California’s iconic Napa Valley remains the ultimate spot for travelers in search of rustic-luxe hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, and cult wineries.

Since 2005, Burgundy-born Gilles de Chambure, director of wine education at Napa’s Meadowood resort, has arranged vineyard visits and tastings for guests and non-guests alike. Arrive during the fall harvest or in early spring for fewer crowds, and don’t miss his top picks.

Sweet Start: The brioches at Bouchon Bakery (breakfast for two $20) lure early risers, but de Chambure goes for the chocolatey bouchon.

Outward Bound: Try the three-hour hike along Calistoga’s Oat Hill Mine Trail. “It’s especially beautiful in spring, when the lupine is flowering,” says the sommelier.

Safe Passage: Napa Valley Tours & Transportation (707/251-9463; half-day from $300) has the best cars—sedans, limos, minibuses—and savvy drivers familiar with the back roads.

Sips with a View: Head to Howell Mountain and swirl a glass of ‘V’ Petit Verdot at Viader or a Cabernet Sauvignon at Cade. On the valley floor, Gargiulo Vineyards is “a magical place dotted with oak trees.”

New Pours: On de Chambure’s try-now list? The Albariño from Hendry, a Charbono from Robert Foley Vineyards, and a peachy Truchard Vineyards Roussane.

Insider’s Lunch: How to avoid the crush at pan-Asian Redd (lunch for two $60): “Walk in at noon and sit at the bar for the hamachi tartare.”

Off-Duty Dining: De Chambure is often on hand at the Restaurant at Meadowood, but for a more intimate meal, he opts for Terra (1345 Railroad Ave., St. Helena; 707/963-8931; dinner for two $132). His order? The cod in shiso broth, with Kurikomayama sake.

T+L’s Hotel Tips: Meadowood Napa Valley (doubles from $625) has epitomized Napa’s laid-back luxury for decades. Calistoga Ranch, an Auberge Resort (doubles from $750) feels like adult summer camp, with spa treatments and 157 acres laced with hiking trails. Or try Avia Napa (1450 First St., Napa; 866/644-2842; doubles from $229), in the city’s buzzing downtown.