Napa Valley Museum

The small Napa Valley Museum (55 Presidents Circle, Yountville, 707/944-0500, www.napavalleymuseum.org [1], Wed.–Mon. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., $4.50) sits tucked away behind Domaine Chandon [2] on the other side of Highway 29 in Yountville. Here you’ll find perhaps the most complete description of the winemaking process available in all of Wine Country [3].

The main feature of the downstairs gallery is a big, high-tech, multimedia display that categorizes each step and month in the life of a wine (and a winemaker). If you’re interested in learning the details of the grape, plan on spending at least half an hour reading the left-hand wall. Next, you can test what you’ve learned with a variety of interactive “quizzes” on winemaking, and finally you can examine information about how different types of wine taste and how to eat and drink them.

A tiny exhibit tells the history of Napa Valley [4], from the earliest pioneers through the current wine boom. The upstairs gallery provides space for rotating exhibitions; you’re likely to find the work of local artists or art depicting food and wine.