The toast of CALIFORNIA

Love wine? Then raise a glass to Napa Valley’s vineyards, says Kira Agass

To say Napa Valley is the jewel in northern California’s crown would be an understatement. Although it’s just an hour’s drive from San Francisco on  America’s West Coast, there’s a very different pace of life here. Its laid-back, small-town feel ticks every box. Wine, of course. In fact, there are more than 400 wineries, with stunning hillside vineyards. Blue skies and blazing sun, yes. Friendly locals, definitely. Great nightlife – and the food… wow!

Film-star looks

We wasted no time getting down to business and headed straight to Hall Wines (hallwines.com) in St. Helena, a 150-year-old business producing classic bordeaux wines, including the Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon. Walking into the vineyard is like something out of a movie, so it’s no surprise that Napa was the setting for the 1998 film The Parent Trap, starring Lindsay Lohan.