Blog - Wine Country Getaways

A Vineyard Year

February 15, 2021 by joe 2 Comments

We miss the wine country of California. March will mark one year since our last trip to the wine country. We are inching closer to getting back to wine country visits. We will soon have both doses of the COVID vaccine and will feel much safer to travel. Masks will still be most important.

We enjoy watching this slide video that we put together several years ago. These are photos that I shot over many seasons of visiting the wine country. The slide show gives a brief glimpse of the four seasons in wine country. You will see that wine country is beautiful any time of the year.

Jazz musician Marc Cary provides the background music from his CD “Focus.” The title “Walk With Me” is so appropriate. Watch the video and walk with me through my rendition of the four seasons in the vineyards.

The Four Seasons in the Vineyards

Daffodil Hill in Wine Country

February 8, 2021 by Joe Becerra 1 Comment

Daffodil Hill near Sutter Creek

Daffodil Hill in Wine Country – Volcano, California

Amador County is a hot tourist destination for wine country travelers. There are many small boutique wineries to visit in the spectacular foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. But there is another attraction besides wineries worth seeing, Daffodil Hill in the very tiny town of Volcano. Timing is everything for Daffodil Hill! We always set aside the month of March to travel to the area. Sometimes, we are lucky and can see Daffodil Hill in full bloom. It all depends on the weather for bloom time.

There is said to be a possible 400,000 daffodil blooms. Daffodil Hill is a working ranch and is only open to visitors during the bloom season. The usual hours are 10am to 5pm daily. Check the Sutter Creek Association Website for complete details. We lodge and dine in Sutter Creek. We think it is the best town in Gold Country. From Sutter Creek, we have easy access to the wineries in Amador County and those of Fair Play in El Dorado County.

Daffodil Hill is a beautiful 13-mile drive from Sutter Creek. Once you are up at Daffodil Hill, there is plenty of free parking, and access to the Hill is free. Bring your camera along, and a tripod if you have one. It is a photographer’s delight. There is also a picnic area, so, if the day is nice, pack a lunch, sit among the Daffodils and enjoy Life.

As of February 2021, many wineries in Amador County and El Dorado County are open for outdoor tastings. Check our Wine Routes for this area. If you see a winery that interests you, call and find out if the winery is open for outdoor tastings. Above all, stay safe and wear that mask!

Wine Routes in Amador and El Dorado

sutter creek restaurants — The Gold Country town of Sutter Creek

Do You Know Napa Valley’s Big Three?

February 3, 2021 by Joe Becerra 3 Comments

I originally posted this article in 2017. As of this month in 2021, there are limited wine tasting opportunities in the Napa Valley. We can enjoy Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley and learn a few facts about these “Big Three” grapes at home.

Welcome to the world-famous Napa Valley.

Napa Valley’s Big Three – Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon

If you travel to the Napa Valley or consume Napa Valley wines, here is what you should know about Napa Valley’s “Big Three.” Let us begin with Chardonnay. Do you have your glass of Chardonnay in hand?

Napa Valley Chardonnay

Chardonnay accounts for 6,397 acres of vineyards in the Napa Valley. Chardonnay represents 15% of the vineyard acres in the Napa Valley. The average price per ton of Chardonnay grapes is $2,952. Among the “Big Three,” Chardonnay offers the winemaker the most flexibility in creating a wide range of flavor profiles. It can be produced in stainless steel, neutral oak barrels, and French or American oak. There are also different winemaking treatments, such as battonage and malolactic fermentation. The result is Chardonnay wine that can range in character from light and fruity to robust, with creamy butter and big oak flavors. Chardonnay tends to love cool climates and the Carneros region fits that environment. Hillside regions also offer cool climates, and many flavorful Chardonnays come from the hillside vineyards on Spring Mountain. One interesting idea is to try Chardonnay at the two extremes. Hendry Winery in the Napa Valley makes an unoaked Chardonnay. It is fermented and aged in stainless steel and not allowed to go through malolactic fermentation. Compare it to the Rombauer Carneros Chardonnay. This wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in barrel and spends nine months aging in American and French oak. The two wines show the versatility of Napa Valley Chardonnay.

