Napa Valley, According to Wine People
Thu Jan 29 2026
We’re kicking off season four with our new theme “Unfiltered In Flight” and exploring wine the lens of travel. Whether it’s a wine producing region or a major city abroad, we’re focusing on how wine people experience the places they visit. To start, we’re returning to a region that’s both iconic and endlessly misunderstood: Napa Valley. Together with local sommelier Laura Koffer of Wine Access, who has called the valley home for more than a decade, we’re unpacking what Napa actually feels like beyond the tasting room. From Champagne-fueled nights and backyard picnics to tacos, beer, and the casual luxury that defines daily life in the valley, we break down Napa’s geography, appointment culture, and how to plan smarter tasting days, with one core takeaway in mind: the best Napa trips aren’t about doing more, they’re about doing it better.
Wine Featured on This Episode:
2024 Bordo Mare Vermentino Las Brisas Vineyard
📣 Links and Mentions
Wine Bars & Drinking Spots
Cadet Wine Bar (Napa)
Compline Wine Bar (Napa)
Chispa (Yountville)
Pancha’s (Yountville)
Ana’s Cantina (St. Helena)
Restaurants & Food
St. Helena
Charlie’s
Gott’s Roadside
The Charter Oak
Brasswood
Cook St. Helena
PRESS
Ray Ray’s Tacos
Station (coffee/pastries)
Model Bakery
Yountville
Bouchon Bistro
Bottega
Tacos Garcia (Taco Truck next to Pancha’s - cash only)
Model Bakery (St. Helena)
Napa
Scala Osteria
Don Giovanni
A16
ZuZu
Wineries & Wine Producers
Opus One
Promontory
Inglenook
Frog’s Leap
Continuum
Chappellet
Brand Vineyard
Hudson Ranch / Hudson Vineyards (Carneros)
Beer
Mad Fritz (Napa Valley)
Hanabi Lager (Screaming Eagle winemaker)
Russian River Brewing Company (Sonoma)
Ernie’s Tin Bar (Sonoma; beer stop en route)
Other, Logistics & Tips
Oakville Grocery
Adams Street Shipping (wine shipping service)
Westwood Hills Park (hiking)
Both State Park (hiking)
Cameo Cinema
Wild Vine Tours
📦 Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club
4 bottles per shipment hand selected by Amanda
Delivered every 2 months (1 wine/episode) / 6x per year
$120 + tax
Shipping Included
Cancel anytime
10% off all Wine Access purchases
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IG: @wineaccessunfiltered
Twitter: @wineaccesspod
Host: Amanda McCrossin
Shop all the wines at Wine Access
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We’re kicking off season four with our new theme “Unfiltered In Flight” and exploring wine the lens of travel. Whether it’s a wine producing region or a major city abroad, we’re focusing on how wine people experience the places they visit. To start, we’re returning to a region that’s both iconic and endlessly misunderstood: Napa Valley. Together with local sommelier Laura Koffer of Wine Access, who has called the valley home for more than a decade, we’re unpacking what Napa actually feels like beyond the tasting room. From Champagne-fueled nights and backyard picnics to tacos, beer, and the casual luxury that defines daily life in the valley, we break down Napa’s geography, appointment culture, and how to plan smarter tasting days, with one core takeaway in mind: the best Napa trips aren’t about doing more, they’re about doing it better. Wine Featured on This Episode: 2024 Bordo Mare Vermentino Las Brisas Vineyard 📣 Links and Mentions Wine Bars & Drinking Spots Cadet Wine Bar (Napa) Compline Wine Bar (Napa) Chispa (Yountville) Pancha’s (Yountville) Ana’s Cantina (St. Helena) Restaurants & Food St. Helena Charlie’s Gott’s Roadside The Charter Oak Brasswood Cook St. Helena PRESS Ray Ray’s Tacos Station (coffee/pastries) Model Bakery Yountville Bouchon Bistro Bottega Tacos Garcia (Taco Truck next to Pancha’s - cash only) Model Bakery (St. Helena) Napa Scala Osteria Don Giovanni A16 ZuZu Wineries & Wine Producers Opus One Promontory Inglenook Frog’s Leap Continuum Chappellet Brand Vineyard Hudson Ranch / Hudson Vineyards (Carneros) Beer Mad Fritz (Napa Valley) Hanabi Lager (Screaming Eagle winemaker) Russian River Brewing Company (Sonoma) Ernie’s Tin Bar (Sonoma; beer stop en route) Other, Logistics & Tips Oakville Grocery Adams Street Shipping (wine shipping service) Westwood Hills Park (hiking) Both State Park (hiking) Cameo Cinema Wild Vine Tours 📦 Join the Unfiltered Podcast Wine Club 4 bottles per shipment hand selected by Amanda Delivered every 2 months (1 wine/episode) / 6x per year $120 + tax Shipping Included Cancel anytime 10% off all Wine Access purchases Follow us on social! IG: @wineaccessunfiltered Twitter: @wineaccesspod Host: Amanda McCrossin Shop all the wines at Wine Access Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices