When people associate Napa, they immediately think of Wine. There is so much more to Napa than meets the eye…or palate for that matter. Throughout the month of May a variety of events, shows and activities will make it hard to decide which one(s) to choose.

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, Sunday Brunch is an always a must, but Spa treatments are a nice touch to thank Mom for all she does. Concerts will be happening through out the month, as well as, the Napa Valley Art Festival. Then opening the Friday of Memorial Day weekend is Napa’s Farmer’s Market which offers all the usual activities, produce and shopping along with 2-3 different bands playing at different locations throughout the square. The Valley also offers fun boutique style shopping so be sure to visit downtown Napa, Yountville and St. Helena. Finally with Spring in the air there truly is no better way to see the Valley than to do it from one of the brightly colored hot air balloons that fill the skyline.

Ok for those of you that really enjoy the Wine aspect of Napa, then you won’t want to miss the Release Parties that happen throughout the year. For anyone who doesn’t know what a “Release Party” entails it is very simple. Just like the fashion industry, wineries like to showcase the new wines that are now ready for sale. It also gives the winery an opportunity to sell all of their wines not to mention an excuse to have a party which can range from BBQ’s to fancy receptions. However, the only catch is most of these events are by “invitation only” for club members so if you have a favorite brand of wine, go on line and join their Wine Club. To find out more about the upcoming release parties, go to www.napavalley.org.

The warmth of spring sunshine, gentle, undulating breezes, nascent grapevines budding… the perfect season to be visiting the Napa Valley.

The Napa Valley is a perfect weekend getaway. Try a hot air balloon ride floating over the Napa vineyards. For true oenophiles, visit any of the 450 world-class wineries for the best in wine tasting. Enjoy mud baths and massages that will relax your weary bones at the Amadeus Spa. Don’t forget that dining in Napa Valley features some of the finest restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our picks for your spring dining pleasure are Bleaux Magnolia, Tra Vigne and Bouchon.

California’s Wine Country is a great destination for longer relaxing vacations as well. Within driving distance of our Napa Valley Hotel is the Pacific Ocean,

While Napa Valley is best known for it’s wineries and restaurants, there are several Napa Valley festivals and wine country events going on during this time of year to capture the interest of locals and vistors alike.

• May 27^th marks the opening of the friday night Napa Valley Farmer’s Market in downtown Napa
• May 31^st Napa Valley Art Festival is being held at COPIA
• June 14^th Participate in “Walk through the Vineyards” to benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
• A Mid Summer’s Night Gala at Castello di Amorosa (The Castle)

Let Napa Valley make your next California vacation a complete success. We promise that the Napa Valley Marriott will leave you with a content relaxing experience.

Donna Altes, Concierge

The miracle of motherhood is eloquently expressed when observing how perfectly the female body is designed to conceive, give birth, and nurture a child. However, as Mom’s belly grows, so does her discomfort in the lower extremities, as well as the lower back region. Regular manual massage, such as a pregnancy massage, from trained practitioners helps with the following:

• Promotes relaxation and alleviates pain
• Stimulates the brain to release endorphins (the “Feel Good” Hormones)
• Alleviates restrictions in proper blood and lymph flow
• Restores optimal diaphragmatic function (“breathing easier” due to proper blood flow)
• Cuts down on movement limitations preventing baby to be in a optimal position for delivery
• Balancing and restructuring of “trunk stabilizers” (the muscles responsible for good posture)
• Keeping other muscles supple and relaxed at the same time, to allow for a optimal delivery

Pregnancy massage is a rare “time-out” for a Mom-to-be. Due to excessive body weight, often postural patterns need to be addressed by the Massage Practitioner. There are certain points a trained Massage Provider will avoid during Pregnancy Massage. During the massage, the Mom-to-be will most likely lie sideways around a big ”bodycushion”, which allows her to be completely relaxed.Treat your Mommy-to-Be to this special experience at the Amadeus Spa. Please come and try it!

- Sylvia Rituper, Spa Manager

As spring warms the air in the Napa Valley, and the vines spring back to life, the locals start planning for their first outdoor get-togethers. Sometimes, these Wine Country gatherings are elaborate affairs with fine linens and multiple courses, but my favorites are impromptu and rather simply done. If you want to entertain like a Napa local and you haven’t constructed your Bocce court yet here is a simple idea for you to try.

