Any trip to California is not complete without touring the beautiful vineyards
of Napa Valley and Sonoma county.
We boarded a bus and traveled the scenic route to wine country.
Spectacular!
We were told that the San Francisco Bay area is usually covered with a blanket of fog.
Our overall temperatures proved spectacular scenic views of the city.
The nights were a cool 55 degrees, while the days were 70's to 80's.
No rain.
The locals informed us that September and October are the best times to visit.
I agree!
Today was the day we experienced a little bit of the famous fog.
We left the city around 9:00 AM via Gray Bus Line.
Our overall temperatures proved spectacular scenic views of the city.
The nights were a cool 55 degrees, while the days were 70's to 80's.
No rain.
The locals informed us that September and October are the best times to visit.
I agree!
Today was the day we experienced a little bit of the famous fog.
We left the city around 9:00 AM via Gray Bus Line.
Our first vineyard stop was Nicholson Ranch.
They are located at the intersection of Napa and Sonoma
where four of California's best appelations meet.
They are located at the intersection of Napa and Sonoma
where four of California's best appelations meet.
Nestled in the southern foothills of the Sonoma Valley,
the vineyards of Nicholson Ranch are planted
in one of the world's most prized grape-growing regions.
The Ranch enjoys a combination of soils, sloping hills and climate that is ideal for producing premium grapes for handcrafted Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah.
http://www.sonomacounty.com/wineries/nicholson-ranch-vineyards-and-winery
We were greeted with our first tasting of this outstanding wine.
Nicholson Ranch is most noted for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The chapel, nestled in the hillside, belongs to the Nicholson family,.
Family patriarch (and Greek immigrant) Socrates built the chapel for his daughter's christening.
He also built the small Greek amphitheater visitors see coming up the driveway.
http://www.sonoma-ca.com/wineries/nicholson.shtml
What is
"Estate Wine"?
100 percent of the wine must be made from grapes grown on land owned by the winery.
The winery must crush and ferment the grapes,
and then finish, bottle and age the wine on their own premises, and in a continuous process.
The wine may not leave the premises at any time during its production.
http://culinarytravel.about.com/od/wineryreviews/qt/What-Is-Estate-Wine.htm
The grapes are grown natually and sustainably.
All their wines are made from grapes grown on the 40 acre Estate,
fermented in small batches and aged for as long as three years in French oak barrels.
http://www.nicholsonranch.com/
The wine tasting room with a spectacular view.
Our next winery was
Madonna Estate
in Los Carneros- Napa Valley.
Madonna Vineyard is situated approximately 40 miles northeast of San Francisco in Carneros,
the first viticulture area north of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The name “Carneros” is Spanish for sheep, and was chosen for the region
(which encompasses both Napa and Sonoma counties)
because it referred to the many sheep ranches
that were once scattered throughout the area.
The borders of the Carneros appellation were drawn according to microclimate and soil characteristics, and many often say it looks like a bow tie when seen on a map.
http://www.madonnaestate.com/Madonna%20Estate:%20Vineyards
Since 1922 the Bartolucci Family has consistently created a perfect marriage
of grapes and wine at Madonna Estate,
of grapes and wine at Madonna Estate,
becoming the third oldest winemaking family in the Napa Valley.
http://www.madonnaestate.com/About%20Us
Madonna is an estate winery using 100 percent organically grown grapes.
In addition to organic farming, Andrea Bartolucci
believes dry farming is the best method to ensure maximum quality and grape flavor.
believes dry farming is the best method to ensure maximum quality and grape flavor.
Using the dry farming method the newly planted vines are irrigated only until they create an extensive root system. After the roots become established,
all irrigation lines are removed and the vines are left to fend for themselves.
For future moisture they rely only upon natural rainwater
creating a stronger vine with a deeper, thicker root system.
This method stresses the vines and lowers the grape tonnage
and produces smaller berries with more intense varietal characteristics
because they are not plump with water.
Lunch
in Yountville
Yountville is also the home to the
French Laundry,
a Michelin 3-star restaurant, and boasts numerous other Michelin star rated restaurants. Yountville is considered by many food critics to be home to some of the finest restaurants in the world.
It has earned the unofficial title of “Culinary Capital of the Napa Valley.”
http://www.townofyountville.com/about-yountville/town-history
in Yountville
Yountville is also the home to the
French Laundry,
a Michelin 3-star restaurant, and boasts numerous other Michelin star rated restaurants. Yountville is considered by many food critics to be home to some of the finest restaurants in the world.
It has earned the unofficial title of “Culinary Capital of the Napa Valley.”
http://www.townofyountville.com/about-yountville/town-history
There were several places to chose to have lunch.
We chose Pacific Blues.
The sun was shining and the temperatures were in the 70's.
What is not to like?
We chose Pacific Blues.
The sun was shining and the temperatures were in the 70's.
What is not to like?
I chose the salmon burger and was not disappointed.
A Little Shopping...
Strolling through the art galleries and chocolate shop.
Kollar Chocolates
Doug couldn't pass up the gelato.
