Ready your appetite for these notable new eating and sipping experiences!
Your daily requirement of meat and cheese can be best fulfilled at the new Trading Post Market from the team behind San Francisco’s AQ, TBD, and the much-anticipated Bon Marché. But the real star here is the bread: fashioned with great skill by baker Aaron Arabian, grab a fruit loaf—studded with fresh, local produce and plenty of crunchy nuts—but don't expect there to be any left by the time you get home. // 102 South Cloverdale Boulevard, Cloverdale
One look at Fritz' recently renovated and reopened tasting room and you'll never want to leave this redwood-filled estate. While still technically underground, the expanded new tasting room lets visitors peek out for a view of the vineyards, and includes a u-shaped elm wood bar lit by a gorgeous wrought iron chandelier. To celebrate the new addition, the Dry Creek Valley destination now includes an estate food and wine pairing experience ($20), plus a vineyard hike across the 112-acre redwood-filled property ($45) to round out your experience. // 24691 Dutcher Creek Road, Cloverdale, fritzwinery.org
Suggested sip: 2013 Fritz Estate Zinfandel
Belly up to the bar for a nibble of pickled eggs with Goldfish crackers or a mug of local craft beer (there are more than 40 varieties on tap) at this not-so-typical sports bar in Napa. The brainchild of Napa Bottle Rock Festival's culinary director Chuck Meyer and Sprenger’s Tap Room owner Kevin Sprenger, the Western-accented pub grub includes instant hits such as chorizo-cotija fries, Hangtown fry, and a country fried pork chop atop cheesy jalapeño grits. // 1000 Main Street, Napa, napapalisades.com
V. Sattui Wine & Food Pairings
Fun fact: This iconic winery was founded over 130 years ago in a San Francisco boarding house, then resurrected post-Prohibition as a full winery in Napa Valley. Now guests can enjoy the 60 varietals of wine currently in production with small bites from local eateries such as creamy Brie de Nangis gratin dipped with potato crisps, apples, and pepper, homemade charcuterie, produce, over 200 varieties of cheese, and a house-made vanilla bean gelato and Madeira float ($75). // 1111 White Lane, St. Helena, vsattui.com
Suggested sip: 2012 Napa Valley Grenache
The riverside town of Petaluma is even groovier these days thanks to the addition of a new artisanal spot from Michael and Jenny Griffo. Griffo Distillery creates small-batch, grain-to-glass spirits from London-style Scott Street gin to bourbon made with hyper-local grains (grown within 15 miles of the distillery) and aged in locally coopered, charred barrels. Visits are welcome, reserve at griffodistillery@gmail.com. // 1320 Scott Street, Suite A, Petaluma, griffodistillery.com
