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Air carrier JSX is now flying to Napa, just in time for harvest season.
The public charter jet service has expanded its Northern California routes to include non-stop flights to Napa County (APC), originating from either Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) or John Wayne Airport in Orange County (SNA). The first flights took off earlier this month and will run through November 17, with pricing starting from just $189 (one-way). JSX has existing flights from Burbank into Concord and Oakland, but the new routing will put guests directly into the heart of Wine Country, just minutes from their hotel or Airbnb.
As with all JSX flights, passengers enjoy a semi-private jet-style experience, where every seat offers aisle and window access with plenty of legroom (comparable to most domestic business class flights). The in-flight experience boasts a sleek and well-appointed cabin, attentive service, and gourmet snacks and complimentary wine (including occasional selections from the Napa region). JSX was also one of the first air travel companies to offer Starlink WiFi on its flights, and passengers can access the WiFi network for free. Starlink says its on-board WiFI delivers streaming-capable internet speeds that are as-fast, if not faster, than most homes and offices, allowing you to easily catch up on work (or a favorite show) while in the air.
The biggest selling point of JSX though, is the fast and seamless transfer to and from the airport. The new Napa flights fly into the efficient Napa County Airport, which is akin to a private aviation hanger more so than a large terminal. What that means: travelers can arrive just 20 minutes before their schedule departure and still make it on time for takeoff. There are no security lines or additional baggage drop-off checkpoints, and guests board right from the tarmac, up a small staircase to their waiting jet.
JSX will run four flights a week to and from Napa, on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. As part of an agreement with fixed-base operator Skyservice Napa, JSX will be operating temporarily from the county’s General Aviation Terminal, with plans to transition to a new facility and hangar of Skyservice when construction is complete.
The new JSX Napa flights come amidst a busy travel season for the California wine country. Recents stats from Expedia show lodging interest in Napa is up 25% year-over-year, driven in part “by new direct air routes into Napa County that are making the region more accessible to U.S. travelers.”
Another Expedia report adds that Napa is “a good dupe for Nice because both destinations offer a blend of scenic beauty and cultural richness,” noting that “Napa’s vineyards and countryside resemble the Mediterranean scenery.”
What to Do In Napa Valley This Year
There are a number of new and novel itineraries on offer in Napa this summer, whether you’re looking for wine tastings, fine dining or just a leisurely getaway. Chief among them is the Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Calistoga, where in-house restaurant Auro has retained its Michelin star, after first earning it eight months after opening its doors in October 2022.
Set upon a majestic terrace with Slim Aarons-style views of the five-acre property and vineyard below, the restaurant boasts hints of chef Rogelio Garcia’s Mexican upbringing combined with local ingredients, French techniques, and a “terroir-driven approach” (as detailed in his cookbook, “Convivir”). A recent chef’s table menu featured everything from a black trumpet mushroom tetela and cured amberjack with citrus aguachile, to a dry-aged wagyu, all accompanied by wine pairings curated by in-house sommelier Derek Stevenson.
Amazon
Convivir: Modern Mexican Cuisine in California’s Wine Country
Garcia’s personal story is also more poignant than ever, as an immigrant who started as a dishwasher in Yountville before rising up the ranks to cook at acclaimed institutions like Cyrus and The French Laundry, before making his way to Auro. The name “Auro” is a combination of “aura” and oro, the Spanish word for “gold.” It’s a fitting name for the restaurant, considering Garcia’s inspiring journey that has elevated him to the cream of the crop.
Four Seasons
Aside from Auro, the Four Seasons can arrange curated experiences at a number of local wineries, including an exclusive private tasting and picnic on Pritchard Hill at the Chappellet Estate Vineyard, known as one of Napa’s “Grand Cru” sites. The estate is known for its mountain-grown cabernet sauvignon, and Chappellet was one of the first wineries in Napa to achieve organic certification.
