Those of you long-time readers will know we’re big fans of kicking back on a warm Summer evening with a cool Sauvignon Blanc in hand and a bit of live music to set the mood. When the setting for such activity happens to be smack-dab in the middle of one of the most historic Napa Valley wineries, you really can’t go wrong.

Image: Colbie Caillat performs in front of a packed house at the 2011 Summer Concert Series at Robert Mondavi Winery. Courtesy KRJ Photography

Yesterday, Robert Mondavi Winery announced the lineup for its 2013 Summer Concert Series, the 44th annual, and it will appeal to a wide range of music fans.

The opening concert is June 29th featuring Martina McBride and Lifehouse will perform on July 6th, followed by Huey Lewis headlining the Fume Blanc concert on July 12th. There are other performances as well, with all concerts starting at 7pm–find additional details on the Robert Mondavi Winery website.

If you’re looking for a little ‘east meets west’ cuisine in the heart of the Napa Valley, then you’re in luck.

Solage Calistoga is running a special Asian-inspired menu at Solbar Lounge now through March 31st. The menu is the creation of Chef Brandon Sharp and Chef Bradley Borchardt and it combines Asian flavors and techniques with regional ingredients.

Menu highlights include:

• Fried Chinese long beans with sea urchin mayonnaise and togarashi shichimi

• Crispy Dungeness Crab Rangoon with sweet chili-lime sauce

• Steam buns with Chiang Mai pork sausage, saw-tooth herb and Chinese mustard cream

• Korean-style charred beef shortribs with pear-ginger marinade and pickled jicama

• “Lucky Pig” – slow-roasted pork shoulder with black sesame crepes, pickled pineapple, Mongolian peanuts, lettuce cups and more

Chef Sharp was recently honored for the 4th time with a Michelin Star and he has honed his skills at Gary Danko in San Francisco, Restaurant August in New Orleans and the world-renowned French Laundry.

The team at Solbar was kind enough to share their Pork Shoulder Gyoza with Ponzu Sauce recipe so you adventurous types can give it a shot on your own:

Napa was recently named the happiest city in the US according to a University of Vermont analysis of tweets. We’ve said repeatedly that the downtown area has been going through a renaissance of sorts over the past several years.

Don’t believe it?

Check out the infographic below from the folks at DoNapa.com that highlights the ever growing number of “amenities and attractions” in the downtown area.

Late last year we caught up with acclaimed chef Cindy Pawlcyn to talk about the dining scene here in the valley and her latest venture, CP’s.

In the second part of our interview we got a bit more personal in an attempt to better understand the woman behind the success.

Q: What do you imagine yourself doing if you were not a chef/restaurateur?

Pawlcyn: I’d be a veterinarian or an organic farmer.

Q: What’s your favorite time of year in the Napa Valley (winter, spring, summer or fall) and why?

Pawlcyn: It’s tied. Fall is so beautiful with the excitement of harvest and the seasonal changes in the foods available. But I also love the light of spring and all the fresh, baby vegetables showing up.

Q: What are five things you always keep stocked in your personal pantry?

Pawlcyn: I always have sea salt, soy sauce, miso, black pepper, and of course, wine.

Thank you Chef!

You can find details on all of Pawlcyn’s cookbooks, including her newest “Cindy’s Supper Club”, on her website.

Bardessono Hotel and Spa in Yountville has introduced a new Happy Hour that is sure to appeal to guests and locals alike.

The hotel’s Lucy Restaurant & Bar, run by Executive Chef Victor Scargle, is featuring a happy hour from 4:30pm – 6:30pm Monday through Thursday.

Among the specials are half priced bottled beers, half priced wines by the glass, half priced food specials (for food listed at $10, $11, and $12) and more. A couple of our favorites are the Fritto Misto and the Duck Confit Mac-n-Cheese. Here’s the full happy hour menu.

Cindy Pawlcyn has spent some 30 years cultivating local gardens and restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area, with the Napa Valley a particular focus.

Her iconic Mustards Grill, which opened in the early 1980s, is one of the most recognized restaurants in the valley and Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen has long been a favorite of locals and visitors alike.

We recently asked Pawlcyn to share a bit more about her newest venture, Cindy Pawlcyn’s Wood Grill & Wine Bar (or CP’s for short), and more…

Q: How has the dining scene in the Napa Valley changed in the past 5-10 years?

Pawlcyn: It has exploded — there are tons of great places! With so many choices we all must be on our mark. This can be tough sometimes but it’s so much fun. I’m also seeing many new purveyors coming up, which makes cooking much more interesting.

Chef and restaurateur Cindy Pawlcyn signs copies of her cookbook in Yountville, CA (August 2009)

Pawlcyn: Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen is more eclectic with a menu of my favorite dishes from around the world. It is also more intimate, like being in someone’s home for lunch or dinner. Built in the 1800s, the building has wonderful character and was actually a former bordello!

