![\"Napa](\"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/NapaValley-e1582078866145.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
After our epic wine country day trip in July 2019 in Sonoma county<\/a>, we did a chocolateering trip through the Napa Valley in February 2020. We\u2019ve visited some of Napa Valley\u2019s chocolatiers<\/a>\u00a0before, but it\u2019s always good to find more and catch up with the others.<\/p>\n Chocolateering in wine country is like orienteering: Navigating through diverse, unfamiliar terrain. But it\u2019s better than orienteering because it includes chocolate rewards throughout the game.<\/p>\n The Napa Valley Trail is easy peasy:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Sonoma Chocolate Trail (covered in previous article<\/a>):<\/strong><\/p>\n Anette\u2019s Chocolates<\/a><\/strong> is a longtime Napa chocolatier making European style truffles, single origin bars, brittles, chocolate sauces, and just about every sweet treat imaginable, all in house. We\u2019ve visited twice now and have been unable to leave empty handed.<\/p>\n Vintage Sweet Shoppe<\/a><\/strong> is the only chocolatier in the Napa Valley that also makes their own wines. They offer chocolate and wine tastings featuring their wares. Plus they sell chocolate covered bottles of other Napa Valley wines, along with a full line of truffles and other chocolates and confections. They also offer ice cream, baked goods, and coffee drinks. In short, they offer most every non-living thing that could get your heart racing.<\/p>\n Oxbow Public Market houses upscale food stalls, foodie boutiques, a green grocer that stocks a lot of artisan chocolate, and the second location of veteran Napa chocolatier,\u00a0Anette\u2019s Chocolates<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n We checked out Hudson Greens & Goods<\/a> and walked away mighty impressed with their chocolate selection (and with a few things to try).<\/p>\n When we parked at the Oxbow Public Market, we noticed the CIA at Copia<\/a> building next door, which is a big multi-use complex dedicated to all things foodie. We decided to check out their store and found local Napa chocolate by Kollar Chocolates<\/a><\/strong> and K+M Extravirgin Chocolate<\/a><\/strong> for sale there.<\/p>\n Like walking into a chocolatier\u2019s shop in France, La For\u00eat Chocolate & Confections<\/a> <\/strong>was the best kind of find on our chocolateering trip. Cute shop, interesting chocolatier, beautiful wares, and lots of delicious interesting chocolate. And you don\u2019t have to travel all the way to France to enjoy it.<\/p>\n One of our recommended chocolatiers, Kollar Chocolates<\/strong><\/a> In January 2020, Kollar\u2019s founder and head chocolatier, Chris Kollar, was named Chopped Champion on Food Network\u2019s Chopped (season 44, episode 8), and his winning white miso truffle is available in the store.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve visited Kollar twice: In 2014, we were\u00a0awed by it all<\/a>. This time, we got to see the fun there<\/a>.<\/p>\n Finesse, The Store<\/a> is world famous, Michelin-starred Napa Valley Chef Thomas Keller\u2019s lifestyle store where you can buy his entire line of K+M Extravirgin Chocolate<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0bars. which contain minimally processed cacao and olive oil substituting for cocoa butter.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, it was closed the day we visited (a Tuesday), so we could only peek in the windows at its simple, almost bare, elegance.<\/p>\n Woodhouse Chocolate<\/a>\u2019s<\/strong> retail space looks very high end with crystal chandeliers and wall tapestries, but it includes a very kid friendly lineup of fun molded chocolates (elephants and troll dolls), sparkly \u201cunicorn bark,\u201d and cereal inspired bars, along with their more dignified truffles.<\/p>\n We first visited Woodhouse in 2014 and tried their truffles and other confections<\/a>. This time, we went for the bars, and found some very on-trend items<\/a>.<\/p>\n In addition to chocolatier Vintage Sweet Shoppe\u2019s chocolate & wine tastings, there are several wineries in Napa Valley that offer chocolate & wine tastings featuring local chocolate.<\/p>\n For more information on chocolate destinations \u2014 including wineries that offer chocolate & wine tastings \u2014 in Napa Valley, visit the Napa Valley DIY Tour page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
\n
Napa Valley DIY tour<\/h2>\n
![\"Anettes](\"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Anettesfeature.jpg\")
First destination: Anette\u2019s Chocolates flagship store<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"Vintage](\"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/VSSsign200.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSecond destination: Vintage Sweet Shoppe<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"Oxbow](\"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Oxbow300.jpg\")
Third destination: Oxbow Public Market<\/a><\/h3>\n
Sidetrack: The Store at CIA Copia<\/h4>\n
![\"la](\"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/la-foret-feature.png\")
Fourth destination: La For\u00eat<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"Kollar](\"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Kollar-300.png\")
Fifth destination: Kollar Chocolates<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"4-cup](\"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/cupicon2.png\")
<\/a> is a must-visit for both elegant and irreverent chocolate. Their truffles are stunning, and the poprock barks and chocolate owl maracas are pretty fun.<\/p>\n![\"Finesse,](\"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Finesse-feature.jpg\")
Sixth destination: Finesse, The Store<\/h3>\n
![\"Woodhouse](\"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Woodhouse300.jpg\")
Seventh destination: Woodhouse Chocolate<\/a><\/h3>\n
Napa Valley bonus<\/h3>\n