A Film Festival in Northern California Wine Country: The Napa Valley Film Festival

 

The Napa Valley Film Festival had its inaugural year in 2011. Jane was one of the lucky filmmakers to have one of her movies – Take Me Home – in the festival. (You can watch the film’s trailer here.)

The festival played movies in Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga. Their venues ranged from Napa’s Opera House to Calistoga’s Gliderport airplane hanger.

Here, Jade (Jane’s producing partner), Jane (producer), Sam Jaeger (writer/director/producer/actor) and Amber Jaeger (actor) give a Q&A after one of their screenings.

Q&A at Take Me Home Screening at Napa Valley Film Festival

Each night there were wine events to attend and a number of wineries offered free wine tastings in each of the four towns. It was a jam-packed week of activity and awesome wine and food.

There was so much going on at the festival but we found the wineries beckoning us to stop by. During the trip, we stopped at Kuleto Estate, Rubicon Estate Winery aka Inglenook, Robert Mondavi (the festival’s opening night party held here), Duckhorn, Grgich, Beaulieu Vineyard (BV), Honig, Round Pond (a filmmakers’ happy hour held here), Domaine Carneros, Clos Du Bois, Silverado, Cornerstone Cellars, Tamber Bey Vineyards, Casa Nuestra, Artesa, and the Francis Ford Coppola Winery (we even had dinner on their beautiful outdoor patio).

Round Pond Tasting Room Window

The food was incredible in Napa. We ate at the Bounty Hunter in Napa and had some of the best BBQ of our lives. The Beer Can Chicken and the Smokin’ BBQ platter with pulled pork, smoked brisket and bbq ribs were to die for. For wine, we went with the waitress’ recommendation of the Gus Rivers 2009 Napa Valley Red Wine Blend (90% Zin, 10% Merlot). Our tummies were extremely happy after that meal.

And then we had lunch at Bouchon (a Thomas Keller restaurant) and had the best croque madame and some pink champagne. Even the roadside burger joint Gott’s Roadside offers up spectacular fare, especially the garlic fries!

So if you enjoy wine and movies and great food, perhaps you should check out the Napa Valley Film Festival next year!