America’s favorite funny ladies are going on a girls trip. In Wine Country, first-time director Amy Poehler put a personal twist on the classic buddy comedy by assembling an all-star cast, including Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Ana Gasteyer, Maya Rudolph, Emily Spivey, and Paula Pell. Loosely based on a Napa Valley trip the actresses took for Dratch’s real-life 50th birthday, Wine Country explores the bonds of female friendship with plenty of delightful debauchery along the way.
The movie will debut in select theaters on May 8 followed by a Netflix release on May 10, but you don’t have to wait to get a taste of the vino-fueled fun. Take your own Napa Valley vacation inspired by the film’s locations and the actresses’ favorite wine country spots.
It’s not a wine country road trip without some good grape juice, and Napa Valley is home to some of the best in the world. In the film, the women pay a visit to Quintessa winery in Saint Helena located on the Silverado Trail. Just like Poehler and her pals, you can enjoy Quintessa’s picturesque 160 acres planted with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Carménère. You may want to splurge on the Quintessential Experience, which includes a tasting at the Dragon Hill pavilion and a tour of the massive wine caves, both of which are featured in prominently in the movie.
Wine Country also shot at Baldacci Family Winery in the Stags Leap District and Artesa Vineyards & Winery, which rests on a hilltop midway between downtown Napa and Sonoma. At the family-run Baldacci in Yountville, you can enjoy three different tasting experiences in an intimate setting. Artesa’s elevated location makes for stunning views: On clear days, visitors can see all the way to San Francisco. In an interview with Wine Spectator, Poehler named Artesa’s Albariño as one of her favorite wines: “The Albariño was playful, daring, and not afraid to cause a scene, and I was all in on that. Loved it. Highly recommend.”
The cast reportedly ate at the Italian comfort food spot Oenotri nearly every night while filming. Actresses also enjoyed a celebratory dinner at Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry, and a more low-key affair at the chef’s family-style spot Ad Hoc.
In the spirit of the film, which Poehler called “a love story to all the women in my life who hold me up,” you can punctuate your trip with visits to a few female-run eateries. For lunch, head to Mustards Grill where chef Cindy Pawlcyn has been creating bright and flavorful farm-to-table fare in a relaxed setting for more than 30 years. For dinner, enjoy the culinary stylings of rising star Katianna Hong who runs the kitchen at the acclaimed The Charter Oak.
In the movie, the women rent a Calistoga home from a kooky proprietor played by the incomparable Tina Fey. In real life, the actresses posted up at the Andaz Napa during filming—conveniently located across the street from the aforementioned Oenotri. Get a taste of cottage living (minus the crazy innkeeper) at Calistoga’s Aurora Park, featuring cozy abodes with private decks, or Chateau De Vie which offers a taste of the French countryside complete with lavender gardens.
Poehler told Wine Spectator that no girls trip is complete without “teary conversations in the hot tub [that] go into the deep end, as most female friendships do.” Get in that emotional soak at Indian Springs Resort and Spa or Golden Haven Natural Hot Springs where pools are fed by geothermal activity.
Wine Country will open in select theaters on May 8 before its May 10 Netflix release.
