Napa Valley, in the California wine country, is synonymous with the American good life. IMI Principal Ron Rasmussen, an avid wine collector, has visited countless times. “Napa is a special place,” he says. “Every vintner and winery has its own unique story.”

Indeed, the history of Napa and its more than 360 wineries is rich. And it all begins with the land. Running south to north, from the city of Napa through Calistoga, wine country encompasses a fertile valley surrounded by gentle mountains. The climate is warm, but the area is blessed with cool evening breezes—perfect for the production of superlative grapes, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon.

Whether or not you drink wine, most people agree that Napa Valley itself is gorgeous. The views of acre upon acre of lush green vines covering the valley floor are impressive, as are the graceful golden hills that line the valley, filled with grapevines reaching for the sun.

The landscape, combined with the vintners’ vast winemaking experience and passion for producing the finest wines that money can buy, make Napa one of the world’s most prestigious wine-producing regions. Add a wide selection of luxurious hotels and world-class restaurants, and the result is a vacation destination worthy of even the most discriminating traveler. “For those who enjoy great wine, particularly big reds, and fine dining, Napa is the perfect place to visit,” Rasmussen says.

Two of our favorite wineries for touring and tasting are Quintessa and Far Niente.

Quintessa is among the most modern wineries in Napa Valley. Its magnificent low-slung, curved edifice can be seen on the Silverado Trail, on the eastern side of the valley, just across from Auberge du Soleil, the renowned luxury inn/spa and restaurant. Quintessa is an entirely self-contained facility, with breathtaking natural surroundings that give it the look of a perfect painting. “This is basically a wine property consisting of many elements,” owner Agustin Huneeus says. “It is a vineyard, winery, residence, farming center and a spiritual place.”

Visitors begin their experience at Quintessa by passing through the entranceway’s 20-foot-tall glass doors, revealing an efficient working winery and abundance of natural light—more than is typically found inside a winery. The visual impact is stunning, but there’s more going on than just beautiful interior design. Everything within the Quintessa facility is built to make the winemaking process run smoothly. “Form did not prevail over function in any way,” Huneeus says. Following the architectural curves, hundreds of barrels line the walls and stretch away from the eye in an elegant curve. But these barrels are situated within easy reach of workers, who are continually racking, storing and adjusting the wines. All Quintessa barrels get recycled after a few years.

Tastings occur in the marble and slate enoteca (Italian for wine cellar), a lovely area where guests can enjoy vertical samplings of “Quintessa,” a Napa Valley red wine blend. The wine is rich and structured, offering layer upon layer of berries and jam. Simply put, it’s fantastic: “I hope everyone with a serious interest in wine visits,” says Huneeus.

A short, picturesque walk up a trail behind the winery reveals “Dragon’s Terrace,” an area of the vineyard producing some of Quintessa’s finest Cabernet grapes. The view is spectacular. Reservations are highly coveted at Quintessa, so it is best to make them in advance by calling (707) 967-1601.

On the west side of Napa Valley, across Highway 29, stands Far Niente, an historic winery with a rustic main building that appears to be straight out of a Tolkien novel. Built in 1885 amid 100 acres of vineyards and flowering gardens, the main facility is constructed right into the Oakville hillside and gleams from top to bottom, following a huge renovation that took almost 20 years to complete.

Behind Far Niente’s revitalization was the late Gil Nickel, who had a vision of restoring the original structure, which was abandoned at the onset of Prohibition and stood vacant for 60 years. Since re-establishing Far Niente in 1979, the Nickel family has restricted its winemaking to world-class Chardonnays and Cabernets only. In 2004, the winery opened to the public, offering tours a few times per day, Monday through Saturday.

While viewing Far Niente’s classic production area, guests find themselves also touring the first modern caves built in North America. More than 40,000 square feet of caverns house the winemaking facility, thousands of barrels and an exquisite library of wines.

Far Niente, which means “life without a care,” produces only two wines: a white Burgundian-style Chardonnay and a classic, balanced Napa Valley Cabernet—both of which are critically acclaimed. Visitors are offered a selection of vintages for comparison in the finely tailored tasting room, which is full of stately furniture, art and a sculptural spiral staircase.

Tours and tastings at Far Niente typically include only a few guests at a time, adding to the intimacy of the experience. To make reservations, call (707) 944-2861.