So much so, that some days we feel like we were:
Our original plans had us traveling to the One and Only Palmilla in Los Cabos.
Unfortunately, Hurricane Odile forced us to select a new destination, so Napa Valley it was.
We worked with a butler service based in wine country and came up with an itinerary
that perfectly suited our needs/wants.
The result was a trip that gave us time to relax and unwind, time to sample
great wine and great food and, quite simply,
time to just enjoy one another's company in a beautiful backdrop.
It was spectacular.
Beware…adjective overload begins now :)
Beware…adjective overload begins now :)
As always, we are so very grateful for Nanny, who flew here (even despite her ebola concerns)
and took charge of our little ladies for nearly a week.
How can we thank you enough?
How can we thank you enough?
We landed in San Francisco Wednesday morning
and made a beeline straight for our hotel in Yountville.
The Villagio is not only super charming,
but also conveniently located within walking distance
but also conveniently located within walking distance
to many of the popular wine country restaurants,
as well as a bunch of tasting rooms, art galleries and outdoor trails.
I highly recommend Yountville for any Napa traveler.
One of the first things we noticed was the weather.
In one word: perfect. And it remained that way the entire trip.
Every morning was actually pretty chilly, but by 11 am, the sun was out and it was
what you'd describe as "a perfect weather day".
Apparently Napa Valley gets about 300 of those each year,
which is why the grapes do so well in this region.
That afternoon, after lunch at a local bistro named Hurley's,
we had our first tasting at the vineyard where my cousin Kit works,
Jessup Cellars. Our server treated us like part of the extended family
and set the tone for a wonderful visit.
He poured early and often and paired the wines with cheese, crackers and chocolate.
From there, we joined Kit for a cocktail at a nearby restaurant/bar.
Rounding out our first day was dinner at the Auberge d'Solei resort.
The outdoor patio overlooks all of scenic Napa Valley - though after so many glasses of wine,
any view probably would have been delightful ;)
Day two brought us first to Quintessa, probably my least favorite of the trip.
The wine, mostly Cab, was great, but nothing about this tasting really wowed us.
No worries though, from there, we headed to Chimney Rock upon the advice of Vic's client/friend.
We opted for an official tour at this vineyard, based upon its gorgeous grounds and its high profile.
We happened to be paired with a lovely older couple from Australia for the visit.
Our tour guide, a Napa local and former school teacher was so enthusiastic about the vineyard,
the Terlato family and the setting…you couldn't help but get excited yourself.
We were able to sample some grapes from the vine,
one of the few clusters that hadn't yet been harvested.
We also toured the room which held all the oak barrels where the wine is aged.
Then we got to the important stuff…the actual tasting.
The Aussie couple proved to be wine aficionados…
though more familiar with European wines, they were insightful, interesting
and also really fun. It made for a great hour or two in our little wine room.
Our last stop that day was to not to a vineyard, but to a wine collective.
Ma(i)sonry offers wine from dozens of local vineyards and allows you to
pick and choose which you want to taste.
Vic and I always ordered something separate, then shared with each other.
Vic and I always ordered something separate, then shared with each other.
We covered a lot of the menu that way.
The setting was an outdoor patio and garden - with several distinct areas for the groups on hand.
It had a really fun, relaxed vibe and music playing -
all this set the tone for a fun dinner still to come at Bottega.
Yum, yum, yum.
That place was hopping and for good reason - everything tasted amazing.
all this set the tone for a fun dinner still to come at Bottega.
Yum, yum, yum.
That place was hopping and for good reason - everything tasted amazing.
So, we paid a visit to the famous Oakville Grocery to stock up for a picnic.
A must-visit out in Napa, this gourmet grocer had just about any cheese, spread
or sandwich your stomach could dream up.
From there we got our bikes, got our map and set out.
until we got several miles into the trip.
We still had a LONG way to go, we somehow started traveling in the wrong direction,
Vic was sweating like crazy thanks to the super heavy backpack I made him wear,
and I was convinced my gears weren't working right.
Still miles from our next stop, we hit crisis mode.
So, we did what any logical couple would do when they faced hours of drinking along
miles of the Silverado Trail...we rode our bikes back to the rental store, turned them in,
had a big laugh and happily rode in a car for the rest of the afternoon.
Needless to say, we were super ready for a glass (or three) of wine once we arrived
at the lovely Rutherford Hill Winery.
Set atop a huge hill, it's known as once of the most popular places to picnic -
yet it's still very private and serene. You call ahead and they reserve a table for you.
First, you visit the tasting room and try four - five selections.
You pick your three favorite, then bring them outside for your picnic.
I could have stayed here all day long - great food, great wine and one cute hubby -
plus that view!
despite all those stunning acres you see in the pic below.
The family who owns this winery seems more than cool.
They hail from Nashville, where they made their fortune in the country music business.
That's why you see a makeshift stage right by the tree.
A week prior to our visit, they had all the Nashville who's who out to the vineyard
for a big harvest party bash - live music played all night long. How fun does that sound?
This label doesn't want anything to do with tons of tourists, they distribute only to wine club members,
so there's not even a sign to announce the winery, you just simply "hear" about it.
Our host, Gavin, was a great guy, and made the visit one of our favorites.
He was passionate about the wine
and kept giving us blind tastings to see if we could guess what we were drinking.
What a fun afternoon amidst such a gorgeous backdrop!
The chef ensured Vic and I got different offerings for each course, so we basically
covered the whole menu…and every bite of it was divine! What a meal!
Our last day there, we covered a lot of ground.
We hit up Odette and Robert Sinskey along the Silverado Trail first.
Then, we drove down to the Sonoma border for a favorite of mine, Domaine Carneros.
Bring on the bubbles!
The way to this girl's heart is surely champagne/prosecco,
so a whole hour or two devoted to sparkling wine was pretty great.
We sat outside on the patio - the grounds and chateau are quite impressive -
this is definitely a popular stomping ground.
Our server brought Vic some pinot along with the sparkling wine,
so he was a happy guy.
Can't say enough good things about this tasting.
so Vic could finish up the trip with his favorite red, pinot noir.
We sat outside, taking in the moment, taking in the day, feeling so thankful for a great trip.
Dinner at Morimoto's in Napa did not disappoint (this was one of the Iron Chefs),
and his food really is like a work of art …
plus it also tastes delish if you are any sort of sushi/fish fan.
And, with that, it was a wrap.
Happy #10 my love, what a wonderful time we had together.
XOXO
