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Cabernet Comes to Life

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Cabernet Comes to Life
Looking to the south – Cabernet Vineyard in the St. Helena AVA

Bud Break Cabernet Sauvignon

Late April to early May mark the time in the Napa Valley when its most famous grape awakens, Cabernet Sauvignon. Bud Break brings a special excitement to the wine country. The photos on this page were shot on April 17, 2019. The vineyard belongs to Ravana winery in St. Helena. Bud Break coincides with the beginning of tourist season in the Napa Valley. From now and through harvest are the most popular getaway times of the year in the Napa Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are typically ready for harvest in late September through early October. Harvest time depends on Mother Nature.

Bud Break - Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Bud Break – Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Calistoga Inn Revamps

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Beer Garden at the Calistoga Inn
The inviting Beer Garden at the Calistoga Inn

Calistoga Inn – Beer Garden

What a pleasant surprise! On our most recent trip to the Napa Valley, we discovered that one of our favorite Calistoga haunts has undergone a facelift both inside and out. The Calistoga Inn along with its brewpub, the Napa Valley Brewing Company, have a sparkling new look. The indoor restaurant has new furniture and decor while the outdoor eating area has an entirely new look.

The outdoor patio and beer garden is the main attraction. It looks fantastic and inviting. Caltrans recently widened Lincoln Street at the bridge adjacent to the Calistoga Inn. Owner Michael Dunsford took the opportunity to revamp the restaurant and brewery while the bridge construction was in process.

Calistoga is at the Northern end of the Napa Valley. It is surrounded by beautiful vineyards, mountains, and of course wineries.

More on Calistoga

Wine Friends at Cedarville Vineyard

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our wine outing at Cedarville Vineyard
In the back row, on the right, Jonathan Lachs and Susan Marks. Owners & Winemakers at Cedarville Vineyard – Photo is courtesy of Kris Cannon Photography

An Afternoon at Cedarville Vineyards

A visit to Cedarville Vineyard is an annual affair with our close friends. 2019 marks the 16th year in a row that we have made the trek up to Fair Play, CA to visit with Susan Marks and Jonathan Lacks. We return year after year because Susan and Jonathan are wonderful hosts and make amazing wines.

We lodge in Sutter Creek at the Hanford House Inn, it is about a 35-minute drive to Fair Play and Cedarville. We always make arrangements with Susan and Jonathan to meet with them during the lunch hour. We taste wines and enjoy our picnic lunch with glasses of excellent Cedarville. This last visit we were lucky to be able to enjoy eating outside. Some winters and early spring times the weather is cold at an elevation of 2000 feet. What more can you ask for, friends, good food, and great wine?

If you would like to enjoy Cedarville Vineyard, make an appointment and enjoy delicious wines. This is one of Hidden Wine Country’s best kept secrets.

cedarville vineyards
Cedarville Zinfandel Vineyard

Lineup of Cedarville Wines

  • 2017 Viognier Estate
  • 2017 Grenache Estate
  • 2017 Zinfandel Estate
  • 2016 Syrah Estate
  • 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
  • 2016 Petit Sirah Naylor Vineyard
  • 2016 Rules of Fair Play
  • 2015 Turnabout’s Fair Play Estate

Complete information at the Cedarville Vineyard Website

City of Bordeaux – Wine Capital

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City of Bordeaux

The City of Bordeaux

City of Bordeaux – Gateway to the Bordeaux Wine Country

The ultimate wine country getaway is the city of Bordeaux. It is the gateway to one of the most exciting wine country destinations in the world. Wine lovers, you must visit this great French city.

Additional Information on Bordeaux Wine Country

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – Harvest is Near

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St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon

St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon

The State of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Harvest

In the artsy photo, we see beautiful clusters of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. More than likely these grape clusters will be picked by the end of September. By all accounts, the growing season for all grapes in the Napa Valley has been in the normal category. These Cabernet grapes are in a secluded area of the St. Helena AVA. It is a small vineyard and family-owned. The resulting Cabernet Sauvignon will sell from upwards of $100 a bottle.

I shot this photo on August 30, 2018. I used a Lightroom Plugin to create the artsy look to the picture.

At the Crossroad of Two Great Wine Regions – Which One to Take?

