Sunshine & Vines | A Napa Valley Blog

Hello, I'm Ali, and I live in wine country.

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 so you can plan your Napa Valley experience.

Ready? Let's go!

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 […]

Recent Blog Posts

August 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 […]

July 2, 2018

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 […]

June 7, 2018

The Best Wineries in Napa for Bubbles

Ahhh, sparkling wine. It’s not just for celebrations and brunch anymore. In fact, I think it’s perfect for any reason, any day. Don’t you agree? In […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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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