Bistro Don Giovanni for lunch After a tour and tasting at Truchard Vineyards in Carneros on Thursday, we headed down to Bistro Don Giovanni for lunch. The Bistro is located near the town of Napa, just off Highway 29 on Howard Lane. Bistro Don Giovanni has been a fixture on the Napa Valley restaurant scene … Read more
Calistoga Inn The Calistoga Inn is looking good these days. It has been open about a year and half since a fire had forced it to close down. All is good these days and the Inn portion of the property and been re-done. The restaurant still looks the same old quaint and cozy spot and … Read more
Napa Valley Cabernet in November This is the same St. Helena vineyard I have been photographing since May. Napa Valley Cabernet in November is entering its dormant stage. The vines will now sleep until the warmth of the Spring days beckons the vines to once again do their magic and produce grapes for wine. Not … Read more
Thanksgiving in wine country A traditional activity for us is to travel to the Napa Valley or the Sonoma Wine Country the day after Thanksgiving. It seems that 90% of the time, the weather is sunny, clear, and the air is fresh. I took the above photo a few years back on November 28. The … Read more
Wine Tasting and Wine Hiking – Picchetti Winery Here is a nice idea, combine an outing of wine tasting with a day of hiking. This can be done at the Picchetti Winery located in the Santa Cruz Mountains in Cupertino. The Picchetti Winery is located on land owned by the Peninsula Open Space and is … Read more
Wine Country Paella It is Thanksgiving time and most of us talk turkey for the big feast. Why not a wine country Paella? The reason I call it that is because this is a common event among wineries to thank wine club members for all their support. This photo was taken at the Montemaggiore winery … Read more
Hit the Champagne Route This is the time of the year to begin stocking up on Champagne or sparkling wine. The holidays are upon us, and what better why to toast and celebrate this time of year but to lift and sip a good glass of Champagne or sparkling wine? When I say “hit the … Read more
Knights Valley Wine Road in the Fall Knights Valley is one of Sonoma County’s 16 designated wine appellations (American Viticultural Area). I shot this photo last November along Highway 128. I call it Knights Valley wine road because of the beautiful vineyards that you can see as you drive along Knights Valley. If you would like … Read more
Barrel tasting in wine country One educational activity a wine lover can experience is barrel tasting in wine country. Barrel tasting in wine country is a general term that wineries use for tasting wine that is aging either in a stainless steel tank, as seen in the photo, or taking a sample of wine from … Read more
Napa Valley Fall Colors It is time to view the Napa Valley Fall colors. November is a fabulous time to visit the Napa Valley. The harvest has been completed and things begin to slow down in the wine cellars of Napa. We have some gloriously sunny and clear days in November and those days bring … Read more