Chardonnay and Artisan cheeses are a fine way to entertain with a minimum amount of effort and your guests will surely enjoy. First you must choose a good quality Napa Valley wine, I happen to like Rombauer or Cakebread’s Chardonnay for their crisp, fruitiness, hints of oak and buttery finish. Offering several of the same varietals from various regions or vintages will allow your guests an opportunity to compare the differences and spark friendly discussion. Then visit your local cheese purveyor. Chards pair well with aged goat cheese like Humboldt Fog, Creamy Camembert like Rouge et Noir, or mild nutty dry cheese such as Vella Mezzo Secco.

Present these separately on small plates with a selection of sliced fruit (pears, apples & berries work well and are in season), sliced baguette, artisan breads and crackers and walnuts with some organic honey drizzled over the top.  If you would care for something a bit more substantial add various types of cured olives and some grilled vegetables. Your friends will be ready to crown you “The Entertaining Guru”. Don’t forget to invite me!

Chef Maynard

As a born and raised Northern Californian (a rare breed these days!), I have always enjoyed finding things to see and do, in an area that the locals enjoyed but were somewhat hesitant to share with outsiders.

One such activity is enjoying a picnic at Diamond Oaks Winery, formally known as La Familia Winery on Oakville Highway.  It offers one of the most spectacular views of the valley and there are 9 picnic tables next to the Winery.After a tour of the winery, head over to the Oakville Market and select from a beautiful variety of deli meats, cheeses, breads and other snack items to fill your basket….don’t forget a nice bottle of vino as well!  It is about a 10 minutes from the winery and well worth the drive.This time of year, the valley is winding down from the Mustard Festival, but you can always test your skill at COPIA with their “Hands on Wine Blending” classes Fri/Sat/Sun @ 3:15 pm (reservations are required) and it is $ 65.00 per person.

There is no place like spring in Napa.  Driving up valley on Highway 29, there is an abundance of mustard among the vineyards and buds are beginning to pop on the vines.

There are two wineries that are great to visit during spring in the Napa Valley.

First, go to Peju Family Estate Winery, 8466 St. Helena Highway (Hwy 29). This winery was founded in 1892 by Tony and Herta Peju, and is still family owned today.  Their award wining wines include the flagship HB Reserve, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah.

Continuing north on Highway 29, stop in at V. Sattui Winery, located at 1111 White Lane in St. Helena. This is a great stop for tasting, or grab a deli lunch, which can be enjoyed on the ample and lovely picnic area.

- Jan Hayden, Concierge

Due to numerous environmental factors, such as sun damage, diet and pollution, facial skin in particular benefits from a thorough exfoliation and hydration. Most chemical facials irritate your skin, the glycolic facial treatment can be done in 25 minutes and there is no inflammatory response. After one treatment, you will see a noticeable reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Also, treatments can be done more frequently than the standard facial, 7-10 days versus 3-4 weeks.

Glycolic acid is derived from sugar cane and has the smallest molecular structure of the Alpha Hydroxy Acid family. This makes it the best choice for penetrating into your skin. Glycolic acid is shown to produce increased amounts of collagen in the skin. However, it is not absorbed into the body and will not cause any of the side effects found in chemicals used in other facial treatments.

The Amadeus Spa at the Napa Valley Marriott, offers a 25 minute anti-irritant glycolic treatment. Whether you want to get in and out quickly or spend a full day at the spa this is a perfect treat. Follow the post regimen protocol and return to work and play immediately following with no redness or discomfort. The cost is $ 95.00 per person (service charge of 20% is automatically added to your treatment).

Your spa visit includes the use of all of the spa facilities such as the whirlpool, steam sauna and fitness center. Enjoy our relaxation lounge and visit our Spa Boutique which offers several spa lines of products and a wonderful assortment of ideas for gifts or better yet…treat yourself!

The Spa opens at 8am daily.

- Lori Giovani, Amadeus Spa

I love Zinfandel!  It has such a wonderful and diverse range of flavors.  From thick grape jam and pepper to dry spice.  You can usually go into your local wine shop and find a top notch Napa Valley or Dry Creek Zinfandel for around $30.  Due to the current winemaking styles it is a varietal that requires some forethought when pairing with food.  Zin’s tend to be broad and muscular and often times pack wallop with 14.1 to 15% alcohol levels not to mention a high degree of tannin.

Because of these factors I usually pair Zinfandel with braised red meats such as short ribs, lamb shanks, or Texas chili. I have even found that game meat such as venison or elk hold up to the wines bold flavors.  These wines are not for the timid and neither are the dishes that should accompany them.  One trick chefs employ to make the pairings spot on is to use the wine that will be accompanying the dish in the recipe itself.  I have included one of my favorite recipes for you to try.  I look forward to hearing your reviews.

Chef Maynard

Braised Short Ribs with Leeks and Porcini Mushrooms

Read the rest of this entry »