California’s Napa Valley conjures up many images and memories for wine drinkers, even for those that haven’t made a visit to the country’s famed wine region. While everyone has a slightly different picture painted in their head, the idea of rolling hills, sun-soaked valleys, and sprawling vineyards are the typical thoughts that come to mind.

One New York based, food and wine loving reporter recently made the trip to Napa for the first time, where she packed a lifetime worth of winery visits, tastings, and restaurant stops into a single weekend. She provides a couple of highlights from the trip, including places to stay and recommended wineries to drop in on. For those that have made the Napa Valley visit, which wineries stand out amongst the rest, providing a friendly and delicious tasting experience?