Explore Napa with the Film Festival Founders
Brenda & Marc Lhormer
Foodies & Wine Lovers
We love Napa Valley. It is so rich in what is so inspirational to us - beauty, food, wine, creativity, art, nature and culture. Our beautiful, amazing, love-filled wedding weekend in 1991 is still our most memorable moment in the Valley. If you're visiting, we'd highly recommend a stay at Meadowood Napa Valley.
The activities that can't be missed
1. Wine tasting off the beaten track at wine estates like Chappellet or Lail Vineyards, or at one of the most entertaining wineries the Valley has to offer, Raymond Vineyards (say hi to Frenchie the bulldog!).
2. Mud baths in Calistoga – Indian Springs really rocks.
3. Biking the Silverado Trail and the soon to be completed Vine Trail up and down the Valley.
Our favorite places to eat
1. Bottega, Yountville – we love Michael Chiarello, and his gnocchi is to die for (well, everything is!).
2. ZuZu, Napa – Mick and his team make a killer paella that rivals anything we’ve had in Spain.
3. La Toque, Napa – Ken Frank is a master and the sweetest guy – we love all his gourmet revelations whether vegetarian or all beef.
The places you should definitely see
1. Chateau Montelena, Calistoga: this was the winery “hero” of the movie Bottle Shock, which we produced. Great wines, great history, great movie!
2. Castello di’Amorosa, Calistoga: every stone was brought lovingly over from Tuscany by Dario Sattui. There is even a torture chamber (weird, but cool). And, of course, great wines.
3. The Cemetary at the Vets Home in Yountville is the largest in the US.
Our hidden gems
1. Matthiasson Wines: you can meet the humble couple (and their kids) whose phenomenal wines and produce come from vineyards and an orchard surrounding their turn-of-the-century Victorian Farmhouse. It is laid back, awesome, inspired, and unique.
2. Allora Vineyards: meet the Klein family at their gorgeous home in St. Helena, and sample their incredible array of mouth watering red wines.
3. Ceja Vineyards: Pinot, Chardonnay, Rosé, Bubbly and Bocce Ball...enjoy them all with the dynamic Ceja family led by the formidable Amelia Ceja. This is one of the first Mexican American families to own their own winery in Napa Valley.
The place we're most excited to go next is Argentina (Buenos Aires and Mendoza).