Napa Valley Merlot

Now pour yourself a glass of Napa Valley Merlot. Today there are 4,707 acres of Merlot planted in the Napa Valley, fetching an average price of $3000 per ton. Merlot is a grape that grows well in many climates but it particularly likes climates with cooler temperatures like Carneros, Oak Knoll and mountain hillsides. In contrast to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot tends to be a softer and not as intense wine. Both are Bordeaux wines, Merlot being the grape of choice in the Right Bank of Bordeaux.

Merlot nearing harvest in the Napa Valley

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Now for the King of Grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon. Napa Valley has 20,342 acres (45% of the vineyard acreage) of Cabernet Sauvignon vines. The average price per ton is $6,289. This represents 64% of the total value of grapes in the Napa Valley. There are several “Cult Cabernet” producers of Cabernet Sauvignon. The price for these wines can be astronomical. Screaming Eagle, Harlan, and Bryant Family Vineyard are examples of highly sought-after Cabs selling at high prices. These wineries have a waiting list to get on the buying list. But there are affordable Cabs in the Napa Valley, and excellent Cabernets can be purchased for under $20. Black Stallion and Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet are two examples.

More information on the wines of the Napa Valley

When will we be able to travel safely to the Napa Valley? Perhaps mid-way through 2021? However, you can enjoy the “Big Three” wines of the Napa Valley in the comfort of your home. Enjoy and discover these famous wines of the Napa Valley.

Merlot grapes St. Emilion — Merlot grapes

photo of Joe and Janelle — Joe and Janelle – Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in St. Helena AVA

Napa Valley Hiking – Moore Creek Park

January 27, 2021 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

The late winter months present many days of quality hiking in the Napa Valley. The outdoors, with your mask in use, is safer than most activities in wine country. If you miss the wine country, try this hike. On the way to the hike entrance, you will drive by many beautiful vineyards and wineries.

Hiking in the Napa Valley – Moore Creek

It is not just all about wine and food in the Napa Valley. Among the many entertaining activities to enjoy in the Napa Valley, there are some fun and invigorating hikes that will soothe the soul. This hike, the Madrone Trail, is one we took last Sunday in Moore Park Creek, one of Napa County’s Open Space District Parks. The park entrance is about five miles from the Conn Creek Winery, where Highway 128 meets the Silverado Trail. Last Sunday was a beautiful day with bright sun basking hikers, dog walkers, and mountain bikers. Moore Creek is flowing, and Lake Hennessey is spilling over its banks. There is water everywhere. Take advantage of this winter’s heavy rainfall to view creeks and waterfalls flowing as they have not done in years.

Moore Creek

There are seven different hikes one can choose to take at Moore Creek Park. In all, there are fifteen miles of hiking trails. It is a fantastic way to start your day in the Napa Valley. The area is a combination of Oak Woodland and Chapparal.

Madrone Trail at Moore Creek Park

After completing your hike, some lunch and wine tasting are in order. Nearby is one of Napa Valley’s oldest wineries and an excellent spot for picnicking, wine tasting, and playing Bocce. It is the Nichelini Family Winery and Vineyards.

Helpful map to get you to the entrance at Moore Creek Park

Additional hiking trails in the Napa Valley

Alston Park – Napa
Robert Louis Stevenson State Park – Calistoga
Hikes in other wine country areas of California

J Lohr in Paso Robles

October 7, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

National Geographic and the Somm Journal are teaming up to present a virtual exploration of wineries worldwide. The series is “Unique Wine Regions of the World.” In the most recent virtual experience, J Lohr Vineyards & Wines represented the wine region of Paso Robles.

