Bubbles at Domaine Carneros, Napa

Free bubbly, tram rides to a winery perched atop a hill and surprise tapas – here’s the best of the rest of our long weekend in wine country.

After our last trip, I was determined to seek out more sparkling wine houses. On the short list: Gloria Ferrer, Domaine Carneros, Domaine Chandon, Mumm Napa and Schramsberg. We made it to the first four, eschewing Schramsberg because of its exorbitant $45 tour/tasting fee.  Has anyone gone? Is it worth it? (Is any winery tour worth $90 per couple?)

I really do love all types of wine, but for my money and experience, there’s nothing better than sitting outside in the sunshine with a chilly champagne flute. At Gloria Ferrer, our server recognized the couple next to us, and from the conversation I overheard, it sounded like they were Friday afternoon regulars at the winery. Can you imagine? What better way to unwind at the end of a long week?

Read the rest of this entry →

We came for the Mongolian pork chop and stayed for the Pappy van Winkle. It wasn’t planned that way, but there’s the beauty of travel.

It was our second visit to Mustards Grill in Yountville, Cindy Pawlcyn’s highly-praised cafe right on Highway 29. The restaurant’s been described as “truck stop deluxe,” but it’s just entirely too classy for that designation.

We were given a table right away at the magic hour of 11:15 a.m., and as we sat, I realized Rob was beaming. “They have Pappy,” he said. “They have Pappy!”

Read the rest of this entry →

On Washington Street in Yountville, you can walk a half-mile and stop at four of celebrity chef Thomas Keller’s restaurants. It’s got to be convenient for Keller when he’s in town and not overseeing his other projects in New York, Beverly Hills and Las Vegas. It was certainly convenient for us.

You may remember The Unfortunate Drunken Mussels Incident from our December 2010 visit. I’ll certainly never forget it, but nearly two years out, it’s just funny to me now. And while we really liked Ad Hoc (and now own the beautiful cookbook,) I think we were a little bit gun-shy to return to that scene.

Read the rest of this entry →

As cliched as it sounds, I like to say, “Never coming home” when I vacation somewhere excellent. But there’s always a little part of me that misses my everyday familiar surroundings, my comfortable bed and not living out of a suitcase. Even at the end of our two-week honeymoon to Greece, I was missing my friends and family a bit.

But I can’t remember the last time I was so thoroughly disappointed to get on a flight home.

I believe people connect emotionally with travel destinations, and California wine country is one of my favorites for a reason. Our first trip in December 2010 was a relaxed, stress-free meander through the region, and though I didn’t think it possible, our second visit this month was even better.

Read the rest of this entry →