Yountville Winter Scapes

"WinterScape" 1st annual celebration through January 2, 2011 combines the best of the season with the very best reason to visit this Michelin-rated six star dining & wine tasting  destination. A month-Long Winter Wonderland features a new Ice Skating Rink, Carriage Rides, Holiday Art & Performance, Wine, Dine and Hotel Packages! 

Yountville's annual procession of thousands of twinkling lights transform the town into a winter wonderland filled with carolers, elves, horse-drawn carriage rides and a visit from Santa Clause who arrives in the Napa Valley the day after Thanksgiving  to greet children as Yountville .

Set your compass pointing toward the sparkling vines and enough cult cabernet to keep the sky lit with reindeer & Santa's sleigh. The town's own brand of European ambiance mixed with classic California wine country beat spans the four-square mile village. Simple pleasures of the season with a line-up of new attractions, tours and hotel deals are calling you to come visit.

HIGHLIGHTS OF WINTERSCAPE –  Dec. 1–Jan. 2, 2011

ICE SKATING
Vintage Winter Pavilion
Dec. 11–Jan. 2, 2011

Ice Skating- Spin into the season skating under the stars in a clear-top tent infused with holiday music, festive trees and elaborate décor at V Marketplace.   This new attraction is certain to spark holiday cheer with a lively sidekick of food and drink venues. After 6 p.m., the Hot Toddy & Holiday Cocktail menu debuts. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. daily, December 11 – January 2nd. $12/adults; $8/children 8 & under. vmarketplace.com & yountville.com  (707) 944-8008.

CARRIAGE RIDES
Nov.27, Dec. 4, 11, 18 & 31, 2010

Carriage Rides – Saddle up this season with a team of stout Percheron and Shire horses leading a holiday-decorated carriage through Yountville's main artery – Washington Street – on weekends throughout December. (Nov. 27; Dec 4, 11, 18, 31). Complimentary.

DREAMS OF TOYLAND
Nov. 20, 2010 – Jan. 23, 2011

An exhibition inspiring the wonders of childhood past, renowned collector Dolph Gotelli brings a magical holiday to The Napa Valley Museum with  Old World toys, games, decorations and Victorian ornaments. $10/adults; member/children free. (707) 944-0500. napavalleymuseum.org

LINCOLN THEATER HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES

Cap off a day of play with a performance at the Lincoln Theater, home to the Napa Valley Symphony and a world-class venue seating 1,200. This season's line-up includes the Oak Ridge Boys Christmas Show (December 8) and the 10th anniversary of Napa Regional Dance Company's Nutcracker. (December 18 & 19). 707.944.9900.  

This magical time among the vines hits a high note with the opening of a seasonal ice skating arena, horse-drawn carriage rides, Dreams of Toyland exhibition, Yountville AVA wine and food tastings, vineyard bike tours and extended wine tasting hours.

2o% OFF SOME HOTEL ROOMS

Hotel properties offering savings up to 20 percent. For families, the town's tight-knit layout is a great safety net for teens. Couples can cash in on a variety of romantic romps from duet spa treatments to intimate repasts for two. WinterScape Hotel Packages – From Villagio Inn & Spa to the newly-minted LEED platinum Bardessono, deals for December are stocked with goodies including skating passes, prix-fixe dinners and a savings of up to 20 percent across the board. yountville.com

WINTERSCAPE WINE TASTING & HOLIDAY HOT LIST

With 10+ wine tasting venues along Washington Street, a taste of Yountville AVA is as easy as linking holiday lights. Many wineries are offering VIP tastings and specials during December. The new Somerston  wine tasting room's "WinterScape" deal includes complimentary tastings and food pairings for up to four people and 15 percent off all wine and merchandise. Special wine deals are also on tap at Goosecross Cellars  (goosecross.com) and Girard Winery (girardwinery.com), to name a few.

North Pole "Drink & Clink" – Weekends around the rink will include select Yountville AVA wine tasting (Fri./Sat.) showcasing the area's top producers and a Santa sommelier to keep the cheer flowing. A seasonal grazing menu will showcase heady roasted chestnuts, dim sum and pulled pork sliders – a perfect complement to the region's cabernets. yountvillewines.com

Biking in a Vineyard Wonderland – Kick-start the morning with a guided bike tour to four boutique wineries and a tasty catered picnic lunch via Napa Valley Bike Tours (napavalleybiketours.com).   Ride depart at 9:30 a.m., and are set at a casual pace of three- to five-miles between wineries on a verdant stretch of vine-swept country road. $125/person (normally $139; tasting fees not included), 707.944.2953, book "WinterScape package." 

ABOUT SEEING YOUNTVILLE

Yountville sits at the epicenter of the region's culinary scene sporting the Valley's top-ranked restaurants, 24+ wineries & producers and 11 lodging properties. An ideal base for the avid oenophile, Yountville offers the county's only hot air ballooning launch, five National Register of Historic Places sites, a microclimate pedigree with its own AVA, world-class shopping and performing arts. Street side, 20+ wineries and the region's top restaurants that include French Laundry, Bouchon Bakery, étoile,
Redd, Brix, Bistro Jeanty, Hurley's Restaurant & Bar, Bouchon, Pacific Blues and Napa Valley Grille, serve samples along Washington Street.

GETTING THERE

Located 55 mi./88 km. north of San Francisco, travelers can arrive via scenic Highway 29 or via Napa County Airport, Sacramento (SMF), Oakland (OAK) or San Francisco (SFO) international airports. For more information and travel inquiries, contact the Yountville Chamber of Commerce at 707.944.0904 or www.yountville.com.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.