A Day At A Napa Valley Winery - Grgich Hills
On a warm August day in Napa, we drive past the endless rows of garden green vines. There are so many vines, row after row, that they all blend into one emerald swoosh when driving by quickly. On what would normally be a busy Sunday afternoon, we’re driving along one of the main thoroughfares of Napa wine country, St. Helena Highway. We’re looking for one winery in particular, Grgich Hills, and we pass by some other favorite stops along the way: Domaine Chandon, Robert Mondavi, and Yountville tasting rooms.
We easily spot Grgich Hills by the Croatian flag flapping at the entrance. We’re a half hour early for our reservation made just a few days ago. This is our first time to Grgich and also our first winery visit since covid restrictions started loosening, so given the new rules, we’re uncertain if we’ll have to wait for our allotted time. Luckily we easily find a parking spot, grab a photo with my cousin next to the vines, and walk up to smiling faces greeting us.
Grgich is no exception to the rule of beautiful spaces in beautiful surroundings that is Napa. Walking through the entrance opens up to an expansive patio space with a large tree centered in the middle. Tables and cozy patio chairs line the perimeter. Beyond the patio is a nicely kept lawn with cafe lights strung between palm trees. Quaint yet picturesque is an understatement. The layers of nature build beyond the palm trees with rows of vines topped with mountains in the distance, all set to a bright blue sky.
Grgich Hills was the first winery I visited in covid times. They set a high standard that I looked for in any future trips along with their safety rules. So what was different and what gave us peace of mind? When we arrived, the hosts asked us to sign a waiver and then presented us with our own tasting glasses etched with the Grgich logo, that we could take home with us. All of the staff was overly cautious, wearing masks, and gloves and leaving plenty of space.
Throughout the outdoor patio space, they provided arrows to direct the flow of traffic if exiting or walking to the restrooms. Any food ordered at this point in time came pre-made and tightly wrapped in plastic to keep it sanitized and fresh. In addition to our tasting, we opted for a cheese platter to pair nicely with the wine we sipped.
Once we are seated, our host James gets us situated and begins our tasting. We make our way through rosés, whites, and reds. Toward the end, we take our wine glasses with us to walk near the vines and get a few pictures. This is one of my favorite parts of wine tastings in a beautiful place like Napa, taking my glass of wine and walking along the vines. Something about it feels calming and fancy at the same time, and I can’t recommend it enough. I also enjoy physically seeing where the wine I’m drinking comes from. It’s connecting it all, vine to table.