All Aboard: The Napa Valley Wine Train

Dahlings! Oh my dahling dahling readers! I have reached a whole new level of class and sophistication. I have ridden the Napa Valley Wine Train, my loves! I’ll give you a moment to let the jealousy wash over you.

Choo choo!

The wine train starts in Napa at the McKinstry Street Station and runs along Rt 29 to the quaint town of St. Helena. Along the way you are privy to amazing views of wineries and vineyards galore.  It’s almost like a scene out of “Under the Tuscan Sun” and I’m going to fall in love with an American writer traveling through Tuscany and we’ll live happily ever after! THE END.

Oh man, I wish.

As you can imagine, Jen and I jumped at the opportunity to ride the wine train (I mean, who wouldn’t!?), so we prepared in the only way we knew how: by rummaging through our old jewelry and clothes to find the perfect outfits. Jen channeled her grandmother, Caroline Amis, and brought class to a whole new level.

I channeled Big Bird and quickly realized that my dress matched the curtains on the train…

That’s a good thing right? I mean the car was the epitome of class!

Immediately after being seated in “Le Petit Gourmet” (our insanely decadent car), the friendly staff came around with warm, scented towels to cleanse our weary hands. They smelled of lavender, dreams, expectations and heavenly cleanliness; scents only appropriate for the wine train.

Tami, our affable and knowledgeable beanery queen (train speak for waitress, duh), came to introduce herself and tell us the specials.  Tami was THE BEST. Jen and I have a tendency to sing / talk, and Tami just joined right in! It was pure magic. Musical magic! This all made us even more excited for our afternoon sojourn.

We brought on a bottle of Upstart Crow Cabernet, but decided to purchase some wine instead / first. The wine train naturally has an excellent wine list available onboard, as well as beer and liquor. Since it was the afternoon, we went with a nice white: a delicious Whitehall Lane Sauvignon Blanc.

Cheers!

The wine train is not only famous for its wine selection, gorgeous views, friendly staff and occasional train whistle, but it is also known for its delicious gourmet food. Executive Chef Kelly Macdonald certainly did not disappoint! We were in the Gourmet Express, so that meant we were the recipients of an amazing three course meal on our three hour tour (three hour tour).

<—Click me!

Jen went with the Baby Lettuce Salad (with candied walnuts and smoked goat cheese in a honey cider vinaigrette) and the Seared Ahi Tuna Special (in a light beurre blanc sauce and some amazing veg).

MMM Salad

Shaky photo (we were moving!), delicious dish

I went with the Baby Lettuce Salad as well (it was too hot that day for soup!) and the Achiote Pork Tenderloin (on celery root mashed potatoes with sundried tomato apricot jam and some sautéed kale).

Can you say YUM?

The salad was fresh and each component stood out and danced on the palate like an Irish step dancer. The Ahi Tuna dish was the perfect summer dish for a leisurely train ride. It was sophisticated, smart and sinfully delicious. That tuna probably had a Ph.D. from the Awesome Palate Pleaser University. MOST LIKELY.

The Pork Tenderloin dish was out of this world (seriously, nothing missed the mark). The pork was cooked to perfection (and dare I say…tender) and the combination of celery root and mashed potatoes made me want to do a little jig on the train, but I didn’t want to “hit the grit” (old timey train talk for falling off). I have mentioned before that I’m clumsy, yes?

After our meal, we had to depart from our wonderful beanery queen, Tami, to head to another car to get our dessert. Tears were shed and hearts were broken! We’ll never forget you Tami!

As we were whisked away to our next portion of the adventure, we took a moment to take in the scenery.

Jen, gazing

Annie, cheers-ing

The final leg of our trip, the dessert ride, as I like to call it, was so relaxing. We needed coffee, port and some dessert wine to keep us going. In our dessert car there is also a wine tasting bar, where you can do a tasting of four wines for $10! They have a great variety of wines and knowledge of wines!

Wine!

Dessert!

Dessert Wine!

Again shaky – it was the train! Not the booze (it was the booze)

Ditto!

We then decided to open our bottle of Upstart Crow for the ride back. As you can imagine, things were starting to get really silly; we probably didn’t need to drink more, but why not! We were on the wine train for heaven’s sake! (FYI they charge $15 for corkage on the train…not too shabby).

The ride back felt like it happened in a snap.  AND BOOM! I saw the lights of the station on the horizon (or it was just the light reflecting off of the tracks…or my eyes playing tricks on me from the amount of wine I had consumed).

IS it?? Is it the end?

Sadly, it was the end.

Ta dah!

We had an amazing time on the wine train. The ride was perfect for a staycation event if you live in the valley or a vacation event if you don’t.

I just don’t know how Jen and I will go back to living our life regularly. SIGH. Farewell, dahlings. Fare-thee-well!