Visit Napa County’s Less Crowded Town of Yountville for Chandon, Bouchons & Relaxation

Spring is a beautiful time to visit Napa, and if you’re in a quandary about where to stay, the small, chic, easily walkable village of Yountville is a great choice. It’s not as congested as St. Helena, and there’s friendly energy and picture-perfect ambience.

With many charming inns and luxury boutique hotels in town, there’s a pleasant detachment from reality. It’s not unusual to see rock stars and the Mayor hobnobbing at a low-key wine tasting or South American jet-setting visitors strolling down the main street in a toweling robe with a glass of wine in hand. On May 3, the 6th Annual Sense Yountville tasting event is taking place in this charming town. The intimate affair features 20 local wine producers and dine-around nibbles from Bottega Ristorante (Michael Chiarello), Bouchon (Thomas Keller), Bistro Jeanty and more. Tickets are $150, and proceeds benefit a locally-based veteran’s charity.

But if you still need convincing, below are seven more reasons to make it out to Yountville this spring. The perfect way to start a Yountville morning? Dense, rich little chocolate Bouchon nuggets and your espresso drink of choice from Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery. Spa days are blissful, whether it’s a girlfriend getaway, a couples’ treatment, or a full day of yoga, meditation and solo time. Closeup on the Scrub Bar at Spa Villagio. All products smell and feel as lovely as they look.

Try to plan your wine tasting so you visit at least one Napa Valley vineyard, but also stick with some in-town tasting rooms that are easy to get to in the afternoon. We recommend Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley, an art gallery-meets-tasting-room in a rustic stone craftsman building right in town. It features a rotating wine selection, but always with wines by Blackbird, the artisan producer founded by Ma(i)sonry owner Michael Polenske.

Domaine Chandon is a landmark winery where you can easily spend hours, whether you’re tasting the wines, exploring the grounds, or indulging in oysters and sparkling wine at étoile Restaurant. Sophisticated and luxurious, but still sticking with rigorous LEED Platinum building standards, Bardessono sets a new standard for “green” hotels. Kudos to the developers for using salvaged woods, non-toxic materials and mainly solar panel energy.

But on the other hand, thanks to these dream-builders for not holding back on decadent extras like soaking tubs built for two, private outdoor showers, and comfortably-furnished enclosed patio space where guests can enjoy their own private Wine Country. –justluxe