do a wine tour in Napa Valley

Napa is absolutely fantastic! It’s so chill and gorgeous. Definitely my kind of thing. One day is not enough time to get the full experience. I will have to go back. We ended up doing two tours, Cakebread and Far Niente. I’ve probably ruined myself forever by going to Far Niente. I can’t imagine that any of the other vineyards will ever compare. All the wine was so delicious, particularly the Dolce. Everything was top of the line, from the caves to the garage of vintage cars. Far Niente is my new favorite. Too bad I’ll never be able to afford to drink it…ha!

I decided to meet Crystal & Sam in San Francisco at the end of May for a nice weekend visit. Looks like the Napa tour will happen sooner than I anticipated. I hope we visit Cakebread. They have the best Chardonnay!

We’ve rented a convertible in the summer, loads of fun but bumper to bumper if it is the weekend. Used to live just an hour away and made it there quickly. Now coming from Seattle it’s more of a planned event. We enjoy staying in Yountvile (had a very special birthday with friends at The French Laundry) and some great Inns with views of the wineries.

The food is so good in that area…if it’s not great they’re never going to make it. I have so many favorite restaurants.

I’m usually the designated driver, the $10+ tasting fees add up so others can do that. I like going to a wine bar in town by the hotel (walking) and trying there. But I do love visiting the different wineries because they’re so beautiful and great photo opps.

Anyway, the fall is my favorite time there. Less crowds and the colors are outstanding.

...On my own terms, I should say, so that I don’t end up at the place where Paul Giamatti drank the spit bucket in Sideways.

I’m so anxious to hop a plane to California this summer and make my way down from San Francisco to drink wine, but I know that I really need to educate myself some more about wine first. My husband’s best friend does winemaking at home (in his bedroom closet!), and he’s such a talker that every time I ask him to tell me about his latest creation, I get a thirty-minute lecture on the finer points of wine. So, yes, I’ve started learning. But I can’t deny that, five years ago, I was still saying “murrr-LOT” like the unrefined chick I am.