On to our third winery
Sutter Home
This sculpture is on our way to Sutter Home Winery.
A 35-ft. tall stainless steel "Bunny Foo Foo" leaps along highway 29 in Hall Wines vineyard,
crafted from 3.3 metric tons of stainless steel.
“Bunny Foo Foo” takes his name from the children’s whimsical poem, which recounts
“Little Bunny Foo Foo/ hopping through the forest/
scooping field mice/and bopping them on the head.”
Just another little bit of trivia...
On to Sutter Home
A 35-ft. tall stainless steel "Bunny Foo Foo" leaps along highway 29 in Hall Wines vineyard,
crafted from 3.3 metric tons of stainless steel.
“Little Bunny Foo Foo/ hopping through the forest/
scooping field mice/and bopping them on the head.”
Warned three times by a good fairy to cut it out, or she will turn him into a goon,
Bunny Foo Foo ignores her, carries on with his bopping, and is turned into a goon.
The morale of this tale is: “Hare today, Goon tomorrow.”
http://napavalleyregister.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/bunny-foo-foo-traipses-upvalley/article_c83d9f66-ab22-11e3-a046-0019bb2963f4.html
Sutter Home Story
When the Trinchero family bought the Sutter Home Winery in 1948,
they had a vision, a passion, and apparently, an insight into consumer tastes.
In the early 1970s, Sutter Home started a trend when the company created
White Zinfandel, introducing a new, sweeter flavor profile.
changed the way Americans enjoyed wine by offering them
high-quality varietals at an affordable price.
By the 1980s and 1990s, Sutter Home became a household name
and the second largest independent family-run winery in the United States.
http://www.sutterhome.com/about#.V_fBSoWcHL8
When the Trinchero family bought the Sutter Home Winery in 1948,
they had a vision, a passion, and apparently, an insight into consumer tastes.
In the early 1970s, Sutter Home started a trend when the company created
White Zinfandel, introducing a new, sweeter flavor profile.
changed the way Americans enjoyed wine by offering them
high-quality varietals at an affordable price.
By the 1980s and 1990s, Sutter Home became a household name
and the second largest independent family-run winery in the United States.
http://www.sutterhome.com/about#.V_fBSoWcHL8
We are ready for our tasting.
White Zinfadel
(which is pink?)
White Zinfandel’s discovery is credited to Bob Trinchero of Trinchero Family Estates.
The discovery came about quite by accident.
In 1975, Sutter Home's White Zinfandel experienced a "stuck fermentation", a problem that occurs when the yeast dies out before consuming all of the sugar.
This problem juice was set aside. Some weeks later the winemaker tasted it,
and preferred this accidental result, which was a sweet pink wine.
This is the style that became popular and today is known as
White Zinfandel.
White Zinfandel’s discovery is credited to Bob Trinchero of Trinchero Family Estates.
The discovery came about quite by accident.
In 1975, Sutter Home's White Zinfandel experienced a "stuck fermentation", a problem that occurs when the yeast dies out before consuming all of the sugar.
This problem juice was set aside. Some weeks later the winemaker tasted it,
and preferred this accidental result, which was a sweet pink wine.
This is the style that became popular and today is known as
White Zinfandel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Zinfandel
The beautiful countryside on our return to San Francisco.
Here are grapes being transported across the Napa Valley.
A little fog is rolling in as we come back to the bay.
Going over The golden Gate Bridge back to our Inn at the Opera.
What is a road zipper?
Good question.
The Road Zipper is a highly specialized truck built by Lindsay Transportation Solutions
that can rapidly shift the barrier one lane over
to accommodate various traffic patterns throughout the day.
It’s no simple feat as each of the system’s 3,500 steel-reinforced barriers weighs 1,500 pounds.
http://laughingsquid.com/a-road-zipper-truck-moving-1500-pound-median-barriers-on-the-golden-gate-bridge/
For more than 50 years, a worker was forced to sit on the back of a truck and slowly drop plastic tubes to set out lanes on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Every day, their direction and positioning changes to account for commuter traffic, meaning an employee had to go through the arduous task every 24 hours.
But a new piece of mesmerizing machinery means the traffic set up the 1.7-mile San Francisco structure can be completed in a matter of minutes.
For more than 50 years, a worker was forced to sit on the back of a truck and slowly drop plastic tubes to set out lanes on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Every day, their direction and positioning changes to account for commuter traffic, meaning an employee had to go through the arduous task every 24 hours.
But a new piece of mesmerizing machinery means the traffic set up the 1.7-mile San Francisco structure can be completed in a matter of minutes.
The vehicle automatically lays and moves a lane barrier as it drives over the bridge.
I love the architecture of San Francisco.
This is a view downtown.
San Francisco is known worldwide for its particularly eclectic mix
of Victorian and modern architecture.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_San_Francisco
We arrived back to our Inn around 5:00 PM and crashed.
We experienced the beautiful vineyards and countryside of Napa Valley.
Another great day.
Bucket List...check!
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