We rented a Ford Edge from Budget and it drove smoothly the entire weekend. A big shout-out to Budget for having a smooth check-in process and several choices available to us when we arrived.
We did some research for lodging (on Yelp, of course) and Jeff found an incredible B & B called The Inn on First. It is located on a lovely tree-shaded street near downtown Napa and is uber-charming. There truly is no other place to stay when visiting Napa I have decided. From our first e-mail welcoming us and and asking for our food issues or allergies to a lovely good-bye from the inn-keeper, The Inn on First is a traveler's dream lit up with considerable charm.
The cozy living area has a fireplace, comfy seating, travel and food magazines, fresh chocolate chip cookies, hot water for tea or cocoa, and port to warm your insides. Check Jeff out relaxing in the living room.
We stayed in the First Crush Room and found it to be a terrific respite from the craziness of our real life. A super comfortable king-sized bed, two easy chairs, fireplace, jacuzzi tub, split of champagne, and home-made chocolate truffles. Oh.. and that jacuzzi (or bathroom shower) is built comfortably for two. Our son stayed in the Budding Vine Room and it was just as magical with a queen-sized bed. Ambience is mostly everything but the breakfasts here are to die for! Jim is one of the most creative chefs on the planet. Think extraordinarily unique warm dishes such as breakfast chicken pot pie with flaky home-made puff pastry served with fresh fruit, warm doughnuts, and home-made granola. There is more, but telling you everything would deny you the pleasure of a wondrous surprise each and every morning. Jamie is a gracious innkeeper with a healthy knowledge of the Napa Valley, wineries, restaurants, and fun things to do. We had an idea of what we wanted to do and he helped us hone in on our final decisions. The surrounding area is lovely for a walk as you can see by the photos of the neighborhood below.
... and it's a short distance to downtown shopping and dining. Try the Bounty Hunter for chicken on a beer can or grilled steaks and bbq ribs and a huge wine selection. Or check out Carpe Diem for small plates and terrific food. If you want something casual head up to Gott's Roadside Stand for some of the best burgers ever. Lastly, the Napa Valley Toffee Company has the best milk and/or dark chocolate toffee you have ever tasted. You must drop in and grab a snack box for yourself. Don't blanche at the pricetag either. It's totally worth it.
I'll truly never stay anywhere else in Napa Valley. You can make a reservation for yourself here by checking out their website at www.theinnonfirst.com.
So what did we do all weekend you ask? We visited wineries of course.
First up was Hendry Winery located in Napa, and a lovely tour with Mr. George Hendry.
Now, we have been here once before with our good friends, the Ashtons, and wanted to introduce our son to the most knowledgeable winery tour we've ever done. George Hendry is passionate about his vineyards and his winery for good reason. He is welcoming and friendly and his expertise and honesty are the hallmark of this family-owned winery. The tasting is also quite informative and the wines are crisp, fruity, and delicious. Mr. Hendry is a foodie too and he gave us quite a few good mix and match tips for his wines. I'll never forget to 1) eat fatty foods with my higher tannin wines, 2) freeze my goat cheese for an hour before shredding, and 3) prepare more beef bourguinone. Sampled, purchased, sold, and packed for airplane travel. Fantastic! For tour reservations or to purchase their fine wines you can check them out at www.hendrywines.com.
Next up we headed over to Sonoma to visit Gundlach-Bundschu.
This darling winery is also family-owned and we love their German-style wines. The tasting room was quite crowded but we were invited to sample at the wine club bar - thanks GunBun for your friendliness and hospitality! The staff couldn't have been nicer and the wines were quite tasty, especially the Gewurztraminer and the Tempranillo. Can't wait to have them at home with our friends and family. Their website is www.gunbun.com.
We had a very tasty picnic lunch of cheeses and crackers from the Sonoma Cheese Factory (www.sonomacheesefactory.com) located right on the plaza in Sonoma. I got a chance to step into the Solano Mission here on the plaza as well. It is the northernmost mission on the California Mission Trail and I'd never stopped into it before. Lovely.
We tried a new winery after lunch and visited Bartholomew Park Winery in the midst of Bartholomew Park. This public park area is gorgeous! The wines were good as well and the servers were very friendly. We purchased their Sauvignon Blanc and their Zinfandel as well. You can check them out at www.bartpark.com. They are certainly worth a trip.
Day two took us out to Rombauer, one of our very favorite wineries. We love their Chardonnay and we are not big Chardonnay drinkers. Buttery, rich, crisp, and oaky - it's a lovely taste. Also quite good are their zinfandels. The big jammy tastes are tough to beat, so we brought home a few bottles of that as well.
The Rombauer patio is lovely with a gorgeous view of the valley and the Rombauer Gardens. Sampling these tasty wines can happen on the patio or inside the tasting room. Both offer exceptionally friendly hosts, exceptional wines, and a great view.
Look how happy Zach and I are after sampling their Chardonnay and their Zinfandel!
The Rombauer Gardens are meticulously maintained and a lovely place to picnic. Interestingly, the cookbook, "Joy of Cooking" was originally written by Mr. Rombauer's great aunt and it fits in very nicely with their vision here at the winery. Their website can be found at www.rombauer.com where you can plan your visit or purchase some of their delicious wines.
Off we went to Castello di Amarosa. This winery is owned and operated by the Sattui family so it's comprable in taste and ambience to the V.Sattui tasting rooms in St. Helena. The castle is marvelous and a terrific historic replication complete with vineyards and a view.
We loved wandering about and taking pictures before tasting in an underground cellar. The hosts here are friendly and similar to V.Sattui they allow you to taste and taste and taste. So... we bought and bought and bought. We picked up a few bottles of this and that and a half case of their Fantasia desert wine. Oh my goodness - velvety smooth and fruity deliciousness. Can't wait to share. Check out the castle at www.castellodiamorosa.com.
And on to Flora Springs, the Estate. Oh wow! We have sampled at their tasting room and wanted to try something different so we made reservations for the Estate. We are so happy that we did because their wines are that good. From start to finish, Travis made us feel welcome with his wit, humor, and considerable knowledge of the winery and their wines. Every single vintage was delicious and the side by side barrel comparison was enchanting. We know all about extended maceration and French vs. American Oak barrels now. Thanks, Travis!
I heartily recommend a visit to Flora Springs, either the tasting room on Hwy 29 or their Estate. We enjoyed their wines so much that we joined their wine club and look forward to receiving two bottles each shipment. The Estate tour requires a reservation, but you can drop in to the tasting room during open hours. Check out their website at www.florasprings.com.
We wanted to sample some sparkling wines so on our last day we visited both Mumm and Gloria Ferrer. Hint Hint Hint... stick to Mumm. The view is incredible, the staff is gracious, and the sparkling wines were pretty damn good. I never really felt a liking for sparkling wines, but Mumm has changed my mind. I guess I just never put it all together since many times champagne gives me a slight headache. These didn't. We sampled and shared and enjoyed the sunny day and the view from their patio. If you like sparkling, head here straightaway. Their website can be found at www. mummnapa.com. Check out the fun we had...
If you love wine, you may enjoy a trip to the Napa and/or Sonoma Valleys. If you can't make it there, visit some of these wineries' websites and get a glimpse of what they're all about. You can order wine directly from the website, sample them at a restaurant near you, or visit your local wine shop and chat about your personal likes and dislikes. A good sommelier is right around the corner!
Cheers to you,
Deb :)
Next up.... Waikiki Beach and the Island of Oahu
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