This weekend was our Napa Wine Tour. The weekend was everything I thought it would be…amazing! Friday evening, I met up with Ricky and Amy & Tom Crone in Oakland, California. We immediately started our drive out to wine country. The scenery was lovely and the company unmatchable.
We spent Friday night at a Napa restaurant called ZuZu, a tapas place. We ordered just about everything on the menu and enjoyed the local wine and fare and closed the place down. After dinner we hit up the local bar scene and enjoyed the band playing across the street (if you can call one guy with a poor voice and a guitar, singing into a bad sound system a band). We then made our way back to the HAUNTED Napa River Inn hotel. I can honestly say after the clock hit midnight, our nights are a blur. We did wake up to delicious breakfast serve to our room every morning…it was fantastic.
Our driver picked us up promptly at 9:30. We made our way to the first of our wineries. It was Jarvis, a cave winery. The tour was long but completely worth every minute. The whole wine making process is completed in a large (huge) cave. The Jarvis winemaking facility is totally contained within 45,000 square feet of cave tunneled into the scenic Vacas Mountains four miles east of the town of Napa. It is not only a visual work of art, but a technical masterpiece as well. It was awesome.
We thought the tunnels could not be beat…we were wrong. Our second stop was possibly one of the most breathtaking destinations I have ever experienced. We visited the Elan Winery, which is a home on top of Atlas Peak. Incredible people, wine and grounds. We spent hours enjoying the view, the wine, the cheese and the dog (Coco). This place was my favorite among the many we visited. If you have the opportunity…do not pass it up.
We continued the day of touring and drinking and using the spit bucket (a true wine lovers friend) …thanks to Larry our driver. Larry was an excellent driver and the perfect addition to the touring team. Plus, he was our “in” at Elan. He managed to keep us under control and maneuvered us all over Napa in our cream white Escalade.
We had a delightful dinner that night at Celadon. After a couple more bottles of local wine ( and closing the restaurant…again) we past out in our cold and haunted room at the Inn. Again, the nighttime was a blur, but we did wake up to a 50 degree room and a fireplace that magically turned itself on and off. Creepy!
The next day we packed and headed to San Francisco. We walked the wharf and enjoyed a large bowl of chowder and then ice cream at Ghirardelli chocolate store. Only after checking out the masses of seals (sea dogs or walruses…depending on your preference) that rest in the sun at Pier 39. Although the weather was chilly, we got some great pictures.
Before heading back to the airport, we made our way down Lombard Street, America’s crookedest street. To truly appreciate this, you have to see the pictures.
All in all, the entire trip was a success. Special thanks go out to the Crones (great planning, excellent ideas and wonderfully fun company) and Ricky, who initially came up with the wonderful idea. I love you babe!! See you in two weeks!
I leave you with a couple pictures and a desperate cry for someone to bring a Danish and freshly squeezed juice to my bed…I missed that this morning.
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