Michelin plans to start awarding one‑to‑three “grapes” to wineries in 2026. Napa and Sonoma producers could face fresh market pressure and new attention.

La Cheve owner Cinthya Cisneros has opened Con Amor Botanas y Tequila on Main Street, pairing remixed La Cheve dishes with a tequila-forward bar and local murals.

Oxbow Cheese & Wine Merchant will leave Oxbow Public Market on Dec. 31, 2025. Owner Peter Granoff says he’ll refocus on the Ferry Building and a new cheese concept next spring.

A new California law requires most store‑bought corn tortillas and masa products to be fortified with folic acid starting next week, with small bakers exempted. Officials say the aim is to reduce neural‑tube birth defects.

Napa Valley rolls out a 31‑day Restaurant Month in January with prix‑fixe menus, stay‑and‑dine packages and valley‑wide promotions. Reservations are recommended.

The Fink turns part of the Historic Napa Mill into a nautically dressed cocktail bar — salvaged boats, heavy brass portholes and a vintage piano anchor the room. Live music and late-night hours give downtown Napa a new spot to linger.

Eiko's will close its Oxbow Public Market stall after 11 years and consolidate operations downtown, citing declining visitor traffic and a shift in the market. The downtown restaurant will expand seafood offerings.

Jean‑Charles Boisset has closed Chateau Buena Vista and the JCB Tasting Salon, trimming his splashy Napa footprint as the collection reshapes its tasting strategy.

Cousins Ann Groux and Sheneen Brown opened Lil Sista’s Goody’s, a downtown Napa soul‑food restaurant serving shrimp and grits, oxtails and a popular Sunday buffet.

Three former Master Sommelier candidates say the Court of Master Sommeliers rushed a 2018 inquiry that stripped 23 titles; a jury trial in San Francisco will test those claims.

Calistoga Depot announced a short-term shutdown after owner Michael Madden said "March 8 will be our last day for now." A few vendors — including the Wine Collective and Earth & Sky Chocolates — will remain open.

Thomas Keller’s Burgers & Half Bottles turns an In‑N‑Out memory into a Yountville pop‑up with wagyu burgers, half‑bottles of wine and a vintage Brew Bus.

Juice House Co. will shutter its five Bay Area stores on April 4, founder Tiana Duvauchelle announced. Gift cards remain usable in‑store but refunds won't be offered.

A Michelin‑starred veteran from One Market has taken over Hestan Napa’s kitchen, bringing fine‑dining chops back to downtown Napa. The move pairs seasonal menus with Hestan wines.

A San Francisco investment firm bought the Cain label and stock after the Glass Fire; the mountain estate is being sold separately while winemaker Chris Howell stays on.

Normandie opened on Main Street with tableside soufflés, a martini bar and a wine program that mixes French classics with Napa bottles.

Heidi Barrett has opened La Sirena’s first public tasting room in Calistoga, pairing small-production wines with a gallery of her paintings.

Kollar Chocolates owner Chris Kollar announced the Yountville shop will close later this month. The store will remain open briefly as the team winds down operations.

Mobile tortillerías — full tortilla factories on wheels — have started popping up across Sonoma County, selling hot corn tortillas by the pound and reviving neighborhood food traditions.

Matthew Accarrino is consulting on Vetra and a casual café at The Elene in Napa, pairing Cal‑Italian cooking with a cycling program tied to the Napa Valley Vine Trail.

Addendum, Thomas Keller’s backyard takeout spot behind Ad Hoc in Yountville, reopened last Friday for weekends through Labor Day with pizza, fried chicken and new sandwiches.

Downtown Joe's has finished a yearlong remodel and debuted a Second Street terrace with river views, expanded menus and live‑music nights. The upgrade also sets up a future rooftop and bigger kitchen.