Review: The Best Hot Air Balloon Company In Yountville, Napa Valley

Floating 3000ft Above The Vineyards Of Napa Valley.

Imagine floating gently above the rolling vineyards of Napa, watching the first light of morning cover the valley like a veil. Slowly but surely, you sail through the air. No set course. No set destination. Just you, the views, and the wind to guide you.

We pulled into the parking lot in Yountville at 5:30 am sharp and watched as the setup dance ensued. Trucks unloaded propane tanks and large wicker baskets. The crew quickly unrolled a deflated balloon stretching the length of a semi-truck. Definitely not a balloon you would want to try and blow up yourself. Large fans whirled to life, slowly inflating the canopy. Then came the fire. Just like an injection of helium, it brought the balloon to an upright and full position.

This was our second time being lifted off the earth by a hot air balloon, but it was just as exciting. The blare of the burner cut through the silence and we were propelled into the air. Holding onto the edge of the wicker basket, we raced the rising sun into the sky, easily overcoming it in a few short seconds.

The vineyards of Napa Valley looked quite magical from 3000ft up, especially with the warm sun rays of morning illuminating grapevines green. It was only yesterday when we meandered through the vines closely admiring the ripening grapes. Now rows upon rows of vineyards stretched for miles before our eyes, giving us an entirely new perspective of Napa Valley’s picturesque landscape.

There is an art to flying a hot air balloon. Unlike other forms of flight, in a hot air balloon, you can only control up and down but have to rely on the wind to carry you left and right, forward and back. You go where the wind takes you. Our pilot looked out for subtle cues as we slowly drifted through the sky. The direction of the dust coming off a tractor below, the movement of the trees, and the path of other balloons in the air.

For an hour we floated south, basking in the 360 views of Yountville’s iconic landscape. We could see Mount St. Helena and the Mayacamas Mountain Range to the north and the sculptured terrain of the Vaca Range to the east. What a memorable experience.

Should you find yourself planning an escape to Napa Valley, make sure to stop by Yountville and add a hot air balloon ride to your itinerary with Napa Valley Aloft.