Art and I just got back from Napa last night.
Today has been a day of playing catch up and laundry.
Art had a conference in San Diego last week and flew out on Sunday (Nov. 8). He has been in an organization for many years and we have made some really good friends through all of the traveling, dinners and meetings. One of the friends we have made has a home in Yountville, California in the Napa area. We, along with three other couples were invited to spend four days there with them after the conference in San Diego.
Nobody had to twist my arm!
I flew to San Francisco and met Art and another couple there in the airport and we drove to the house in Yountville. I have been two other times before, but each time was in the spring when everything was just starting to bloom. It was beautiful then, but I have to say that fall is giving springtime a run for its money. The leaves are changing on the trees and grapevines, the roses are still in full bloom and so are the other flowers. BEAUTIFUL!
The first night there, we went to eat at Farmstead, but because of the jet lag we called it a night after that.
On Friday we went to Bistro Jeanty for lunch.
(fried smelt appetizer)
(my lunch - tomato soup with puff pastry)
We stopped one of my favorite places, Oakville Grocery.
Wine tasting at Raymond Vineyards.
This place was very different than any other winery I have ever been to. It was very risqué and really not my cup of tea wine!
(See that mannequin in the background - I am not sure what that is about and what it has to do with wine tasting, but she was one of many mannequins in the wine tasting room. Creepy.)
We went to Revana Family Vineyard.
It is worth noting that the winery is owned by a cardiologist!
So cheers to good health!
(olive trees around the grapevines)
That night we went to Redd Wood for dinner.
Our friend knows the owner there and had a special tasting menu set up for us.
Delicious - but we were all misreable after the first course.
Have you ever tried fried lemons? They were in the calamari and were soooo good!
Friday morning we went to Castillo di Amorosa.
After walking the grounds and visiting the animals, we had a tour of the castle.
Lot's of interesting things to see...
Of course after the touring there was a little wine tasting involved.
If you follow me on Instgram you may have seen Gweniverie one of the winery cats. There is a second cat named Sir Lancelot, a yellow tabby, but he was a little shy. Gweniverie is 100% living a very large life. She roams the castle and sits on the tables in the wine tasting room.
We stopped by Gott's for lunch.
(Gott's was on Dinners Drive-ins and Dives so you know it's good!
We ended our winery tours with a visit to Del Dotto Vineyards and had a tour with the owner.
Saturday morning the six of us that were visiting got up and headed to San Francisco.
We spent the afternoon wandering around and visiting the piers.
(Alcatraz)
(sea lions)
We went out to eat one more time,
and went to bed early and because we had to be up and out of the hotel by 5 AM
Sunday morning.
Today, when I was walking around in my sweats at noon, I got hungry and started looking for a menu.
Back to reality.
5 comments:
What beautiful photos! I still have not been to Napa, but it is on the list to do soon. The grapevines in the fall look so pretty :-)
my husband and I are planning a trip to Yountville in the Spring..so very helpful!! Looked amazing!
Looks like y'all had an awesome time!
Loved all of your pictures! You are right, you can not be on a diet when visiting the Napa Valley....too many wonderful places to dine! It looks like you really hit some of the most fabulous places in the valley. I live in the bay area and Yountville is our go to spot when visiting that area. Fun post and super informative!
Oh my word...all. that. food. HEAVEN!!!
Post a Comment