Where To Rock, Drink, Eat in Napa Valley

Norah Jones At BottleRock Napa Valley

Napa Valley, world-renowned wine region, elevates its fabulous quotient even higher with this year’s BottleRock better than ever. Throngs of locals and visitors of all ages descend upon this beautiful Northern California enclave for the ultimate Memorial Day Weekend Festival held at the Napa Valley Expo. The Spectacular features great music, fine Napa wines and celebrated chefs serving up culinary delights.

Relic Wine Cellars Fab Pre Party

Relic Wine Cellars Party, Diane Louvel + Mike Hirby. Photo: Maxine Albert.

Heading there, I first stopped at a pre-BottleRock party for fans of Relic Wine Cellars at their winery in Soda Canyon. Enchanting New York City singer- songwriter Diane Louvel and talented Relic owner/winemaker Mike Hirby treated guests to singing and strumming while sampling pizza, Pinot and Cab. You can book a tasting at this small, impressive working family winery that also produces single-vineyard cabernets and Bordeaux-varietal blends from Napa Valley, among others, and get on their mailing list for all the exciting news and events.

BottleRock Napa Valley Better than Ever

Bradley Cooper + Eddie Vedder/Pearl Jam - Duet at BottleRock. Photo: Maxine Albert.

Onward to BottleRock and what a soiree it was! Headliners at this year’s three-day festival included Pearl Jam, Ed Sheeran, Stevie Nicks, Megan Thee Stallion and Norah Jones plus more than 75 additional bands on six music stages. The highly entertaining Williams Sonoma culinary stage featured top chef and celebrity mashups with Bradley Cooper, Cameron Diaz and Neil Patrick Harris. With wine cabanas and beverage bars from heralded vineyards such as Shafer, Silverado and Robledo, along with dining options from acclaimed restaurants like Mustards Grill, Morimoto, Slanted Door, La Toque and Goose & Gander- it’s a foodie paradise. And the popular Spa offerings included pampering massages, swarovski crystal eyelashes, tattoos, henna and energy boosts with IV therapy.

Bradley Cooper, BottleRock Napa Valley. Photo: BottleRock Napa Valley.

I kept running into the cool people I met at the Relic party as well as other friendly revelers. Bob and his gym buddies from Walnut Creek offered to save my seat at the main Jam Cellar Stage while I went off to reggae to Stephan Marley and enjoy New Orleans based The Soul Rebels with Talib Kweli. What a surprise when I returned to the main stage and saw Bradley Cooper, who was cooking for the adoring crowd minutes before, join Eddie Vedder during Pearl Jam’s Show, for a duet, singing “Maybe It’s Time” from his film “A Star Is Born.” Did I mention how much fun BottleRock is?

Norah Jones, BottleRock Napa Valley. Photo: Maxine Albert.

Tickets for BottleRock at the Napa Valley Expo on May 23-25, 2025 go on sale in January with the new line-up. The better ones with various VIP tiers (away from the main crowd with shaded, elevated viewing, seated lounges and VIP Village access) go quickly so sign up for updates. I can’t wait to return.

Stay in Style and Rent Your Own House

VRBO Rental Home in Yountville, Napa Valley. Photo: VRBO, Bob Fagnani.

Many of Napa Valley’s stylish resorts are booked during this busy holiday but another great option is to rent one of the area’s houses. Just miles from BottleRock, and the town of Napa, fashionable Yountville with a walk-able downtown and an array of top eateries, makes an ideal base to relax and explore the locale. VRBO has an impressive selection that includes the “Romantic cottage with gorgeous Vineyard and Mountain views” that pops up first on VRBO’s website when you type in “Napa Valley.”

VRBO Rental Exterior, Yountville, Napa Valley. Photo: VRBO, Bob Fagnani.

Set at the end of a tree-lined block overlooking vineyards with a scenic back deck, two modern bedrooms and bathrooms, newly renovated stylish contemporary decor, state of the art kitchen, large flat screen TVs, washer dryer, and professional house manager Bob Fagnani – this is a standout choice that offers the ultimate privacy. Guests must comply with Yountville’s 30-day minimum requirement for rentals and this house is ideal for anyone working remotely or wanting to try out ‘Living the Life in Napa Valley’.

