Sporting six Michelin stars and a chef line-up worthy of a world tour, Yountville turns up the heat this winter with its town-wide “Moveable Feast” program. From value-season hotel and dining packages to a roux of prix-fixe meals rolling off the lines, foodies on a fast track now have another reason to visit this town boasting more Michelin stars per capita than anywhere on the planet.
Available December 1 through February 28, the “Moveable Feast” program and free passport can be downloaded via yountville.com or obtained at Yountville Chamber of Commerce. From the new Bardessono inn to a bevy of Thomas Keller restaurants, the passport links visitors to a tasty line-up of hotel packages and restaurant deals including a three-course prix fixe dinner for $70 per couple, one dollar oyster specials, 50 percent off VIP wine tasting and up to 25 percent off hotel and dining packages, starting at $165 (reflects cost of a double, as do all room prices below).
You can check in and simmer down with a variety of hotels pairing accommodations with three-course prix fixe meals, among other perks. Top picks include bedding down at the Bordeaux House with breakfast, a VIP wine tasting at Domaine Chandon and three-course lunch with wine at Bistro Jeanty starting at $200.
For an Italian twist, the sexy new Hotel Luca—opened in fall 2009—steps up with breakfast, a three-course Neapolitan-style lunch with wine at Cantinetta Piero, two for one bicycle rental, a 10 percent discount at Luca Spa and triad of wine tastings at Ma(i)sonry, Girard Winery and Jessup Cellars starting at $365. For a little romance on the rails, Napa Valley Railway Inn features digs in a classic 100-year old railcar suite set along the original Napa Valley Railroad track (circa 1870) combined with a three-course lunch at Hurley’s Restaurant and VIP wine tasting at Domaine Chandon starting at $195.
Bed and breakfast is also a bargain at the two Four Sisters Inns—historic Maison Fleurie (1873) and Lavender. Enjoy a deluxe king guestroom, $50 dining certificate at Hurley’s Restaurant and Bar, Bouchon or Bistro Jeanty, VIP tasting at V. Sattui Winery and gourmet breakfast from $165, at Maison Fleurie and $215 at Lavender. For the lap of luxury, the new eco-stunning Bardessono fires up the season with a king spa suite, one-hour couple’s massage, gourmet repast at the restaurant, in-room amenity and optional garden tour for $725.
Across town, Villagio Inn & Spa sizzles with an elegant Tuscan-style guestroom, champagne breakfast buffet, three-course lunch at the new Bottega Restaurant, VIP tasting at V Wine Cellar and a $50 retail shopping certificate at V Marketplace boutiques for $325. Sister property Vintage Inn offers a similar deal.
Thomas Keller fans can tap into the deal at The Cottages of Napa Valley, which includes a two-night stay in a private cottage, breakfast basket from Bouchon Bakery, private winery tour and tasting with Bart O’Brien of O’Brien Estate and an early dinner at Ad Hoc restaurant starting at $495. Napa Valley Lodge steps up with a king fireplace guestroom, champagne breakfast buffet, VIP wine tasting at Girard Winery and three-course dinner at Bistro Jeanty starting at $310.
For meals and wheels, Napa Valley Bike Tours offers a 20 percent savings on its “Moveable Feast by Bike” package. Work off the day’s indulgences with two nights’ accommodations and daily breakfast at Villagio Inn & Spa, rental bikes, two guided “Ride, Wine & Dine Bike Tours,” a catered picnic lunch, tour guides and support and an $80 dinner voucher for two starting at $1342.
The town’s top toques celebrate the season with a variety of “Moveable Feast” prix fixe menus certain to blow socks off any epicure. At Bistro Jeanty, the three-course dinner menu spotlights such signature dishes as escargot with pastis butter, sole meuniere and chocolate mousse for $70 per couple; a lunch menu is also a steal of a deal at $55 per couple. Nearby, Ad Hoc is serving its family-style pre-theatre menu, which includes three courses from 5 to 6 p.m., for just $39 per person, while Bottega Restaurant makes waves with its Italian lunch menu, sporting three courses for just $24 per person. At Hurley’s Restaurant, diners can cash in on a three-course revolving lunch menu for $25 per person including crispy calamari salad, pan-seared scallops and a sinful dessert.
Fans of rustic Italian can get their fix with Hotel Luca’s Moveable Feast Passport including a three-course lunch with wine at Cantinetta Piero, a 10 percent discount at Luca Spa and private wine tasting for two at Girard Winery (a $50 value) for $50 per person, all inclusive. Bouchon is also offering a special late night “Moveable Feast” menu, including a half dozen freshly shucked oysters or Soupe a l’Oignon and Croque Madam for just $20 per person. The Restaurant at Bardessono also offers a prix fixe lunch and dinner menu, starting at $24 per person and $55 per person respectively. All meals exclude alcohol, tax and gratuity
Wash it all down with a special “Moveable Feast VIP Tasting” at Domaine Chandon. For just $10 (regularly $18), guests can belly up to the gorgeous glass bar for a flight of three sparkling and one still wine including the Chandon Classic, Reserve Pinot Noir Brut, Etoile Brut and Carneros Pinot Noir. Picnic hounds will want to dive into the deal at Yountville Deli, including two signature sandwiches, side dishes and dessert followed by a wine tasting for two at Hill Family Estate for just $20 per couple.
From a simmer to a boil, Yountville is expanding its dining options over the next year.
Hotel Luca—The minds behind L’Auberge Carmel debuted a 20-room luxury hotel and restaurant in fall of 2009. Perched on over an acre of prime real estate, the Italian-style inn includes Luca Spa and Cantinetta Piero, a 90-seat restaurant featuring rustic, informal Italian dining with authentic European-style hospitality—the perfect meritage of Italy and Napa Valley. hotellucanapa.com.
Vita—Laura Cunningham steps up with a new Italian eatery in the heart of Yountville named after her grandmother, Vita Morrell. The concept is a Sicilian southern Italian restaurant with the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group driving the operations. The 130-seat restaurant set in the former PJ Steak restaurant is due to debut in 2010.
Gordon’s Wine Bar & Café—Renovations continue on the infrastructure of this 19th century building, which is owned by Leslie Rudd. Sally Gordon continues to be associated with the project which will debut 2009/2010 with 50 seats and a similar cuisine local winemakers and foodies fawned over.
If You Visit
Site of Napa Valley’s first planted vines (1838), Yountville sits at the epicenter of the region’s culinary scene, sporting top-ranked restaurants, 20+ wineries and 10 lodging properties. An ideal base for the avid oenophile, Yountville offers the county’s only hot air ballooning launch, five National Register of Historic Places sites, a microclimate pedigree with its own AVA and more than 20 wine growers, world-class shopping and performing arts. Located 55 mi./88 km. north of San Francisco, travelers can arrive via scenic Highway 101 or via Napa County Airport, Sacramento (SMF), Oakland (OAK) or San Francisco (SFO) international airports. For more information and travel inquiries, contact the Yountville Chamber of Commerce at (707) 944-0904 or yountville.com.
Restrictions
*Hotel packages subject to availability, blackout periods apply. All package/menu offers exclude tax, alcohol and gratuity.
Redemption
Visitors must present the free “Moveable Feast” Passport to redeem special menus and offers. Available via download at yountville.com or the Yountville Chamber of Commerce, 6484 Washington Street, Yountville, California, 94599, (707) 944-4465.