Lynn Moore

Yountville is the perfect blend of small town charm and elite living. With Michelin stars lining the main drive you can enjoy the luxuries of this quaint this town without the pretentious underlining that usually comes along with such sophisticated experiences. The short distance of the town gives you the ability to stroll amongst chic boutiques and culinary hot spots without ever having to get in a car which is perfect if you want to stop into one the many tasting rooms this town has to offer.
If you fancy the outdoors, you will enjoy the serenity this town can have. With minimal traffic (besides the lines at Bouchon Bakery) you can stroll through the streets of Yountville, the infamous French Laundry garden or one of many vineyards located within the town in peace. Locals and guests of the town can also spend their time outdoors in the two parks with activities such as volleyball and bocce. For the cyclist coming through Yountville is the perfect take-off spot being set in between Highway 29 and Silverado Trail, either of those is perfect for a bike ride up valley with breath-taking sights of the vineyards.
Residents here find themselves outnumbered against the out of town visitors, but they seem to not be bothered by the constant influx of people during the busy season. Real life necessities like grocery stores and gas stations are not the best in Yountville. The one gas station closes early, but if you get there in time you can buy a nice bottle of wine, no Korbel sold here! Ranch Market is exactly what it is, a market. If you need to go grocery shopping you will need to head into St. Helena or Napa which are each about 15 minutes out of town in either direction.
Living in Yountville can make you feel like you’re on holiday every day. Keep in mind that the draw backs of this town are the lack of conveniences of big city living. If you can get past those things you can enjoy a lifestyle in which most people have to take vacation in order to experience.

As someone who has maintained an office in St. Helena for over 10 years and has lived in Napa for over 20, I can say with confidence that St Helena is a great place to live. St Helena maintains a great balance between small town feel and posh Napa Valley Experience. In St Helena, you will find charming character homes down every street along with large vineyard estates at the periphery of the town; and dozens of world class restaurants and wineries within walking distance. The neighbors are very friendly and family oriented; and because the population is small, It is truly a town where everyone knows one another. The only thing preventing me from giving St Helena a 5 star rating is it's distance from Napa, which is an extra 20-30 minutes; especially during high season when traffic heading up valley can be oppressive.