Activities

Inglenook and Charbono Revisited

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We recently celebrated the 40th wedding anniversary of friends with a dinner party. One of the guests, a wine collector, brought a 40-year-old bottle of Inglenook Charbono to celebrate the affair.

The bottle of 1968 Inglenook Charbono was decanted and allowed to sit one hour. After tasting the Charbono, we agreed that the wine was still fruity but maybe a little flat but that was okay because it was the thought that counted. What a great way to toast our friends with a wine from this famous Napa Valley winery made the same year as our friends were married. The bottle of wine also stimulated much conversation about the great days of Inglenook and the Charbono wine varietal.

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A Look at the “Paris Block” Chardonnay

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A few blog posts ago, we mentioned that nearly all the grapes that produced the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, the wine that won the “Judgment of Paris,” came from Sonoma County and not the Napa Valley. We found all this out at the Family Winemaker Event from Katie Bacigalupi. Her grandfather, Charles Bacigalupi, sold a portion of those grapes to Chateau Montelena. Those grapes are still there on the Bacigalupi Vineyards in the Russian River Valley. So when Katie offered to show us the vineyard, we took her up on the invitation.

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Napa Valley Reading Material

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Are you getting ready to travel to the Napa Valley? Here are four books on the Napa Valley that we think you might enjoy. Two are non-fiction books that give an excellent account of the history of Napa Valley, and the other two are light mysteries that take place in the Napa Valley. Choose one and enjoy reading poolside at your hotel or in the library room of your comfortable B&B.

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Too Many Tasting Rooms and Redevelopment Craziness in Napa!

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We took a stroll on Monday along the downtown streets of Napa and discovered that there have been a lot of changes since our last visit and more changes are brewing. We noticed that there are a few new tasting rooms and some old ones that have relocated. Our list now includes twelve tasting rooms and wine bars in the city of Napa. The Napa River Trail is open in a couple of locations and looks like it will be a great trail for walking, running and biking. Construction is all over the place with the Riverfront property the most visible. The architectural plans for this look really amazing and will really jazz up the area. The Riverfront property will be a combination of shops, restaurants, condos, and more tasting rooms and wine bars. Two big hotels are on their way, the Westin is under construction and the Ritz Carlton plans to break ground soon. The city planners must figure all this make Napa a destination spot and bring in a whole new slew of visitors.

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How to Avoid the Tourist Crowds in the Napa Valley

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Cafe Sarafornia best breakfas

The Napa Valley has more tourists visit each year than does Disneyland. Over five million people come annually to enjoy food, wine, and good times in the Napa Valley. If you are planning a trip to the Napa Valley between now and through harvest time, beware this is peak tourist season. But for the savvy … Read more

Julia Flynn Siler – The House of Mondavi

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Last Saturday we attended the Burlingame Foundation Luncheon. Julia Flynn Siler, the author of the House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty, was one of three featured authors. We did not attend so much to hear Julia but to support the Burlingame Library Foundation, but having Julia speak was a huge bonus. Her presentation was limited to 20 minutes but she gave us a fascinating account of her trials and tribulations in writing the book about one of the most famous families in the world of wine.

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House of Mondavi — Meet the Author

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We just read a great review of the “House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty” in the wine blog Vinography. The review reminded us that the author of this, Julia Flynn Siler, will be one of three featured authors at the Burlingame Library Foundation Book and Author Luncheon on Saturday, … Read more

Oxbow Public Market – Napa

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The Oxbow Market opened last month and we decided to visit the Market on our last trip to Napa. The Oxbow Market is much like the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market located in the Ferry Building on San Francisco’s waterfront. At the Oxbow Market, a select group of food and wine artisans have retail shops and … Read more

Two Big Events for Napa Valley Wineries

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Napa Valley Mustard Festival Every season in the Napa Valley has its own splendor. In the winter months, that splendor is the wild mustard. The mustard plant’s brilliant yellow flowers set against a gray winter sky brings a magical beauty to the dormant Napa Valley vineyards. The Napa Valley Mustard Festival is held each year … Read more

Napa Valley – News and Views

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Ceja Vineyards To Open Tasting Room in Napa One of our favorite wineries for many reasons is Ceja Vineyards. But, it is hidden and off the beaten path and only open by appointment. It is located at the very east end of Carneros. This Mexican family winery is making some great wines. While strolling along … Read more