R+D Kitchen in Yountville

R+D Kitchen in Yountville The R+D Kitchen in Yountville was our lunch stop on Monday, October 19. We are visiting the Napa Valley for three days. The R+D Kitchen  is the newest addition of the three R+D  Kitchen restaurants operated by the Hillstone group. Hillstone also operates the ever popular Rutherford Grill just up the road … Read more

Autumn in St. Helena

Autumn in St. Helena

Autumn in St. Helena This photo was taken on October 19, 2015, in a vineyard in the St. Helena AVA. It’s Autumn in St. Helena and the air is crisp, fresh, and invigorating. This is a very unusual cloud display for the Napa Valley. These cumulus clouds give the vineyards a totally different beauty. The … Read more

Redwood Trees and wine country

Redwood Trees and wine country One of the most majestic sights in nature is that of the Coastal Redwood Trees of California. The photo of these Redwood Trees was taken in the Russian River region of Sonoma County. Coastal Redwoods depend upon the summer fog belt for their growing environment. They are found along the … Read more

Bruschetta food truck at Velo Vino

Bruschetta food truck at Velo Vino -Clif Family Winery in St. Helena What a fantastic idea and why haven’t more wineries thought of this? A food truck parked outside your tasting room? What a bonanza for the Clif Family Winery. The Clif Family calls their food truck the Bruschetteria and features a Northern Italian-inspired menu … Read more

Ugly Zinfandel

Ugly Zinfandel – Charles Krug Vineyards I shot this photo with my iPhone as I walked along Highway 29 early Sunday morning. I was shocked to see grape clusters still on the vines. There were at least four long rows of vines with these Zinfandel grapes . I had read that harvest was about 99% … Read more

Evangeline in Calistoga – a budget Solbar

Evangeline in Calistoga

Evangeline in Calistoga Evangeline in Calistoga opened just a few months ago on Washington Street in Calistoga. It is in the location of the old Wappo Restaurant that shuttered its business about six years ago. It has taken that long to resurrect the place. It was actually another restaurant for about a month a year … Read more

Cafe Sarafornia – best breakfast in the Napa Valley

Cafe Sarafornia

Cafe Sarafornia – best breakfast in the Napa Valley What folks like about Cafe Sarafornia in Calistoga is not just the variety of good breakfast food but the homey and relaxed atmosphere of the spot. It is popular among locals and regular visitors to this end of the Napa Valley. Even on weekdays during the … Read more

The Tucker at Francis Ford Coppola

Tucker at Francis Ford winery

Be sure to see the Tucker at Francis Ford Coppola The Francis Ford Coppola Winery has to be one of the most entertaining wineries on the planet. It is a marvel with its outdoor area and indoor attractions. The outdoor area includes four professional Bocce courts, two swimming pools, a performance area, and outdoor bar and … Read more

What is the Crush

the crush

The Crush The Crush is on in the Napa Valley, Sonoma, and all around the Northern Hemisphere of wine country. It is the most exciting time in the wine country. So, what is the Crush? The Crush begins when the grapes are picked by an amazing group of field workers. They move swiftly and skillfully, … Read more

Cabernet Sauvignon harvest time, soon or later?

The premiere grape of the Napa Valley, the king grape Cabernet Sauvignon, is nearing completion of its 2015 growing season and will soon be harvested. In the photo, we are looking at some serious and mature looking Cab Sauvignon grapes in the St. Helena AVA. Within the next two weeks or more, these Cabernet Sauvignon … Read more