But I used to enjoy smoking in great hotel lobbies. Too bad so many are disallowing the activity. A few wine-country restaurants permit cigar smoking in limited areas. Rhodes points out that both Mustards Grill in Yountville and Jeremiah Tower's new Stars Oakville Cafe in Oakville have smoking areas outside the restaurant. The elegant Auberge du Soleil resort in Rutherford allows smoking in the lounge and offers cigars at the reception desk.
Port is the obvious wine to accompany a cigar, but there are several other enticing options.
Rinaldi thinks that the subtle flavors of red wine and cigars are lost when combined. But there is no better wine to accompany a cigar than Port. Cognac and Armagnac are considered the best spirits to pair with cigars, because of their smoky, complex, woody flavors. A few vintners recommend grappa, along with Calvados, marc and applejack. For nonalcoholic tastes, Rhodes notes that premium, strongly brewed black coffee is an appropriate choice.