Pardon Me Sir, is that the NAPA Choo Choo?
- Ash Collins
- Oct 22, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 23, 2019
"All aboard" was the cry from our conductor as he summoned the Hilton Grand Vacation members to hustle onto the vintage carriages bound for the picturesque NAPA Valley wine region.
Our locomotive pulled out of the station promptly at 10.45am as we began our journey North in parallel to Highway 29 into one of the finest vino regions anywhere in the world. The wine train provides its passengers the opportunity to ride through 36 miles of scenic, vineyard-lined terrain, whilst at the same time enjoying fine gourmet meals paired with some of Napa's signature wine selections.
The restored carriages feature seductive, old-fashioned interiors including tufted velvet seating, mahogany paneling and etched glass partitions throughout. There are a variety of lounges and dining rooms that feature arched windows with panoramic views across both sides of the NAPA valley.
Tracey & I opted for the comfort and privacy of a table for two in the dining car. Shortly after being seated, our servers appeared with the first of our complimentary beverages; a glass each of the classic Chandon Brut sparkling. As I do not partake in the sipping of champers, Trace began licking her lips as she knew this would be slid across the table in her direction!
Shortly after the bubbles arrived, the first of our four course culinary experience arrived at the table. A refreshing Greek yogurt smoothie accompanied by a steel cut oatmeal brûlée and a slice of smoked salmon and ciabatta. Not being a fan of the smoked fish, Trace benefited once again from my generosity as I slid my portion of salmon in her general direction.
Some 30 minutes after departing McKinstry Street, our train pulled in to our first of two stops; Domaine Chandon. Chandon, now in its 47th year in NAPA, is related to the French parent located in where else, but Champagne. Chandon provides visitors one of the most beautiful locations in the Napa Valley with its lush gardens and provincial architecture providing visitors with a scenic backdrop for tastings of their sparkling and varietal wines. Oh, and guess who was again the beneficiary of my generosity???
Despite my not having got off the mark in my wine experience account, I did walk out of Chandon with 3 bottles of the Chandon Sparkling Red at a significant industry discount (about time Trace), restoring the natural order of things.
We boarded our luxury tour bus that ferried its satisfied passengers back to Yountville Station to board the wine train. The train pulled out promptly at 1pm en route to our next location, Inglenook.
Once again our diligent and somewhat entertaining servers re-appeared with our second course closely followed by our (third) main course selections. Trace opted for the pan roasted Ling Cod and to avoid food envy, I selected the grilled (local) Duck Sausage.
The food was surprisingly delicious. The chef has a very confined space as a kitchen to work within however he nailed it with these two dishes. Albeit much of the prep is done beforehand, the presentation and finishing touches provided for a fine dining experience.
Having enjoyed our lunch coupled with some fine paired wines, we prepared for 1.45pm rendezvous at Chateau Inglenook. As a lover of fine red wines I should have been in my element with both signature CabSav's and a Zinfandel available for our tasting pleasure.
"The Inglenook legacy began in 1879 when Gustave Niebaum, a Finnish sea captain, wine connoisseur and entrepreneur, came to Rutherford to build a wine estate that would rival Europe’s finest. Francis and Eleanor Coppola purchased the property in 1975 and have spent forty years reuniting the original vineyards, returning winemaking operations to the chateau."
No expense was spared in the build and development of the Chateau Inglenook estate that is spread across 1,500 acres. The light poles scattered throughout, coupled with the fountains, were brought to the estate from France. Of course there is film industry memorabilia throughout that has been donated by Francis Ford including an extremely rare Tucker of which only 50 were manufactured before operations shut down.
Our wine ambassador initially poured our group a Sauvignon Blanc that I of course dismissed in favour of the Zinfandel. As I endeavoured to catch on my consumption, I chugged back a couple of the Zin's however my attention was drawn elsewhere as we headed into the Chateau for the pies de resistance; the 2016 CabSav followed by the renowned premiere 2015 vintage Rubicon.
Well oil beef hooked (say it quickly); what a disappointment. Much like art, wine tasting is a very subjective affair. Having waited the best part of a day for this experience, I was severely let down. Both of these wines retail at over the ton ($110 & $220) per bottle, albeit one should never judge the quality of wine by price alone. With that said, both wines lacked the character, body, flavour profile and tannin structure of many of the neighboring NAPA vineyards.
Disappointed and with my tail firmly between my legs, we headed back to our bus to board the train back to McKinstry Street. As our train rattled and rolled down the line Trace and I reflected on what was a great day in the Valley. I would certainly recommend anyone visiting this region to take the time out and book this experience.
Bon Appetite...
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