The first time Bottlerock came to the Napa Valley was in May 2013, and the headliners were; Kings of Leon, The Black Keys, and Zac Brown Band. Bottlerock is Napa Valley’s first large scale music festival that brings in over 120,000 attendees, and features over forty wineries.


I’ve attended Bottlerock every year since 2013. I started as General Admission for a few years and made my way up to Platinum VIP, which is the Crème de la crème of passes. Bottlerock gets better and better every year, and this year was especially amazing so I wanted to share with you guys what it’s like to be a Platinum VIP and my first year as a vegan at Bottlerock.

Platinum Perks

Platinum VIP Entrance

Platinum goers have parking in a separate lot located off of Silverado Trail with its own entrance to the festival. If you’re General Admission, VIP, Sky Deck, etc. You know the entrance in the front is a long, hot mess. In platinum you still need to get your bags checked and check your ID for the drink wristband. Once you get through, you are welcomed with a glass of Schramsberg sparkling wine, and immediately whisked away on a golf cart that takes you to the Platinum Lounge.


After scanning your platinum wristband to get into the platinum section, there are bathrooms and lockers, and the platinum meet and greet, where you can sign up to meet artists that were performing that day.


In the Platinum Tent, you will find lots of comfy lounge seating, high top tables and chairs, a bar that serves cocktails garnished with flowers and staff serving delicious food from Meadowood.

Platinum VIP Tent

In one corner there are chef's from  Meadowood serving additional food. To the left of them was an espresso bar, where you could get your jolt of energy and a couple of Samsung refrigerators stocked with bottles of water, coconut water, and coffees.




On the other side of the lounge tent you would find wine bars. Everyday there would be different speciality wineries pouring their wines. My drink of choice all weekend was the Schramsberg Sparkling wine. Does that surprise you? You can take the girl out of Napa but can’t take the Napa out of the girl.


Once I’ve had a snack and got my champagne refilled, it was time to head out into the crowd.

Platinum VIP Stage View

On the Jam Cellars stage, they have four viewing areas for Platinum: Very front to the right, middle section right behind VIP (which has a bar), upper deck view, and on stage. I watched Bruno Mars, Halsey, The Killers, and The Bleachers all in the middle area because it was never too crowded.

Vegan at Bottlerock

This was my first year attending Bottlerock as a vegan. I’m not going to lie I was a bit nervous that there wasn’t going to be much vegan food but to my surprise there was plenty of options available.

Tarla

Tarla is one of my favorite local lunch spots located in downtown Napa. Their hummus and pita bread is to die for! At Bottlerock they offered a chickpea pita wrap that was addictive! I asked for my wrap to have no aioli and no tzatziki to make it vegan. Ben and I probably ordered a total of six of these the whole weekend. I can’t wait to head back to Napa for another wrap at Tarla.

Tarla Chickpea Pita Wrap

Danny’s Vegan

Danny's vegan bottlerock booth

We spotted Danny’s Vegan booth on Sunday when we were walking through the Culinary Garden and had to have it! I remember seeing Danny’s Vegan at VegFest in Scottsdale but did not try it, so I’m really glad that they came to Bottlerock! By Sunday evening, most of the items were sold out, but we got to try the Pad Thai and the Spicy basil noodles. Both were so delicious!

danny's vegan pad thai

danny's vegan basil noodles

Strictly Vegan

I spotted Strictly Vegan when I was visiting my family’s booth Golden Harvest, and I just had to try their Reggae wrap. The wrap was the perfect mid afternoon snack, it was light and refreshing.

Strictly Vegan Raegae Wrap

Meadowood in the Platinum Lounge

Before Bottlerock, I got a message from a Chef from Meadowood letting me know that they would have vegan options for Ben and I in the platinum tent. I was thrilled and so thankful that everyday I would head straight to the lounge to eat first before heading out to check out the music. Everyday was different, really simple, and delicious. Thank you Meadowood for offering vegan options!


(Day 1: Tacos and mexican rice)


(Day 2: eggplant curry with basmatti rice and samosas)


(Day 3: Taste of the East, stir fryed vegetables with steam rice)

Highlights of Bottlerock 2018

 
 

Giada and Halsey on the Culinary Stage

Giada & Halsey

I have been a long time fan of Giada De Laurentiis, so I was really excited to see her live, in person cooking pasta along side Halsey at the Culinary stage! Halsey and Giada were a great duo, they were quirky, funny, and very entertaining. (Halsey didn’t know how to use Giada’s cheese grater)

Meeting Barry Bonds

Me and Barry

Backstage of the William’s Sonoma Culinary Stage there was a quaint little hangout area where they had drinks, food, a Moet Chandon champagne vending machine, ping pong table, and corn hole. Lots of celebrities, athletes, and famous chefs hung out in the area and that is when I got to meet the famous Barry Bonds. I have been a huge Barry Bonds fan since I was a little girl and it was such a highlight of my life to finally meet him!

The Killers

The Killers

I’ve had a long time love for Brandon Flowers and The Killers. I’ve seen them perform a couple years ago so I knew that they put on a good show. Seeing them again at Bottlerock just reminded me how much I love them and really enjoy their performance and energy.

Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars

I had asked everyone who they were most excited to see at Bottlerock and all votes went to Bruno Mars. OH EM GEE! Bruno Mars was so amazing! His performance was full of energy, all of his songs were a hit, and I loved that he and his dancers were all wearing different sports jerseys. Bruno Mars was definitely my favorite show and I’m really glad that he was the last act to close out Bottlerock 2018.