Guests at the Four Seasons can also choose to stay on the property, with winemaker dinners, guided tours and barrel tastings at the on-site Elusa Winery, known for its cabernet, petite sirah and sauvignon blanc. With the majority of grapes grown among the hotel grounds, just a few hundred yards from the tasting room, Elusa calls this a true “vine-to-glass experience.”
New this summer: guests can request a “Napa Valley dream drive” by borrowing a luxury vehicle from the Napa Valley Car Club. Started by a group of friends with a shared love of rally racing and hospitality, the NVCC offers individual or guided drives through wine country’s scenic backroads, with a fleet of car options that includes Ferraris, McLarens, Lamborghinis and Aston Martins, among others. The white glove experience can be extended to include a pickup from the Four Seasons resort or from APC airport (right off your JSX flight, natch).
Best Napa Valley Hotels: Where to Stay
Other Napa experiences worth considering include a trio of Relais & Chateaux properties, which have all earned marks of distinction from the globally-recognized luxury hotel and restaurant association (which celebrated its 70th anniversary last year).
Meadowood Napa Valley
Meadowood Napa Valley is a 250-acre estate as beloved for its spa program as it is for its wine program. Earning three Michelin keys in 2024, Meadowood offers an experience that is at once sprawling and intimate, with the property calling it a “wine-country approach to contemplation, leisure, celebration, and rest.”
Auberge du Soleil, meantime, presents a hillside escape overlooking a leafy canopy of vineyards, oak trees and olive trees below. The French name of the property translates to “Inn of the Sun,” and harks back to its inception as a place designed to “reflect a taste of Provence in California wine country.” With a world-renowned culinary program and only 50 rooms, the inn merges old world hospitality with modern-day luxuries for a memorable stay.
And The French Laundry continues to be a place to see and be seen, for both the jet set and political set alike. Despite its reputation for courting connoisseurs, the Thomas Keller restaurant maintains a sort of locals-only charm, with a rotating menu that’s as much inspired by French cuisine as it is by area farmers and foragers.
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The French Laundry, Per Se (The Thomas Keller Library)
The food program has also taken flight at Silverado Vineyards, a gem of a property nestled in the hills of Stags Leap District. Known for their cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc, merlot and chardonnay, Silverado now offers a number of food pairings to go along with its celebrated wine list. Among the most popular bookings: a white wine and caviar experience with Silverado’s flight of white wines served alongside a selection of caviar, house-made chips and crème fraîche. Guests can also book a “Legacy Cabernet Sauvignon” tasting, that offers pours of estate cabernets and library wine selections alongside a specially-prepared food pairing. Silverado’s recommendation: book a spot on the outdoor terrace, with sweeping vineyard views in front of you.
Stanly Ranch
A more modern escape awaits you at Stanly Ranch (above), opened in 2022 as an Auberge Resorts property on the Napa Valley side of the Carneros region. A wealth of experiences await you here, with the working ranch offering everything from olive oil tastings and guided hikes, to cocktail classes, perfumery workshops and even falconry. Tastings at the nearby Hudson Ranch offer up some of California’s best chardonnays.
As one of the newest properties to open in the region, expect brighter and lighter contemporary design details (think minimalist earth tones, exposed wood and organic textures), alongside activities for the whole family, or for city dwellers looking to get the most out of their time in the countryside.
Hilton’s Carneros Resort and Spa, meantime, offers up an elevated camp-style retreat in the heart of wine country. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the resort delivers a decidedly unhurried experience, with charming cabins, a cozy spa and unobstructed views for days. And if you fancy a drink: the celebrated Domaine Carneros is less than a mile away.
Hilton
When you’re ready to return to real life — though really, you can always take a piece, or bottle of Napa with you — JSX gets you home to Southern California in just about an hour’s time. The county airport and your semi-private charter awaits, a mere 15-minute ride from Carneros, making it just another stress-free and relaxing experience from a weekend that was surely full of them.
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