Napa Valley at Dusk

Vineyards in the Oakville AVA in the Napa Valley

Napa Valley Vineyards – Oakville at Dusk One of the most spectacular times to view vineyards in the Napa Valley is at dusk. When the set begins to set over the Mayacamus Mountains, the vineyards change dramatically. The filtered light and shadows bring amazing colors and changes to the vines. Read more about traveling to … Read more

Petit Verdot with Cabernet Sauvignon

Petit Verdot

A touch of Petit Verdot with Cabernet Sauvignon For our Wine Country Photo of the Day, I chose this vineyard shot of a row of Petit Verdot next to a row of Cabernet Sauvignon. Petit Verdot is one of the five Bordeaux varieties, along with Cab Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec. The vineyard belongs … Read more

Ballentine Vineyards Napa Valley

Ballentine Vineyards

Ballentine Vineyards Voted as one of Napa Valley’s top “Boutique Wineries,” Ballentine Vineyards is a refreshing change of pace from the usual fare of the fancy tasting rooms in the Napa Valley. Ballentine Vineyards founding date is 1906. The vineyard and winery are family-run, now by the fourth generation. The winery is low key and … Read more

How to Visit the Napa Valley

how to visit napa valley

August through the end of harvest, early October, is the busiest time in the Napa Valley. These are some important tips if you are planning a Napa Valley wine country getaway. Weekend traffic is at a virtual standstill along Highway 29. Cars turning left or right, in and out of tasting rooms, resemble a game … Read more

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Bud Break 2016

bud break 2016

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Bud Break 2016 Drive along Highway 29 or the Silverado Trail from Napa to Calistoga and you can witness the dawn of a new cycle in the life of the vines. Cabernet Sauvignon is in the midst of bud break. Most of the vines have been pruned and dressed for this … Read more

50 years of Robert Mondavi Winery

Robert Mondavi Winery 50 years

50 years of Robert Mondavi Winery in the Napa Valley It all began in 1966 when Robert Mondavi established his winery in Oakville on Highway 29. I remember reading the San Francisco Sunday Examiner magazine about the new winery and viewing the cover photo of this beautiful mission-style winery.  We visited the winery shortly after it … Read more

Freemark Abbey Napa Valley

freemark abbey

About Freemark Abbey Freemark Abbey is one of the most stunning wineries in California wine country. The historic stone buildings date back to the late 1800’s. As we recently drove into the parking lot of the winery, we were shocked to see a construction crew appearing to begin demolishing one of the buildings. Thankfully, once in … Read more

Long Meadow Ranch Tasting Room

About the Long Meadow Ranch Tasting Room and Farmstead Restaurant This is the Long Meadow Ranch Tasting Room in St. Helena. The tasting room is located in the historic Logan-Ives House built in 1874. There is also a small café and general store in the Logan-Ives House. There are two tastings: For $15 a tasting … Read more

How to Visit the Napa Valley

how to visit napa valley

The tourist season is in full swing in the Napa Valley. Visitors will flock to the Napa Valley from now until the end of September. It is estimated that 5 million visitors travel to the Napa Valley each year, and you can bet most of those visits are in the summer months. Weekend traffic is … Read more

Napa Valley Wine Tasting Fee Index 2014

I want something as a gauge for the wine country traveler who visits our Website looking for that information. I decided to devise a quick and easy, but unscientific, Napa Valley Wine Tasting Fee Index, one that I can update a couple of times per year.