Cadet Wine & Beer Bar

When travelling in North Coast wine country, there are plenty of opportunities for blowout meals, but it’s rare to find a solid venue for an interesting bottle of wine in a more casual, patio/bar atmosphere. Cadet, located in downtown Napa scratches that itch, with a thoughtful, extensive wine list of largely unheralded, unadorned Californian wine next to European classics and more natural-focused bottles from around the world.

The wine offering is served next to small plates and snacks, but it’s a great place to explore new wines. You’re likely to rub shoulders with locals, tourists, and a fair amount of wine industry folks; the sort of causal exploration of wine that Cadet advocates for is exactly the sort of drinking that budding young wine professionals like to do to keep their palates sharp.