Co-founder Grove 45, Museion Wines & Custom Crush Facility
When Marcela Hernandez returned to her hometown of St. Helena from college in 2018, she put her University of Arizona business degree to the test—taking advantage of a grove of heritage olive trees on the family property to launch Grove 45 olive oil with her mother, Ana, in 2020. The two opened a chic olive oil tasting room on the Silverado Trail in Calistoga, where they added a custom crush facility and soon started making their own wines under the label Museion. The Grove 45 tasting room is now a hub of Up Valley activity, hosting everything from comedy nights and high tea to wreath making and wine industry events.
eat
I have two favorite restaurants. My absolute favorite is Solbar (above). They have this big pretzel for a huge caviar bowl with crème fraiche, chives, and eggs. To die for! For special occasions, I go to Auberge [du Soleil] (top of page). The restaurant is absolutely amazing with phenomenal views, great energy, fantastic bar. For breakfast, one my all-time favorites is Café Sarafornia. It’s a small, oldschool diner with the most amazing food. Their veggie scramble is fantastic!
stay
If someone my age [28] is coming in to visit, The Calistoga Motor Lodge (at right) just got remodeled and it is probably one of my new favorite hotels here. If they want to have a little more proximity to downtown and liveliness, I would definitely recommend The Archer because it puts you in the middle of everything. If my parents’ friends are coming in, I would recommend Solage.
play
When I go wine tasting, I’m looking for something different. One of my all-time favorites is Schramsberg. The tour takes you down into candlelit caves where you can see the whole process of champagne making. It is unlike anything else in the Napa Valley.
And, every year, I’m 100% going to BottleRock [music festival]. The artists are always phenomenal and the food is, like, all of Napa Valley’s best food in one place. My favorite food there? Easy peasy. Gerard’s Paella (pictured). It hits the spot when you’ve been walking around all day and [the weather] starts to get a little cold. You can get a little steaming-hot paella and you’re just sitting there cozied up and listening to music.
drink
For a night out, the absolute best bar in St. Helena has to be Goose & Gander. Their downstairs bar (at left) is so cool. It almost feels like you’re going to a speakeasy. The Negronis there are my absolute favorite. For nonalcoholic, I go for the Rosemary Jamaica at Pico Bar at Solage. It is a hibiscus tea sweetened with a special agave syrup and garnished with a little burnt rosemary to add to the aroma. I also love Solage’s Green Flash. So healthy. It’s my breakfast drink.