Paso Robles Wine Country

Paso Robles is one of our favorite wine regions to visit and explore. Paso Robles has eleven AVAs. The soil, terrain, and climate are suited for several different varieties of grapes. There are 200 plus wineries in the area, ranging from small and cozy to elaborate and luxurious hospitality centers.

Paso Robles and J Lohr — City Park in downtown Paso Robles

Paso Robles wine history began in the early 1970s. For many years, Zinfandel was the most notable wine, then came Cabernet Sauvignon. Now it is Rhone-style wines that are taking center stage in both white and red wines. Whatever your preference is in wines, you are likely to find it in Paso Robles.

The area is more relaxed than the Napa Valley. Things move at a slower pace. For us, the backroads are varied and beautiful. Around each bend, one finds something exciting to see.

The downtown area of Paso Robles is booming, even amid the COVID Pandemic. Restaurants and lodging establishments seem to be very busy with patrons. In short, there is much to explore for wine country lovers in this region.

J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines

J Lohr began in 1976, and its founder Jerry Lohr inspires the winery to produce quality wines from its 3000 acres of vines. Wine production is 1.5 million cases. In supermarkets across the U.S., we are likely to find the J Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon and the J Lohr Monterey Pinot Noir, among others. These wines are excellent values, and usually the price is around $15.

At the top of the line, and, in limited production, is the J Lohr single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, “Signature.” The grapes for this wine come from the Beck Vineyard. The elevation there is 1700 feet, and it has calcareous soils. The vineyard is in the path of the afternoon cooling breezes from the Pacific Ocean. All of this adds up to a delicious and world-class Cabernet Sauvignon.

Visiting J. Lohr and other Paso Robles wineries

The COVID Pandemic is affecting the way many Paso Robles wineries are having their wine tastings. Currently, the J Lohr winery is not accepting visitors. We hope the wine scene returns to normal in 2021.

In the meantime, many wineries are doing tastings in their outside areas. Most wineries require reservations. It is best to plan your trip to Paso Robles by checking with individual winery websites. Find out what their tasting room policy is before heading out.

Additional Paso Robles resources

Paso Robles wine country — Paso Robles Wine Map

The Fine Art of Wine

October 1, 2020 by Janelle Becerra 1 Comment

We recently became aware of the wine art by artist Cecilia Anastos. Please take a minute to read her Press Release and discover her art work. You would receive a discount on purchases made through Wine Country Getaways, and you’d be supporting service dogs for adults and children with disabilities. Thank You!

The Fine Art of Wine:

Every year in October, we celebrate wine culture in the Northern Hemisphere. Wine-making is an art and, in celebration of that art, artist Cecilia Anastos presents her collection of wine bottle paintings along with a special offer to members of Wine Country Getaways.

The full wine bottle paintings collection is available at https://www.ceciliaanastos.com/wine-bottle-collection.html

You will receive a 20% discount with coupon WCG2020. Ms. Anastos donates 10% of profit to the nonprofit True Blue Service Dogs, Inc. When you support the arts, you also support service dogs for adults and children with disabilities.

Ms. Anastos expresses her art with acrylic paintings and oil pastels on gallery wrapped canvas or acid free paper. She adds her Italian sense of humor to her artwork – some of the bottles are labeled with the names of The Untouchable men from the Prohibition era, others have the ethanol formula on the label. In 2016, Giorgio Castellani from the Castellani Family Estates in Pontedera, Italy, received a commissioned painting from the artist. The painting was a representation of Bacchus and it was made with Castellani wine.

“If Bacchus ever had a color he could claim for his own, it should surely be the shade of tannin on drunken lips, of John Keat’s ‘purple-stained mouth’, or perhaps even of Homer’s dangerously wine-dark sea.”
― Victoria Finlay

Ms. Anastos’ wine bottle collection of paintings is contemporary, figurative and Bohemian style. Most of the paintings in the wine bottle collection are ready to hang, and she offers free shipping in the US.

When asked to select two of her favorite works, she pointed to the Untouchables series, and the Flip Flop Brut.

