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High: Auberge du Soleil: There are few places in the world where going out for a hamburger can feel like a mini vacation. At this exclusive resort, tucked into the hills above the Silverado Trail, a onenight stay costs about $1,000. Head to the bar and you can spend .019 of that and soak up the 1 percent vibe. A short winding road takes you up to the restaurant, where you leave your car with the complimentary valet. Grab a table on the deck outside the bar, where you can take in the sweeping views while enjoying chef Robert Curry’s
1⁄3-pound grass-fed Wagyu beef burger served on house-made bun with a generous side of fries (no need to wrestle the plastic seals off the tiny jars of condiments — your waiter will be happy to oblige). Walk it off in the sculpture garden curated by Aerena Gallery (see the front desk for access). 180 Rutherford Hill Road, Rutherford, (800) 348-5406. www.aubergedusoleil. com. Bar menu available 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily.
Low: Gott’s Roadside: This James Beard Award-winning burger stand next to Napa’s Oxbow Public Market is an upscale take on fast food (meaning it’s not that fast and at $6.99 for a burger without fries not that cheap). But don’t expect anything fancy: Gott’s third-pound burger is wrapped in paper and served in a cardboard boat. The meat is cooked to medium-well (light pink) and garnished with iceberg lettuce, tomato, secret sauce and an optional blanket of gooey American cheese ($1 extra) on a squishy bun. The textures, flavors and ratios of meat, bread, lettuce, tomato and “secret sauce” are spot on. Enjoy it with one of the shakes made with Three Twins organic ice cream or, for a more adult pairing, glass of wine from a list featuring the valley’s top producers. 644 First St., Napa, (707) 224-6900. www.gotts.com. Lunch and dinner daily.