It’s difficult to say where you should begin your visit … an amazing wine-tasting experience at the Priest Ranch tasting room in Yountville or start with breakfast or lunch at The Kitchen at Priest Ranch. One thing is for sure, plan a day where you can experience both the food and the wines, including the incredible bacon-paired wine tasting!

The Kitchen at Priest Ranch

The Kitchen at Priest Ranch opened late in 2023. In a town renowned for its creative food and many prestigious restaurants, it’s no easy task to make an immediate impact and culinary buzz. Yet, KPR (as it’s referred to) has done just that.
The menu is creative, fun, adventurous, and oh, so yummy! Together, Executive Chef Dan Solomon and Sous Chef DJ Werning craft mouth-watering dishes whose descriptions will make it difficult to choose from. (Writer’s recommendation: Order different dishes to share and “yes” to the Smashburger.)

Start your day with breakfast (but don’t think just “bacon and eggs”). Choose from a selection featuring a Breakfast Gnocchi, Loaded Latke, and Gas Station Sandwich, among other intriguing menu items.  If you want something still on the “breakfast” side, try the French Toast Sticks, served with jam and maple syrup. Arranged like the game “pick up sticks,” this is fun, tasty finger food!

Whatever you choose, you’ll be eager to return to explore more. Prepare for an adventure in creative deliciousness.
If you have booked an early afternoon wine tasting at the Priest Ranch tasting room next door, you may want to arrive early and fortify yourself with lunch at KPR.

The house specialty has to be the KPR Smashburger! This mouth-watering sandwich has the meat overhanging the delicious Bouchon baked burger bun. DJ will explain (unless they are just too busy) how they came up with the recipe for this brisket and chuck blend, served with perfectly grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, and KPR sauce. It is unbelievably delicious. (Oh … do not forget the french fries!)

Salivate over the unique flavors of their Ham Panini sandwich with a Calabrian chili maple glaze! Truly one of a kind. Their Caesar Salad is served like a Caesar should be, with whole, crispy leaves of little gem lettuce lightly covered with breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese … it is meant to be picked up and eaten leaf by leaf.

The Kitchen offers a variety of creative, eclectic comfort food, each dish lovingly prepared to order.
The intimate indoor and outdoor settings provide ample seating for eating while enjoying a relaxed Napa vibe.
With their love for culinary art, Chef Dan and DJ want you to experience their passion with every bite you take.

The house specialty has to be the award-winning KPR Smashburger! This mouth-watering sandwich has the meat overhanging the delicious Bouchon baked burger bun. DJ will explain (unless they are just too busy) how they came up with the recipe for this brisket and chuck blend, served with perfectly grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, and KPR sauce. It is unbelievably delicious. (Oh … do not forget the french fries!)
Salivate over the unique flavors of their Ham Panini sandwich with a Calabrian chili maple glaze! Truly one of a kind. Their Caesar Salad is served like a Caesar should be, with whole, crispy leaves of little gem lettuce lightly covered with breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese … it is meant to be picked up and eaten leaf by leaf.
The Kitchen offers a variety of creative, eclectic comfort food, each dish lovingly prepared to order.  With their love for culinary art, Chef Dan and DJ want you to experience their passion with every bite you take.

Wine Tasting at Priest Ranch

Now that appetites have been sated, walk next door to the Priest Ranch tasting room for another  memorable experience.
Although relatively “new” on the Napa scene (the first vintage being in 2007), Priest Ranch’s reputation has been on a straight path up. Winemaker Cody Hurd, along with Director of Vineyard Operations Jake Knobloch, have many soil types, micro-climates, elevations, and separate vineyard blocks to work with to reflect the individual characteristics of the terroir and grape character. As Priest Ranch states, “Wines are made in the vineyard and crafted in the winery.”
Priest Ranch produces small-lot estate blends and single-varietal wines, focusing on Bordeaux varieties. In planning your visit, explore the various tastings and paired options that are available to experience. These are not your “usual” accompanied pairings, including among your choices a wine and caviar experience, a terroir (or “eat dirt”) experience and a special bacon and wine pairing.

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Bacon and Wine Experience

There is an expression, “Everything is better with bacon.” In this case, the “everything” is four selected Priest Ranch wines, each paired with a thick cut of pork belly bacon. Chef Dan has crafted flavors to pair with each wine, ensuring each delicately flavored piece of bacon* accentuates the individual characteristics and nuances of the complementary flavors of meat and wine.

*For non-meat eaters, maitake mushrooms may be substituted so that the full effect of the flavors can still be experienced.

During our recent bacon and wine experience, our host, Francisco Martinez (an unabashed plug for his knowledge of wine, food pairing, but most of all, his enthusiasm, sense of humor, and personality), explained, pair by pair, how the various glazes complemented bringing out the nuances of the individual wines. Our pairing included:
• Double Barrel (Merlot & Malbec) with a mango and mustard glaze
• Cabernet Sauvignon with a coffee and maple glaze
• Peacemaker (proprietary red blend) paired with a Guajillo chili glaze
• Coach Gun (a Bordeaux blend) paired with a Mediterranean dry rub

I’ve had bacon and wine before, but never have I had a pairing of wine and bacon highlighted with different flavor characteristics that brought out so many flavors of wine alongside the bacon. This is unique and memorable, demonstrating why and how Priest Ranch wines excel by themselves or alongside food.

Ready to “eat dirt”? Try the bold wine and chocolate pairing experience, featuring handcrafted “dirt” clumps by Chocolatier Chris Kollar, paired with Priest Ranch wines.

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Wine, bacon, and The Kitchen at Priest Ranch create a magical culinary symbiosis of food, wine, and flavors that present their individual personalities. On your next trip to Napa Valley, plan a trip to Yountville and include the chic and sophisticated Priest Ranch. Feel free to tell them I sent you. You won’t be disappointed.

Priest Ranch Tasting Room

The Kitchen at Priest Ranch