For my 34th birthday HP and I decided to hit Napa. Well, not Napa exactly but rather Winsor, CA. Never been there but it is close to all the wine so it must be a good spot. It is. In an effort to help myself remember which wineries we went to and what wines we bought I made a list on my borrowed iPod Touch. I must have looked like a sneak always pulling out this iPod and taking notes. I took more notes on this trip than I did in two years of post graduate work at Pacific University(sorry MAT flexers-it is not that hard). So here is my list. I'll expand when necessary.
One side note. The Squeeze in. Go and eat there as soon as possible. The Squeeze in was featured in Food Network's Diner Drive Ins and Dives. From the airport the joint was 20-30 minutes away and in the wrong direction of wine country. But it was well worth the extra time. It is was best cheese burger I have every had. 1/3 pound of meat and 1/3 pound of cheese has that effect on me. Yo. That burger was great. I still think about it.
I love food.
Another D3 spot we hit was Taylor's Automatic Refresher. Apparently HP and I said "bloody as hell" when the man behind the tiny screen window asked what we wanted. These guys are know for their Tuna burger (Ahu, Aha, Ahea, Amen......oh yeah it's Ahi) but I went for the Wisconsin burger. So so, Not worth it for me or HP. The onion rings were good.
OK so the wine. Here is the list straight from BSD's iPod to your eyes. Good times.
Kenwood Vineyards
$5 &$10 for reserves tastings
Good red
Somoma Co. Cabernet
Kunde Estates
$10 tastings & $20 w/cheese
Cave tours free hourly
Lots of picnic tables on the grounds
2007 semillion
2005 Meritage
Kunde has great wine and a great atmosphere. There is plenty of history behind the winery and quite a connection to Hollywood.
Imagery Vineyards
Place to look @ art
2006 White Burgundy
2005 Malbec
2005Zin
$10 tastings
Gundlash Bumgachu
$5 tasting
Hip youthful tasting room
2006 Zin Rhinefarm Vineyard
Caves
Very fun people and a fun tasting room. Make sure to get your beads.
http://www.bouchonbakery.com/
Nutterbutter-cookie break at Bouchon Bakery in Yountville
Twomey
Reds
Maybe it was too close to closing time but the folks at Twomey were not to thrilled to serve us our taster. It was the feel you can have when you walk into a BMW dealership and no one pays you any mind. Not even a snotty look. No worries the wine was not that great either-of coarse my palette is HEAVILY influence by my disposition.
Bennett Lane
$20 special opening
Small but fun atmosphere
Cabs
We walked into a wine opening. They were showing off their newly opened 2005 Cab. Cheese and crackers included. B.L. is not usually this ecpensive.
Powells Sweet Shoppe
Windsor & Healdsburg
Kind of like Goodies.
Foppiano
Free tastings
Red wine (7 reds)
Petite Syrah
The wineries outside of Napa hate Napa. Smaller operation but a fun tasting room.
Kendall Jackson
Free if you say you are from Worldmark
Meritage blend of four reds
This is only a small sample of what is in store for a trip to Napa and the surrounding areas. Time to plan our next trip. Perhaps that will be included in out own stimulus package.
