The Best Way to See Napa is to Take the Wine Train!
June 23rd, 2010 | by EIC |ALL ABOARD! The Napa Valley Wine Train is leaving the station! Why bother driving from on winery to another, when you can go by train? There’s no better way to see some of the most spectacular landscape, not seen by driving along the roads in Napa. So, take this beautiful train ride through wine country and enjoy not only gourmet dining, but drinking some of the best wine in town aboard the lavishly restored lounge and nine dining cars pulled by a double-sided Alco Diesel Engine. You’ll get to spend 3 hours aboard a circa 1947 glass domed rail-car, stop off at 2 wineries tours, a luncheon excursion and eat a five-course meal in a restored 1915 Pullman dining rail-car.
The tracks with which the Napa Valley Train runs were constructed back in the 1860’s in order to bring guests to the hot spring resort town of Calistoga, which no longer exists, but much of the rest of the route of the Napa Valley Wine Train is virtually unchanged. Rail transport had an immense influence with the development of the communities and wineries of Napa Valley, so there’s no shortage of sights to see during the 3-hour journey starting with Napa, on to Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford and finally St. Helena. Numerous wineries can be seen through the large picture windows aboard the train. The Napa Valley Wine Train is located at 1275 McKinstry Street, which is close to any luxury hotel Napa offers its wine tourists.
You’ll find that the Wine Train has one of the most unique restaurants that you’ll ever eat at. Their chefs present a fabulous gourmet meal that is unmatched by any of the other great Napa restaurants in town. Like any fine dinning establishment, guests on the Napa Valley Wine Train can order off the menu and the food is cooked right then and there, there’s no pre-preparation. Plus, they have 3 kitchens on the Wine Train, and they let any guests come see how the chefs work; there’s a specially installed window at the main kitchen where the guests can watch the grill fire from 3 feet away. You’ll really like the fact that they only use fresh local produce , natural hydroponic vegetables and lettuce, fresh native California farm raised fish and shell fish, fresh line-caught fish, humanely raised meats, none of the products is chemically enhanced and they don’t use meats enhanced with growth hormones.
The Tasting Bar on the Wine Train offers a special and wonderful opportunity to sample boutique wines from 40 local wineries. The Tasting car is beautifully appointed and historic. They offer selections that will please any palate, from the seasoned oenophile to the novice wine drinker. From dry whites and dessert wines to robust and rich reds, and everything in between. All of the wines poured at the Tasting Bar are available to purchase upon the return back at the wine emporium.
There’s no better way to experience Napa, except on the rails.
