Napa and Sonoma

Sonoma - The Valley of the Moon.


The Sonoma Mission.

Our little cottage overlooking the Napa River. It had a great hiking/biking trail!

Memories of Chandon and Julia and Julia. Later that day we went to Bouchon and met a couple celebrating their engagement. We toasted them with the Chandon Brut Reserve. The caviar at Chandon was amazing.

The Black Stallion Winery.

Mumm Napa and me in heaven with a comparison tasting of 3, then 4 (thanks to our sommelier) small flutes!

I guess we travelled from alligators as pests to rattlers!

The Geyser at Calistoga.

Napa

Eddie enjoying seeing on of the only Tuckers in existence.

The grounds at Rubicon, Francis Ford Coppolla's high-end winery.

V. Santui Winery was amazing, especially the wine and food pairings and the cheese shop.

The Hess Collection

Good morning sea otters!

What a joy to wake up in a cozy bed, a Starbucks delivery from my husband, and an amazing view of the San Francisco Bay. Thanks to Eddie's eagle eye for wildlife, we were treated to a glimpse of sea otters hopping through the waves.

I am aware this morning of the layers of stress that usually surround me. I can feel the top layers gradually dissolve in light of morning TV and relaxed conversations with my husband around what to do this week...napa, sonoma, san fran, redwoods, yosemite...? And more importantly, where should we go in Napa for dinner? I am most excited about The General's Daughter, Bouchon (since French Laundry is a bit out of the question!), L'Auberge du Soleil, and Gary Dantin. The choices!

First step, shower. Second step, Napa!

And it looks like The General's Daughter wins for tonight!

http://www.thegeneralsdaughter.com/eat.html