Napa Valley, CA

I love to travel plain and simple; some may say I am working on my bucket list.  My husband is not so inclined to travel, so I have to work on exciting trips that entice him as well.  One thing we have learned and has become our mantra is "The Journey is the Destination".

Jet Blue direct to San Francisco and going directly to Napa Valley was a good choice.  Driving 1.5 hour from San Francisco to Napa we had arrived.

      We stayed in the town of Napa. I was surprise to find it larger and far more developed than I imagined.  Still, there was a small historic downtown section.  We stayed in the Best Western Plus Inn at the Vines, which was a great budget call; the rooms were large, clean, and comfortable.  Being an early riser in a group that slept later, the location wasn't my favorite.  I would have enjoyed the hotel more if it had been closer to a little town to walk around.  It did give me the chance to talk to the front desk in the morning and find that they had many coupons for discounts at the local Napa restaurants, and also 2 for 1 wine tasting coupons. I recommend taking advantage of this, as wine tasting can add up at the end of your vacation. 

       

      Morning is the best part of my day.  I love to take photos and morning light is one of the best.  I might rethink the Napa location only to be closer perhaps somewhere half-way between Calistoga and Napa like Yountville, something closer to the vineyards.  I understand that in late August or early September they start picking the grapes in the early dawn so not to bruise the grapes.  We met a couple who went on a balloon ride that started at 5:30 in the morning and they remember seeing lights in the vineyards at that time.  That would have been lovely to see.  I love to take pictures and after each trip I will create a photo book.

      

     Vineyards on much of  Napa Hwy 29 stretch for miles with many bed and breakfast inns.  We quickly found that it was only 10 miles or 20 minutes to Yountville (a smaller quainter town) and then only another 10 miles up the road to the next town.  One article mention there are more than 50 wineries in a 5 mile radius on Hwy 29.  You will be amazed. We used Siri and Google Maps to get us around everywhere and she was on the money.

      

      Most vineyard wine tastings don't open until 10AM so no need to hurry out.  Planning ahead you can download apps to your smart phone for wine country or Napa Valley which  have coupons you can print, but be mindful to do this at home before you leave for vacation, as this can save you money.  We drove up to Calistoga on the Silverado Trail, a scenic and road less traveled with many wineries and much less traffic.  

         

      Calistoga was a very small town famous for the mud baths.  We shopped, went to the bakery, then stopped by Calistoga Chamber of Commerce getting tips, maps and names of some boutique wineries. Our first winery, Sterling Vineyard, had a sky tram and the view of the valley was a nice start.  The different stations for tasting were very relaxing.  The Sterling Aromatic White was light, my husband like the Riesling.

      Then it was off to Lava Vine Vineyard, a very small winery, down the road on the Silverado Hwy. The staff were engaging.  We tried four wines, but then they gave us a treat, and let us try the Knights Valley Cabernet Reserve-2010 (limited). Wow.  $100.00 a bottle and of course that was the one I liked the most.  To top it off no tasting fee because we bought wine in the end.  We walked away with the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon-2011 (200 limited case production). 

      

      Foley and Johnson in Rutherford, Napa Valley was a nice winery.  The wine tasting room was pleasant and the people were attentive.  We bought a Cabernet Sauvignon-2010.

      

     Chateau Montelena Winery was mentioned many times because of its beautiful Chinese garden and pond, but this winery was famous for helping put California at the forefront of the wine world.  When you arrive it’s very stunning.  In 1976 Chateau Montelena the "1973 Chardonnay", rated above all other wines, over four white burgundies.  The tasting included a Rose-2012, a Chardonnay-2012, a Caberne Sauvignon-2010, and a Cabernet Sauvegnon-2009.  The garden walk is relaxing.

      

      V. Sattui Winery, we were told won winery of the year, but it was a zoo.  We tried to stop, but change our minds and I hope we didn't miss much. Tour buses and everything.

      

      The first night we arrived in Napa we had a great dinner at UVA Trattoria & Bar. Great Italian, we shared a pinot noir by Sequana and just loved it. Sequana Russian River Valley Pinot Noir-2010 by James MacPhail Winemaker. Sequana is now part of The Hess Collection.  The Hess Winery a nice change not on Hwy 29, but up a hill, next to The Christian Brothers, Mont La Salle.   The tour is of the historic winery, including impressive contemporary art museum and the gardens also were quite beautiful.  A young lady took us on an informative tour and then to one of the oldest vineyards by the winery allowing us to taste the grapes on the vine.  The wine tasting to follow was just as nice, but then we had the pleasure of tasting “The Lion” ($125) - wow.  The pinot is not part of their tasting but they do sell it. We left happy buying a case of Sequana Pinot-2010 which they shipped when the weather cools down.

      It is the fourth day and we are leaving Napa going the long way through Sonoma Valley over to Hwy 101 up to Santa Rosa to Occidental.  This took us on the Bohemian Hwy up in the mountains.  We stopped had a late breakfast in Occidental and off to the Russian River Valley.  My friend Tim Luke shared a bottle at dinner one night of John Tyler Pinot Noir-2008 Russian River, Bacaigalupi Vineyard.  We enjoyed this wine so much that we went to this winery directly.  It was easy to find, the Bacaigalupi sisters were there making us feel like family. We tasted their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, two different years and bought the of Pinot Noir-2008 which they are shipping.  They tell you that the Bacaigalupi grapes were part of the mix in the wine that won in the “Judgement of Paris 1976”.  They also tell that they have grafted from that same vine and now are using it in their Chardonnay.  In hindsight I should have bought the Chardonnay.  There was not enough time for Russian River Valley.  I would have planned this better also.

    

      We tried so many wonderful wines.  We enjoyed the wine on the wine train, Roller Coast and The Foranger Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast with dinner at the Rutherford Grill.  Can you really have too much fun?  I enjoy wine the most in our group and could have gone a few more days but for the others they were ready for a change.  We had many recommendations that will have to wait until next time: Sbragia Vineyards, Z D Winery, Jazz Winery, Plump Jack Winery and Frank Family.

     

      We are off to Bodega Bay...more to follow.