Exploring Napa Valley

JaM Cellars Wine and Music Studio

Local wines and tunes – and true Napa Valley charm

Wine and music share more than most people notice. Both are meant to be experienced, not just consumed—and both get better the more you know about them. Both have a way of marking time—a vintage, an album, a night you didn't expect to remember. John and Michele Truchard — second-generation Napa Valley vintners and lifelong music lovers — noticed all of this and built a place around it. The result is JaM Cellars Wine & Music Studio: leather couches, a state-of-the-art sound system, a mini recording studio, and wines poured by enthusiasts who love nothing better than to delight you. The wines live up to their names. Butter Chardonnay — rich, creamy, and now the #1-selling Chardonnay in the U.S. — started it all, followed by a bold JaM Cabernet and a growing lineup of Napa Valley-exclusive releases. Live music JaMSessions run Thursday through Saturday evenings. Sunday afternoons bring DJ sets.

Pure Luxury Tours

Getting around wine country, in expert style

There are some things best left to professionals. And when in Napa Valley, that might include navigation. There are more than 400 wineries in the region, so let someone else show you around. The experts at Pure Luxury Tours, driving in wine country since 1991, have a batch of itineraries at the ready. The Purely Wine Tour takes you to the charming Cornerstone Cellars for a sit-down experience with five current releases. The Purely Delicious Wine tour, centered at the Clif Family operation, offers a leisurely flight of small production wines paired with bites showcasing the onsite organic farm. If you've already got favorites (and who doesn't?), they've got you – custom VIP journeys are a true specialty. The fleet ranges from standard luxury sedans to full-size tour buses – why not invite some friends?

Marquee Pinball Lounge

Score with the whole family at this downtown detour

The Marquee Pinball Lounge just passed its first anniversary and has already settled comfortably into the fabric of downtown Napa — a place that turns out to have been quietly waiting for exactly this. There's so much natural splendor and great wine around that some good old-fashioned indoor fun makes for a terrific addition to the mix. Family friendly by day, with more of a true lounge feel in the evenings. The games available will excite even the aficionado, and the secret beer lovers in your gang will delight in the 50 or so craft offerings, including many local brews. A little retro, a little kitschy, plenty colorful, and a whole lot of fun.