Napa Tour Days 1 & 2

Note: It is really Aug 18. We got back from our trip on the 14th--we loved it, had a great time, and took a total internet and news holiday. I must not really be addicted because I didn't miss it one bit. But I have spent an awful lot of time since our return catching up on "what I've missed" (salon.com, etc.) instead of immediately editing and posting the photos you all have been waiting for with bated breath. Sorry about that! Well, it's time to get off my butt and get to it. I've decided to backdate these entries so it won't be one big long one, and pretend I had online access the whole time.

What a luxury to live in a "hub" city. We had a direct flight to San Francisco from Cleveland and arrived before noon, when Mom and Ron picked us up (they had driven from Portland). We had a delicious lunch in a restaurant with water on 3 sides in Sausalito, window-shopped for a while, then took our time getting to Napa.

We stopped in at Bob & Sylvia's house (where Mom & Ron were staying for their B & B). We were just meeting them for the first time. Over iced tea and limeade on their patio, we got to know them a little, then took a little walk on the paved walking path behind their house.

We had dinner in a pub restaurant in downtown Napa. Even their pub had a pretty comprehensive wine list though I abstained. After dinner the folks dropped Paul & me off at Deborah's house (our B & B). She has a really sweet cat (Gracie) who even came in and slept on our pillow since we left the door cracked.

Today we went to Sterling Winery for our first tour. The winery is only accessible by sky tram! It was a beautiful view, although the thinness of the cable and the way the car swung in the breeze did make me feel a little anxious! Here is a view from the tram:

The winery, like so many buildings in Caifornia, looks like it was built 200+ years ago by Spanish missionaries--lots of stucco, terra-cotta tiles, and walkways bathed in Mediterranean sunlight. We went on a self-guided tour, where we learned how the different wines are made. I never knew that white wines were fermented slower and at a cooler temperature than red ones, for instance. We learned about the different kinds of oak used in the barrels and how different toastings of the wood adds flavor complexities to the wine. Here are some of the barrels. The technology for barrel making has hardly changed since the Middle ages.


**technical details intermission**

Alas, no matter what I do, Blogger has decided it doesn't want to let me post any more pics in this entry. Last time I got around this by posting them on my website and uploading them as links, but now it won't even let me do that! Boo. From now on, you'll have to click on the links to view.

**and now, back to our regular programming!**

After the tour, we emerged into the blinding sunlight on a terrace overlooking some of the vineyards.

Paul and I trying not to squint

Mom and Ron relaxing on a bench

The beautiful Sterling vineyard

The same vineyard, this time in a panorama view

And finally, it was time for our tastings! We found a table on the patio and tasted 5 different wines, starting with the light white, ending with full-bodied red and then a dessert wine. We got the server to take a picture of us. This is such a great picture!

Tasting

2 1/2 hours later, it was time to take the sky tram back down the hill. Check out how thin that cable looks!

We went to 2 more wineries. Someone in our party bought at least one bottle at every stop. One of them had a shaded picnic table area, where our tour guides unpacked a lovely lunch of artisan breads and cheeses, fruit, and oatmeal cookies (accompanied by wine, of course!)

Tonight we had a grilled homemade dinner at Deborah's and just sat outside on the patio and talked until after dark. Great food and great company!