Our wedding anniversary is at the beginning of December and for many years we have been celebrating it in Napa or Sonoma. Besides being in Wine Country for our anniversary, we also get to enjoy an early Christmas. 
Christmas decorations are everywhere. You walk in many of the wineries and you’re facing a beautiful Christmas tree, decorations on the fireplace mantel, holiday music and the spirit of the holidays everywhere you look. One of our favorite Pinot wineries is Etude in Carneros. (We’re also club members there.) The last time we stopped by for a visit, on top of being in heaven with the wines that we were being served, we had the joy of having our tasting by a huge, beautifully decorated Christmas tree.
The town of Napa is very festive but the top is in Yountville where, by the way, the famous chef Thomas Keller has three restaurants that we love (French Laundry, Bouchon and Ad Hoc). As soon as you get off Route 29 and turn on Washington Street, you are in a different world. The town itself becomes a Christmas Wonderland. We had never seen anything like this; the town is entirely lit with Christmas lights. It’s absolutely like being in a fairy tale. It’s magical!
Most of the wineries have a shop where they sell souvenirs and wine related articles. During the holidays they add all those pretty Christmas decorations, tablecloths, cocktail napkins, chinaware. It is a great place to find a gift for wine lovers. Some of these items are often found exclusively in wineries. We’re not talking about the wine itself, but corkscrews, glasses, wine books, etc. One article that we have bought there over the years is a vine leaf that had been plated in silver or gold, with a little ribbon on top to hang in the Christmas tree. That’s an exclusive and pretty wine gift!
Let’s not forget the hotels and restaurants. You’ll be in the Christmas spirit wherever you eat and stay. We love to stay at the Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa. When you enter in the driveway, you will face an enormous Christmas tree in front of the resort welcoming you, plus decorations all over the resort. One late afternoon in December, we sat on the porch facing the Christmas tree sipping a glass of wine and watching the sunset. Not bad at all!
If you’re looking for a different experience and atmosphere for a next trip to the Wine Country, try it in December. You’ll not only get the Christmas spirit but also fewer tourists (but please don’t tell everyone).
Joyeux Noël