At the end of the movie titled “The Untouchables,” only Elliott Ness and George Stone remained standing. The painting titled “Untouchables – Wallace and Malone Have Fallen” (2016) represents that.

In her Flip Flop Brut (2016), the label has the ethanol formula and she wanted to express the dichotomy of the elegance usually accompanied by a champagne bottle with the casual attire rendered by the flip flops.

Passion for creating unique paintings drives her inspiration. She is a self-taught artist. She learned long ago to trust the teacher within and to go to her inner world to fetch ideas for paintings.

You can subscribe to the artist’s monthly newsletter at www.ceciliaanastos.com. Follow the artist on Instagram @ceciliaanastosart; Twitter @AnastosCecilia and LinkedIn @ceciliaanastosart. She can be reached at cecilia@ceciliaanastos.com.

Exciting Virtual Wine Country Encounters

September 3, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

Each year we plan on taking a trip to a far off wine country or to a wine country we have not visited. With the Pandemic and other issues, travel afar is not possible. But we can see the world-famous wine country in a virtual experience. Here are some exciting virtual wine events to mark on your calendar.

virtual wine with National Geographic — Wine Country Around the Globe

Wine Country with National Geographic

The SOMM Journal, in partnership with National Geographic and SommCon are inviting consumers and wine professionals to a free one-of-a-kind wine tasting Webinar series called Geographic Digest.

Winemakers from all parts of the world will participate in a virtual seminar and wine tasting event. Through the company, BottleTribe, participants will be able to purchase some of the wines in advance of the Webinar.

The first webinar, “UNIQUE REGIONS OF THE WORLD,” will be on September 24, 2020: Wine, and thankfully great wine, is made today around the world. Eight winemakers from different wine countries around the world will be on hand to showcase wines unique to a particular landscape, soil, climate, and other factors. Although we cannot travel until a vaccine arrives, this can help us get through the doldrums of staying sheltered.

Juliette Monmousseau, CEO of Bouvet-Ladubay in the fertile Loire Valley will introduce a bottle fermented sparkler made from 100% Cabernet Franc.
From Germany’s Rheingau to a historic castle where only Riesling has been cultivated for over 300 years, Estate Manager/Managing Director, Stefan Doktor of Schloss Johannisberg will share a classic dry Riesling.
From the windswept sandy soils of Sardinia’s southern coast, we’ll taste the unique Carignano with Winemaking Consultant, Giorgio Marone of Agricola Punica.
From Napa Valley, Director of Winemaking, Ralf Holdenried, will introduce Black Stallion Estate Winery.
From Paso Robles, Director of Winemaking for J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines, Steve Peck will share their Signature Collection Cabernet Sauvignon.
Down the cool Pacific to Chile’s Cachapoal Valley we’ll taste a blend of five red French varieties grown in the foothills of the Andes, with Chief Winemaker, Cristian Vallejo of VIK Winery.
In Australia’s McLarenvale, Winemaker & Joint Managing Director, Richard Angove, Angove Family Winemakers, will dive into the deep purple hues of a single vineyard Shiraz.
And from Europe’s Atlantic coast, CEO Jorge Rosas of Ramos Pinto will take participants to the steep slopes of the Douro with a thoroughly unexpected flavor from one of Porto’s most historic producers.

Take the opportunity and pre-register now.

Duckhorn’s Cheese and Wine Event

Wine and Cheese Event on September 25 – 4 to 6 pm.

Enjoy three Point Reyes cheese delights matched with wines from the Migration, Goldeneye, and Calera labels. This is a virtual event which includes the cheese and wines sent to your home. The event host is Jill Giacomini Basch, a co-owner of Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. and the winemakers. The date is September 25, 4 to 6 pm. Complete details and Ticket Purchase information.