Vineyards View, VRBO Yountville House, Napa Valley. Photo: VRBO, Bob Fagnani.

Rose Wine by The Vice. Photo: The Vice Wine, St Helena, Napa Valley.

I loved sitting on the back deck sipping Orange "Pickleball" wine with its bouquet of tangerine, peach and honeysuckle. Check out this Vice Wine favorite along with their Pinot Noir Rosé with hints of red berries and spring flowers. You can schedule a tasting at their estate in St. Helena or have a delivery right to your door - or if staying somewhere else, the lovely libations will transport you to Napa.

Feast at Gentleman Farmer Bungalow

Gentleman Farmer Bungalow, Downtown Napa. Photo: Michael Cuffe.

“We want you to feel like you’re inside a home” says Joey Wołosz as he greets guests with a big smile and friendly chat before gliding off to pop a perfect looking soufflé from the oven in the open kitchen, a fragrant aroma wafting in the air. He and his real life partner Jeff Durham, the duo behind Gentleman Farmer Wines, opened Gentleman Farmer Bungalow in downtown Napa in December and it’s a gem. It’s cozy and charming with adorable touches such as grandma’s silverware.

The Old Country at Gentleman Farmer Bungalow. Photo: Maxine Albert.

Joey has been in the kitchen since he was 5; his mom was a cook. The pair had lengthy careers in restaurants and wine establishments and it shows. The Gentleman Farmer Bungalow offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner wine-tasting experiences with Gentleman Farmer Wines, with Jeff and Joey preparing the tastiest several-course home-cooked meal.

Entertainment at Gentleman Farmer Bungalow. Photo: Maxine Albert.

Entertainment at Gentleman Farmer Bungalow. Photo: Maxine Albert.

Some of the epicurean pairings with many dishes from family recipes, include: latkes with salmon rillettes; crème fraîche and caviar with their 2022 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir; Joey’s mom’s lasagna with their 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon; a melted onion, thyme, and Gruyère tart served with their 2019 Napa Valley Red Wine: pierogi and kiełbasa from the old country with mustard made with their Chardonnay; and a carmelized peach tart accompanied by their 2020 Napa Valley Chardonnay. Don’t be surprised by an impromptu concert if Joey spontaneously plays some favorites on his accordion followed by Jeff groovin on the clarinet.

Shafer Vineyard’s New Ultimate Napa Valley Experience

Shafer Vineyards, Napa Valley. Photo: Meg Smith.

Wine lovers and those who enjoy the very best are sure to delight in Shafer Vineyard’s New ‘ Hillside Select Experience.’ The esteemed brand known for crafting exceptional wines recently launched their most luxurious experience that focuses exclusively on Hillside Select. Made solely from the best vineyard blocks on the steep hillside it received numerous 100-point scores across more than 10 vintages from leading critics.

Shafer Vineyard’s Luxe Tasting Experience + Hillside Select Wines. Photo: Meg Smith.

The 2-hour tasting journey begins with Billecart Salmon Champagne and a generous serving of Regiis Ova caviar. Then a Polaris Ranger vehicle whisks you away on a private tour of the historic estate taking you to hidden corners and breathtaking panoramas while you also learn about the select grape. Upon reaching a private overlook in the heart of the vineyard with stunning views of Stags Leap District, you get to savor the current vintage. The scenic beauty of the landscape and the exquisite wine with hints of black cherry and violets, create a glorious alchemy.

Shafer Vineyard’s Hillside Select Experience with Polaris Ranger + The Prized Cuvee. Photo: Meg Smith.

The last part of the journey takes place indoors. The private seated tasting features three rare library selections of this prized cuvee plus a charcuterie board for each guest. The Hillside Select Experience is offered twice a week during the spring, summer, and fall, and costs $500 per person. Shafer Vineyards offers two other 90-minute experiences: the Terrace View Tasting for $125 per guest and the Private Collector’s Experience for $195 per guest. Many love the tasting adventure so much that they do all three.

Shafer Vineyard’s Luxe Tasting Experience + Hillside Select. Photo: Meg Smith.