Schmap Napa Valley Art & Entertainment

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Napa Valley - Art & Entertainment
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Napa Valley Home
Schmap Napa Valley guide and map

Napa Valley may have many delights, and for residents and many guests, one of them is its peace and quiet. Communities here are small, and tend to be affluent. Which is by way of saying that you (A) won't find big-city nightlife here, and (B) won't find a lot of hoe-downs or honky-tonks, either. There are bars, sure, but Wine Country propriety, noise ordinances, and the amount of wine consumed as part of the job all militate against raucous, after-hour saloons.

What you will find, albeit in more specialized and rarified formats, is culture. Classical. Jazz. The Arts. Primarily in a festival format, and often at wineries.

Arts Groups and Festivals

The Napa Valley Symphony, an unsung (no pun intended) but quite capable ensemble, plays year round in Yountville's Lincoln Theatre, with summer appearances at the Robert Mondavi Winery and occasionally elsewhere in the valley.

While Napa's Opera House now functions primarily as a civic center, the Jarvis Conservatory puts on an energetic program of operas, as well as Spanish-language zarzuelas. They're located at 2970 Monticello Road in Napa.

Chamber concerts and recitals are held regularly at Napa's First Methodist Church. (+1 707 252 7122 for the latest schedule.)

The Napa Valley Stage Company (+1 707 257 6872) mounts productions May through December around the county.

Under the spreading oaks of Skyline Park, the Napa Valley Wine Festival features the work of songwriters and musicians in a series of concerts on three continuous stages, with attendant music workshops, gourmet food, and, of course, Napa Valley wines.

The Wineries

The foremost cultural nexus of the Napa Valley is not an arts center or symphony hall, it's-and this should hardly surprise us-a winery. And not just any winery- Robert Mondavi. For years, Oakville's Mondavi Winery has been putting on concerts and series at their arts center. The Robert Mondavi Summer Festival is the big attraction, of which the Napa Valley Symphony is a mainstay, but smaller ensembles and solo artists, as well as jazz and popular musicians, put in appearances both in the summer series and throughout the year. For further information, check the Mondavi Website (http://www.robertmondavi.com). Mondavi puts on periodic art exhibits, as well.

Domaine Chandon, Niebaum-Coppola Estate, Charles Krug, and others put on occasional concerts and art exhibits, and the Napa Valley Wine Train has a semi-annual "jazz train," as well.

Copyright 1999-2005 Wcities, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contact Wcities

Charles Krug Winery

Napa Valley's first winery

2800 Main Street
Napa Valley, CA 94574
United States
+1 707 967 2200 / +1 800 682 5784
http://www.charleskrug.com/

For a feel of winemaking history, visit Napa Valley's oldest winery. Founded in 1861, it has 800 acres of prime vineyards spread out across several Napa Valley appellations and produces more than ten varieties of wine. A registered historical landmark, the facility includes the original wine cellar and contains one of the Valley's largest collections of rare and aged vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon. Other notable wines include Generations, an award-winning Bordeaux blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot grapes, and the Vintage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, the winery's flagship wine.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Charles Krug Winery photo by Matt MacGillivray

Photo: Matt MacGillivray

Domaine Chandon

Sparkling wine powerhouse One California Drive
Napa Valley, CA 94599
United States
+1 707 944 2280 / +1 800 736 2892 (Toll Free)
http://www.chandon.com Founded in 1973 by Moet and Chandon (the French makers of Dom Perignon), the winery was California's first large-scale sparkling wine producer. It was the first to introduce Pinot Meunier as a varietal for making sparkling wine. You can learn all about this on the winery's tour, which imparts all the fascinating details about the process of making sparkling wine. Tastings are conducted in the stylish, terraced Le Salon including hors d'oeuvres. The winery property also features an award-winning restaurant. Check the website for the operation hours of the restaurant, visitor center and tasting salon. Reservations for restaurant are accepted.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Napa Valley Symphony Performances

Orchestral accompaniment for grapes 860 Kaiser Rd
Napa Valley, CA 94558
United States
+1 707 226 6872/ +1 707 226 8742 (Tickets)
http://www.napavalleysymphony.org The Napa Valley Symphony is an orchestra of professional musicians led by an acclaimed music director and features world class guest artists with an over 70-year tradition of innovative musical programming. It is a graceful musical accompaniment to the Valley's refined vineyard culture. Maestro Asher Raboy leads the NVS in Yountville's Lincoln Theatre, and gives a summer Wine Country Pops performance at the end of June at the Robert Mondavi Winery. Check their website for the latest program information.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Napa Valley Symphony Performances photo by wcities
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Napa Valley Wine Train

Traveling dinner and lunch train 1275 McKinstry Street
Napa Valley, CA 94559
United States
+1 707 253 2111 / +1 800 427 4124
http://www.winetrain.com Hop on this train and experience a first-class meal and fine wines as you tour Wine County. The train offers a champagne brunch, casual lunches and fancy dinners. It is ideal for romantic dinners, executive parties and tourist excursions. The train's decor is elegant, though daytime travels are casual. Take in the sights both outdoor and indoor: mahogany, brass and etched glass in the restored 1917 Pullman Dining Car. At the McKinstry Street Station starting point, you will find a handful of charming little shops that specialize in wine (of course), gourmet foods and gifts.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Oakville

Napa Valley
United States
By this point, one has entered the real heart of Napa Valley wine production. Robert Mondavi, one of the titans of California wine, is headquartered in Oakville. Other, smaller wineries can be seen on both sides of the valley, though the premium cellars seem to be on the west side. While tiny Oakville has a post office, it's really an unincorporated part of Napa County, best known for the Oakville Grocery, a legendary roadside delicatessen stocked with a mind-boggling array of gourmet delights from France, Italy, and their own kitchens. As with other spots throughout the valley, one is likely to be greeted in early spring by a waving sea of yellow under sparse vineyards: growers often plant mustard underneath grapevines.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Robert Mondavi Winery

Napa's wine spokesman 7801 St. Helena Highway
Napa Valley, CA 94558
United States
+1 888 766 6328
http://www.robertmondaviwinery... Robert Mondavi is one of the most renowned vintners in Napa County, producing affordable and complex wines. The winery offers several tasting tours varying in depth and price. The Taste of Wine is a 2-hour formal tasting dedicated to training your palate as learning about various wine characteristics. Reservations are required all tours and tastings. In addition, the winery hosts countless concerts, art exhibits and community events. Visit the website for details on tours, tastings and events.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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