Mustards Grill is a Napa Valley institution that we jokingly refer to as ‘truck stop deluxe.’ The food is hearty, upscale ‘meat and potatoes,’ with lots of fresh fish and of course loads of fresh produce from our huge restaurant garden. The space itself is cozy, elegant and always buzzing.

CP’s is more spacious and contemporary. Here I serve –my version of classic American fare including grilled and roasted dishes, pizzas, pasta and fresh salads. We also have a fantastic bar with really creative cocktails and an award-winning wine program including over 70 wines by the glass. When the weather is warm, the patio out back is the place to be – shaded by mulberry trees and with a big stone fireplace.

Q: Tell our readers about the “Vintner Splash” program…How did you come up with the concept and who has participated so far?

Pawlcyn: We were doing something similar at Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen but in a very informal way. It was so successful we decided to move it to a bigger venue like CP’s and let more people actually meet the winemakers. Every Saturday night we invite one of our acclaimed local vintners to pour complimentary splashes of their wine. Guests have the chance to meet the winemaker, ask questions about the wines, and also buy anything they taste.

We have been lucky to get Jim Barbour from Barbour Vineyards, Fritz Hatton from Arietta, Lily Oliver and John Berlin from El Molino, and Andy Ericson and Anne Favia from Favia. These are all very accomplished movers and shakers in the wine world. Vintner Splash is one of our most popular programs and we will definitely continue inviting in the valley’s talented winemakers.

Q: What’s the one thing you want a guest at CP’s to take away from the experience?

Pawlcyn: I want to exceed our guests’ expectations, which means making sure they leave with a full and satisfied belly! It’s a fun place, full of energy, especially during the holidays.

Stay tuned for part two of the interview.

With harvest 2012 and Thanksgiving now behind us, it’s time for the madness of the holiday season to kick into full gear.

This Saturday, December 1st, Robert Mondavi Winery will host a family friendly event, which is a rarity here in the valley.

Mondavi’s 2nd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Celebration will take place from 3pm – 5pm on Saturday at the winery in Oakville. We attended the first annual event last year with our two small kids and everyone had a blast–and the best part is it is for a good cause. Additional details below.

What: 2nd Annual Christmas Tree Lighting & Holiday Celebration
When: 3pm – 5pm on Saturday, December 1st
Where: Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville
How: Cost is $25 per person (kids 12 and under and Wine Club members are free), or you can bring food for the Napa Valley Food Bank and admission is free. All ticket proceeds benefit the Food Bank.
What is there to do: Watch the Christmas Tree lighting, enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, cheese, wine, carolers, carriage rides with Santa and more

The annual wine grape harvest started in mid-August here in the Napa Valley. Since that time, we’ve been collecting the photos, videos and status updates shared by local wineries from Carneros to Spring Mountain and everywhere in between.

The slideshow below (best viewed in anything BUT Internet Explorer) provides a week-by-week recap of the 2012 Napa Valley harvest.

Napa Valley Harvest 2012

The story of the 2012 Napa Valley wine grape harvest as told by wineries throughout the valley.

Storified by Trevor · Fri, Oct 26 2012 10:02:39

Pressing two tank off today. That means we have reached the halfway point #NVharvestChase Cellars

For coverage of the previous five years of harvest, visit the following:
Napa Valley harvest 2007
Napa Valley harvest 2008
Napa Valley harvest 2009
Napa Valley harvest 2010
Napa Valley harvest 2011

Last week the 2013 Michelin Guide bib gourmand picks for the San Francisco Bay Area were released and the Napa Valley was well represented. Today, Michelin shared details on its full 2013 guide for the Bay Area and once again, the Napa Valley was a shining star.

Only two Bay Area restaurants earned the coveted ‘three star’ rating; Thomas Keller’s French Laundry and The Restaurant at Meadowood.

All told, 13 Napa Valley restaurants were included in the 2013 guide (8 stars and 5 bib gourmand), down from 17 in 2012.

Here are the local establishments recognized with 2013 stars:

Three Stars “Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey”
The French Laundry in Yountville
The Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena

One Star “A very good restaurant in its category”
Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford
Bouchon in Yountville
La Toque in Napa
Redd in Yountville
Solbar in Calistoga
Terra in St. Helena

It’s obviously hard to argue with The French Laundry and The Restaurant at Meadowood. Among our other top picks from this list are La Toque and Terra.

What are your favorites?

Earlier this year we told you about the temporary closing, remodeling and eventual re-opening of the ever-popular Oakville Grocery in Oakville.

Now, for a little weekend fun we thought we’d share this slickly-produced video detailing the history and recent restoration of the iconic spot along Highway 29.