September is California Wine Month

how wine is made — Harvested grapes ready for the stainless steel fermenting tanks

There are many exciting virtual events taking place across all of California wine country. September is California Wine Month, with the grape harvest taking place all month long. Check the Virtual Event Calendar and see which ones meet your wine fancy. Take advantage of these one-of-a-kind special tastings. See California Wines

Cambados – Albariño Land

August 1, 2020 by joe 1 Comment

Coastal Cambados - Small plots of Albariño vineyards — Coastal Cambados – Small plots of Albariño vineyards

Harvest time in Cambados – Albariño

Update as of August 1, 2020

The tourist office in Santiago De Compostela recommended that if we had a chance, we should be sure to visit the town of Cambados, “It is the center of wine activity in the Rias Baixas.” We packed our bags and left our Parador in Pontevedra, heading towards Cambados for a day trip before heading south towards Madrid. It turned out to be an excellent recommendation. Our day in Cambados was enjoyable and exciting. However, if you are not a wine lover, the trip might not be that impressive.

Albariño grapes in bins — Albariño grapes waiting to be shipped to the winery

Cambados is on the Atlantic Coast, and it was a beautiful ride as we followed the coastline from Pontevedra to Cambados. Everything was green in the area – the hills, the fields, and the vineyards; we were in Green Spain. As we approached the town, we took a couple of side roads and spotted workers harvesting the grapes. Picking grapes in the Rias Baixas is so different from that of the Napa Valley or anywhere in California wine country.

The pace is slow and methodical. In California, the workers literally run with their containers, toss the grapes into a one-ton bin, and then rush back to fill their cartons. Here, the workers have one bin that they fill and then leave it on the ground. The containers are picked up later, placed on palattes, and brought to the winery on small trucks.

Workers stand to harvest the Albariño grapes

In the Rias Baixas, the grape pickers do not have to stoop or couch to pick the grapes which is unique to this area. All the clusters are above them. All the vines are high off the ground. Rias Baixas is a soggy and wet wine country, and the high trellis system protects the grapes from rot.

Martin Codax – Coop Winery

We drove by a winery, Bodega Martin Codax. The crush was at a fever pitch at this winery. Trucks arrived with palettes of grapes that were then positioned on conveyer belts where the bins were dumped and sent to equipment for de-stemming and crushing.

Martín Códax is a cooperative winery, with more than 1,400 small vineyard parcels farmed by 550 families around Cambados. While we watched, several individual growers came to the winery with their harvest. One was a woman who pulled up in a small truck with a palette of grapes. I asked if I could take her picture. She was so proud of the grapes. Her faced filled with joy as she picked up a cluster of grapes to show us. “Aquí, pruébalos, no tienen químicos, son dulces y deliciosos.” (“Here, taste them. They have no chemicals; they are sweet and delicious.”)

Cambados is a wine town, and during harvest the entire village celebrates.
There are many Vinotecas or wine shops, and they are all about Albarino wine. If you visit Santiago De Compostela, consider a side trip for a day or two to this beautiful area that loves their Albariño wine.

One of the many small growers who are part of the Martin Codax coop

Martin Codax Albariño

The Martin Codax Albariño wine is widely available in the U.S. The wines are imported by the Gallo Family. BevMo and Total Wine stores carry the entry level of the Martin Codax Albariño for about $15. You might want to give a glass a try while you read our blog. Thanks!

Pappa al Pomodoro – Our try at making this traditional Tuscan soup

July 29, 2020 by joe 2 Comments

Janelle and I published this article on making Pappa al Pomodoro several years ago. The timing is just perfect for reposting the item. The COVID virus has Wine folks cooking at home, making sourdough bread, and gardening. With fresh tomatoes and Basil in the Victory Garden, it all fits for making this delicious Tuscan Soup.

At the European Media Conference in Italy, we watched Andrea Gagnesi in his kitchen at Badia al Cotibuono in Chianti, prepare a wonderful traditional Tuscan soup, Pappa al Pomodoro. I’d never heard of Pappa al Pomodoro until then, but it is one commonly prepared in the homes of Tuscan villagers. We each got a small taste of the soup when it was done, and I knew then that I had to try making this soup at home. Well, we have made it twice now and although we love my rendition of the soup, it is not quite as good as the one Andrea Gagnesi made for us that evening. We will continue to tweak the recipe until we have mastered this dish.

