By now, you’ve realized our affinity for Napa Valley and all of its splendor. It’s Disneyland for adults, really. After a few visits here and there during the warm summertime and September crush season when wine and good times are just waiting to be had, we discovered a gem via Goose and Gander guru, Marcus Marquez, nestled in St. Helena of Napa Valley. This gem goes by the name of Cairdean Estate, a husband and wife run estate boasting vineyards, tasting rooms, an award-winning restaurant, a bakery, and a boutique. Enough to fill up a beautiful Napa afternoon.
The estate houses 4 unique businesses: the Cairdean Vineyards and Winery, The Farmer and the Fox, Butterscot’s Bakery, and Redolent Mercantile. Naturally our first stop was the tasting room at the Cairdean Winery. The winery hosts two tasting rooms, both wonderfully decorated with a unique palette of colors, textures, and furnishings. While we sipped from their prestigious cabernet and Malbec produced onsite, we took in the sights and the smells of this splendid piece of land. You can tell the owners put their whole hearts into developing the estate, with every detail carefully and wholeheartedly crafted and selected.
The Farmer and The Fox is an award-winning restaurant, famous for its rustic European style menu and environment. Mimicking the gastropubs most often found in England, some of its delicacies include glazed pork belly, hot & cold foie gras, and perfectly cooked duck breast. The eatery’s interior is just as beautiful as its rabbit pate dish—dark oak-paneled walls encompassed the room while a simple and elegant black and white check print marked the restaurant’s floors with warm lighting cast from bell-shaped pendants. Cozy, intimate, and delicious, we highly recommend The Farmer and The Fox at Cairdean Estate.
Luckily, we saved up enough room to grab a bite (or two) of dessert after a scrumptious meal. We headed to Butterscots Bakery, located on the Cairdean Estate. A quaint artisan bakery, Butterscots is every croissant lover’s dream. With fresh, local ingredients and a handmade philosophy, Butterscots serves up some of the most tantalizing treats in Napa Valley. If you find yourself in the area, pop in for a buttery éclair and espresso, or pick up some picnic snacks, like their marinated mushrooms or assortment of local artisan cheeses.
Now that we’re in prime wine-country time, there is little to nothing stopping you from visiting this one-stop winery. Tell us what you think!
