“A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine,” according to Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, 19th Century French lawyer, politician, and gourmet. This is something restaurants in Napa Valley are keenly aware of. Each Napa Valley restaurant earning a Michelin Star (or three!) for 2013 have mastered the art of combining finely tuned cooking skills by award-winning chefs with fresh, local ingredients and perfectly paired Napa Valley wines to create a stunning dining experience. The Restaurant at Meadowood and The French Laundry each earned three stars while the others listed earned one star – all distinguishing themselves as some of the best places to visit listed in the 2013 Michelin Guide for the San Francisco Bay Area & Wine Country.
The Restaurant at Meadowood
The Restaurant at Meadowood is a truly unique experience. From the moment a guest calls to reserve a table the attention to detail begins. The guest is asked questions to assist Chef Christopher Kostow and his team in creating a specialized menu for each table. The wine cellar boasts more than 1200 labels to create a perfect wine pairing with dinner.
The Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil
Executive Chef, Robert Curry, serves an award-winning menu complimented by Wine Director, Kris Margerum’s, award-winning wine list at the Restaurant at Auberge du Soleil. Guests dine in the warmth of the inviting dining room or opt for patio seating featuring a beautiful panoramic view of Napa Valley.
La Toque
Chef Ken Frank’s La Toque restaurant is located inside the Westin Verasa Napa. Again, the combination of outstanding food paired with the perfect wine makes a visit to La Toque an unforgettable Napa Valley experience. Visitors create their own multi-course dinner from a variety of dishes.
Redd
Chef Richard Reddington offers a rare, creative, modern twist to Wine Country cuisine by combining influences from Asia, Europe, and Mexico. The result is a Michelin Star. One of many signature dishes found at Redd is Petrale Sole on creamy Jasmine rice, mussels, and chorizo in a saffron curry broth. Wine Director, Rob Renteria, along with Redd sommeliers Scott Schultz and Paul Stroud, have established an impressive collection of regional and international wines to compliment each dish.
Solbar
Solbar, located at Solage Calistoga, also offers a twist in the form of “California Soul Food.” One of Solbar’s signature dishes from Executive Chef Brandon Sharp and his team features Mary’s Free Range chicken a la plancha, Solbar andouille, etouffee sauce, griddled cheddar grits, and red mustard greens.
Terra Restaurant
Owned and operated by chefs Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani since 1988, Terra has provided outstanding cuisine and hospitality which has earned a Michelin Star since 2007 when Michelin launched its first guide to Bay Area restaurants. Along with a daily set menu of three courses, guests may also choose from prix fixe menus for 3, 4, 5, and 6 courses, or the Chef’s Choice menu for 7 or more courses.
Bouchon Bistro
One of two establishments owned by Chef Thomas Keller on this list, the team at Bouchon Bistro presents a traditional French bistro experience using local ingredients. Their Vin de Carafe program allow guests to order a carafe of wine that will pair perfectly with the dishes selected.
The French Laundry
The second restaurant owned by Chef Thomas Keller continues to greatly impress professional critics and those who enjoy an exceptional dining experience. The philosophy at The French Laundry focuses on more than just filling an empty stomach. Their philosophy is that “a great meal is a kind of journey that returns you to sources of pleasure you may have forgotten and takes you to places you haven’t been before.”
Contact Napa Wine Tours for your visit to Napa Valley and experience the delicious hospitality of the region in your private chauffeured car.
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