine country. And while I adore wine, what I truly love about Napa is the lifestyle – the wineries themselves, the landscape, the restaurants, the climate, and the experiences that are all integral parts of Napa Valley.

My goal here is simple. I want to share my experiences and tips with you so you can plan your Napa Valley experience.

Ready? Let's go!

Recent Blog Posts

May 15, 2018

Happy Hour in St. Helena

My friend, during a recent warm and springy day, suggested we make it our summer goal to hit up every Happy Hour in St. Helena. Obviously […]

April 12, 2018

bASH Food & Wine Pairing Event

Wine Math (Wine + Food) x 30 = bASH. Saywhatnow? Bear with me as I explain this equation… The bASH Food Pairing & Wine Tasting Competition is […]

March 8, 2018

St. Helena Shops and Stops

I walk up and down Main Street in St. Helena somewhat regularly, and I have a pretty standard line-up of shops and places I like to […]

February 20, 2018

Restaurant: Auberge du Soleil

February was my least favorite month when I was young. Having grown up on the east coast, I remember it as the coldest and darkest month […]

January 24, 2018

Raining in Napa? Head to the Caves

I know, I know… It’s raining. And just how are you supposed to enjoy wine tasting in Napa Valley if it’s raining? In the caves, of […]

December 15, 2017

HALL Rutherford

I was invited to experience the Appellation Exploration tasting at HALL Rutherford recently. In retrospect, it seems we visited at the perfect time of year, as the […]

December 2, 2017

Clos Pegase

Clos Pegase is a winery near the northern end of Napa Valley, in Calistoga. I was invited by the winery to experience a complimentary tour and […]

November 20, 2017

9 Clever Gift Ideas for Wine Lovers

‘Tis the season! Get ahead of the game with these 9 gift ideas for the wine lover in your life. The December holidays will be here […]

November 7, 2017

Restaurant: The Charter Oak

Good for you, Ali. You managed to walk the three blocks to The Charter Oak. Well, it’s about time. Not that The Charter Oak is inaccessible […]

October 25, 2017

Quick Stop: Castello di Amorosa

So I finally visited Castello di Amorosa. I don’t know why it’s taken me this long to get to The Castle. Everyone, everywhere is always visiting […]

October 18, 2017

The Wine Country Wildfires

I recognize that it’s been radio silence around here lately. But I couldn’t help it. There was the threat of the fires, the Sophie’s Choice of […]

October 4, 2017

How to Host a Blind Wine Tasting Party

Looking for an excuse to get together with your friends and taste a few different wines? Try hosting a Blind Wine Tasting Party. We had a […]

Itineraries

January 30, 2018

Itinerary: A Day Trip to Napa Valley

Only have time for a day trip to Napa Valley? No problem. Here’s an itinerary that will get you up here and enjoying yourself quick-smart. Let’s make […]

August 31, 2017

Itinerary: Napa Valley with Kids

Let’s call a spade a spade. This itinerary is Napa Valley WITH kids, not Napa Valley FOR Kids, because the focus here is on wine tasting — just […]

July 31, 2017

Itinerary: Napa Valley on a Budget

Napa Valley is not cheap. On the contrary, it’s become quite an expensive destination. So what do you do when you don’t want to throw down […]

July 28, 2017

Itinerary: Napa Valley with Kids II

You’re in Napa Valley with your kids. Wait, what?? Napa’s not for kids. It’s an adult playground. Isn’t it? Well, it seems that *sometimes* families want […]

Wish you were here?

I wish you were too. So whether you're planning a trip to wine country or just vacationing in your mind, join me in experiencing wine country the way I have – by appreciating and enjoying every minute of it.

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