Alexis Traina identifies the most joyful and delicious corners of the verdant region
Interview by ELIZABETH VARNELL
To me, Napa Valley is a tapestry of interwoven tribes of multigenerational families, farmers, winemakers, chefs, and creatives bound to one another by a common esprit de corps and the pursuit of magic. Magic in the vineyards, the bottle, the glass — on the table, plate, drawing board. Magic that punctuates many of our collective daily ceremonies and rituals. We all have different reasons for coming here — the light, air, soil, vistas, sunsets, farmers, architecture, markets, and wineries. And also hotels, restaurants, menus, naughty trysts, coffee counters, bakeries, culinary purveyors, healers, churches, back roads, back alleys, tiny shops, and food trucks.
A favorite pastime is firing up old cars and taking them through the winding back roads of the valley. It’s pure day-cruiser heaven. Stay at AUBERGE DU SOLEIL for a splurge — it’s old-school and sublime. The VINTAGE HOUSE in Yountville is in the middle of everything.
My closet is full of VERONICA BEARD. Luckily, there’s a store in St. Helena. The pieces are the perfect uniform for an effortless, chic look. The NAPA VALLEY OIL FACTORY is my go-to for hostess gifts. Everything about a visit feels frozen in time — the shop, the crazy good packaging, and the even better product. I also insist on sending everyone to VINTAGE HOME in St. Helena. It’s the most beautiful shop for feathering a nest.
“We all have different reasons for coming here — the light, air, soil, vistas, sunsets.”
For dinner, BOUCHON, always. It’s chic, fun, delicious, and open late, with a genuinely interesting mix of people. I order the deviled eggs, Point Reyes oysters, and boudin blanc, paired with a beautiful glass of red. LEWIS CELLARS has big, bold, unforgettable bottles. They just opened a new tasting room and it’s well worth checking out. HUDSON RANCH has an artisanal, deeply immersive tasting experience.
Each year, my family counts down to BOTTLEROCK and FESTIVAL NAPA VALLEY. They have completely different crowds but equally extraordinary talent.
This place is a majestic 26-mile kingdom tucked away in Northern California, with an exquisite beauty that gives the most visually arresting corners of the earth a run for their money. Its vibrant community of residents, weekenders, and summer folk are bohemians, foodies, bon vivants, oenophiles, tastemakers, high rollers, and artists. Their creative fingerprints have enriched us all.
HiNote digital stationery messaging app founder Alexis Traina has recently introduced Monogram Club subscriptions designed for chic, personalized mobile communication.
This story originally appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of C Magazine.
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