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crossroads of napa valley and sonoma which is better

In the Alexander Valley, we can head to Calistoga or Healdsburg

At the Crossroad of Two Great Wine Regions – Napa Valley Vs. Sonoma

We love this backroad intersection in wine country. It is in the Alexander Valley AVA on Highway 116.  It reminds us of how lucky we are to live close to the area where we have two of the greatest wine regions in the world, the Napa Valley and Sonoma.  Which road should we take? If we head to Calistoga, we will travel through the beautiful AVA of Knights Valley along Highway 116. The drive leads to the Northern end of the Napa Valley. From there we can go south to the town of Napa along either the Silverado Trail or Highway 29. Both roads parallel the Napa Valley floor.

If we head towards the town of Healdsburg, we travel through small backroads of the Chalkhill AVA. Healdsburg is the gateway to the West Sonoma area. It includes the wine regions of Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley and more.

Either choice is excellent. Napa Valley is smaller and denser.  West Sonoma is large and more diverse. Napa Valley is famous for Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.  West Sonoma is famous for Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. Because this Sonoma Area is vast, the climate changes are significant from one AVA to the next. Happy Travels!

Additional travel resources for the Napa Valley and West Sonoma

 

Jimtown Store

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Jimtown Store in the Alexander Valley AVA

Jimtown Store in the Alexander Valley AVA

Jimtown Store – Alexander Valley AVA

A wine country getaway to Sonoma County and Healdsburg would not be complete without a stop at the funky Jimtown Store in the Alexander Valley on Highway 128. It is one of the most popular places for stocking up a deli lunch and picnic supplies. Carrie Brown and her late husband John Werner purchased the historic Jimtown Store many years ago and turned it into a landmark destination.

Whenever we are in Healdsburg, we always make a stop at the Jimtown Store for our picnic lunch. We enjoy perusing the store and never mind waiting while the staff prepares our order. One of our greatest life pleasures is to picnic and sip wine among the vineyards. The Alexander Valley is one of the most beautiful settings in any wine country in any part of the world. Traveling along Highway 128 are many options for wine tasting and picnicking. Most of the wineries along this route have picnic facilities. The tasting rooms, for the most part, are low key, casual, and fun.

To get to the JImtown Store from Healdsburg head north on Healdsburg Avenue and make a right turn onto Highway 128. Within a few miles, you will come to the Jimtown Store. Here is a link to the Carrie Brown’s Jimtown Cookbook featuring the delightful concoctions available at the Jimtown Store.

More information on the Alexander Valley and Jimtown Store

Russian River Valley in May

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Russian River Valley

View from Westside Road in the Russian River Valley in late May

Russian River Valley AVA – Pinot Noir Wine Country

This scene is of Sonoma County’s beautiful Russian River Valley AVA. The vineyards are most likely Pinot Noir grapes. I shot this photo from Westside Road, a few miles to the east where Westside Road ends at River Road. The Russian River (which flows from Mendocino County through Sonoma County), plus the breeze and fog supplied by the Pacific Ocean, provide the perfect climate for growing Pinot Noir grapes and Chardonnay grapes. There are many excellent producers of high-end Pinot Noir in this region. To discover these wineries, take a ride from the town of Healdsburg to Westside Road. It is a dandy wine country backroad drive. Pack a lunch or stop on River Road at the Korbel Winery deli. Even better, head to the resort town of Guerneville. Guerneville has some fantastic and unusual stores and restaurants. It is also the location of Armstrong Grove State Park. Take the lovely nature hike trail, and you will be awed and inspired by the breathtaking Coastal Redwood Trees.  Bring home a few bottles of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to open and contemplate this famous wine region of California.

More information on the Russian River Valley

Old Vines and Wild Mustard

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Old Vines and Wild Mustard in Napa Valley

Old Vines and Wild Mustard in Napa Valley

Old Vines and Wild Mustard in the Napa Valley

Here we are in an old vine vineyard in the St. Helena AVA. It’s February and temperatures are in the mid 70’s. The wild mustard looks radiant, surrounding the old vine. The vineyard is not marked, but the old vine is either Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon. Although we have little rainfall, the wild mustard in the Napa Valley is one of the best seasons in recent memory. Take a ride to the Napa Valley and experience one of nature’s delights.

CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY REGIONS:

Carneros • Livermore • Lodi • Mendocino • Monterey • Napa Valley • Paso Robles • Santa Barbara County • Santa Cruz Mts. • Sierra Foothills • Russian River • Sonoma Valley

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