Imagine sitting, overlooking the waves of green and gold vineyards, relaxing, worry-free in Wine Country as your EV charges. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Napa County is home to 355 ports at 150 charging stations, and that number is growing day by day as the California Energy Commission aims to triple that number by 2025. Beyond the 16 free public chargers in downtown Napa, several hotels, wineries and even the Napa Outlets have all added charge stations in recent years.
At the Carneros Resort and Spa, you can plug in and enjoy an afternoon of treatments on-site. Or make your way up to Yountville for a stay at the Napa Valley Lodge, charge your car while you lunch at the world-renown French Laundry or Bistro Jeanty (reservations needed). Head north up Highway 128 or the Silverado Trail, along a corridor of wineries with charging station options. Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford offers charging options while you dine or stay the night and Indian Hot Springs is a perfect landing pad (and hot springs soaking spot) if you want to explore the many wineries in St. Helena and Calistoga.
Nearby Sonoma County wineries and businesses have been equally proactive in building charging infrastructure. Ram’s Gate Winery offers sprawling vistas and lovely wines as you charge. On Highway 12, the Sonoma Mission Inn north of the town of Sonoma and Olea Hotel in Glen Ellen both have charge stations, as does Benziger Family Winery just outside of Glen Ellen. A full list of Sonoma County wineries with EV charge stations can be found here.
Kirsten Jones Neff is a journalist who writes about all things North Bay, with special attention to the environment and the region’s farmers, winemakers and food artisans. She also works and teaches in school gardens. Kirsten’s poetry collection, When The House Is Quiet, was nominated for the Northern California Book Award, and three of her poems received a Pushcart nomination. She lives in Novato with her husband and three children and tries to spend as much time as possible on our local mountains, beaches and waterways. For more on her work visit KirstenJonesNeff.Com.