Andrea Gagnesi prepares his version of Pappa al Pomodoro

The problem with the cooking demo was that Andrea moved quickly and never mentioned exact measurements for the ingredients used. Some of it had to do with his command of English and some it had to do with his master chef skills, tasting the dish as it cooked and making adjustments on the fly. We took loads of photographs at the demo and also watched a Vimeo video that one of the follow bloggers made, but we had to do some guesswork on the exact amounts of all ingredients. Here is our take on how to prepare and cook Pappa al Pomodoro, perfecto for any season of the year. This recipe serves 6.

Pappa al Pomodoro

Two baskets of grape tomatoes. – This is what Andrea used, whereas most recipes call for Roma or San Marzano tomatoes.
Half a loaf of day-old sourdough bread, crust removed – crumbled in the food processor
¾ cup red onion chopped fine
¾ cup carrot chopped fine
¾ cup celery chopped fine
4 tablespoons of olive oil
Two cloves garlic chopped
2-4 cups of vegetable broth
Fresh Basil leaves – 8 to 10
Salt and Pepper to taste

Process the grape tomatoes in a food processor to liquefy. Add a tablespoon of olive oil to the sauce, and then simmer the sauce in a pot until tomato sauce thickens – 60 minutes.

Add three tablespoons of olive oil. Sauté and caramelize the veggie mix of onions, carrots and celery (Sofrito). Use high heat to cook as quickly as possible. When the Sofrito is ready, add one or two cups of the tomato mixture and the chopped garlic. Cook until liquid is absorbed and the mixture is very thick – about two minutes.

Add a handful of crumbled bread and mix together until bread absorbs all. Then add the veggie broth and the remaining tomato sauce. Add more bread to thicken and then cook until the soup mixture is thick. Maybe 30 to 45 minutes at a simmer. If you want a thinner soup add more of the broth.

Five minutes before you serve the soup, add the fresh basil leaves. Andrea tore the leaves into small pieces. At the very end, add salt and pepper to taste.

Since the soup is thick with the bread, you don’t need a huge serving unless this is your main course. Serve about a cup to each person. You can also garnish with a few basil leaves. You must serve this dish with a beautiful Chianti wine.

Buon Appetito!

VinoPal is Here

July 21, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

Yes, the wine country is open. Tasting is outdoors and mostly by reservation. Visitors are back, but in fewer numbers. The fact is that small artisan wineries are hurting. The smaller wineries do not have the lavish outdoor tasting areas or big PR companies to promote their brand and bring in tourism.

The boutique wineries do not make a lot of wine and, because of this factor, there are no channels for distribution. They rely on tourists. They count on getting their wines into restaurants. How many boutique wineries will be able to survive by the time the Pandemic is over?

In Sonoma wine country, an idea grew to help the artisan wine producers. It is Vinopal. Vinopal and a select number of small wineries will partner to offer wine sales at distributor prices. Vinopal will enable these wineries to sell directly to the consumer and not to a middle-man. It is a Win-Win for both the winery and the wine consumer.

The consumer who joins Vinopal will be able to see a wine for sale each day. For example, the first wine on the docket is Red Car Sonoma Chardonnay. It has a 91-Point rating and lists for $38. The price on VinoPal is $26. Purchase four-to-six bottles, and shipping is free.

The consumer gets a great wine deal, and the winery keeps itself in business. WineCountryGetaways is working with Vinopal as an Affiliate. When a reader registers at Vinopal by clicking on the link below and later buys wine, we get a small commission. It will help us defray Web hosting and other business fees. You will be helping out the small wineries. Don’t let them be gobbled up by the big wine companies.

Join now: Link to Vinopal and today’s wine bargain.