And I in my kerchief, and Ma in her cap…. Had just settled down for a long winter’s Napa.

Hold it right there you say. Isn’t it nap? Not Napa? And, being that Flaunt calls sun-kissed L.A. home, isn’t it a little toasty out for kerchiefs and caps?

The best answer is no. We’ll explain. You see, in light of said sun-soak, there’s no need to nap in the winter months. There’s a need to drink boutique roses. There’s a need to treat yourself to spa remedies.  Thus, rather than growing pale and feeling sorry for ourselves, we abscond to our dear pal, Napa Valley, in its few weeks of “low season”—that little sans tourist sliver between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

There, we stay at the lovely Hotel Yountville, a mere skip from Mr Keller’s Bouchon, a handful of brilliant tasting rooms, and NV institution, Brix, whose oyster menu features little delights that have traveled a wee hour or two from ocean floor to your plate that very morn. The kerchiefs and caps part? Merely a sympathetic showing of solidarity with our gray fat-building brethren across the country.

Three recommendations:

1. A frank but knowledgeable driver called Claud who may or may not have spent decades in France’s Rhône Valley, here in Napa to discreetly experience the Cabernet Sauvignons that have embarrassed the wines of his native land in a handful of historic contests over the years.

2. Truffles. On everything.

3. After a night of fireside merrymaking at the Hotel Yountville’s wine bar, eat duck pancakes for breakfast at its on-site gastro-den, Hopper Creek Kitchen. Studies may or may not have shown that diets rich in duck fat before 11 AM reduce the risks of heart disease.

Written by Matthew Bedard