No Napping In Napa

We were unable to resist the magnetic tug of amassed grapes.  

A full agenda got us up and out at the crack of 10.

We bid adieu to the nice little cottage where we stayed, just south of Sonoma.

Our waitress at the cafe where we had lunch the day before provided us with a number of suggestions for places to go, both in the Sonoma and Napa Valleys.  We knew and liked some of her recommendations, so we decided to follow up on the ones that were new to us.

Resisting the temptation of many better known wineries,
we found ourselves at the Frank Family Vineyards.

I won't expose my the judgmental capabilities of my palate to undue criticism, but there is no question that the wineries at in Napa and Sonoma are at a whole different level in terms of size and investment than what we see in the Finger Lakes.  The "boutique" wineries in the former would be major players in the latter.  And while many of the wineries have been producing for generations, there is a trend for very wealthy people to declare, "Let's make wine!" and invest huge sums to become winemakers.  As often as not, the Finger Lakes wineries have been originated by retiring chemists boldly making the transition from emulsions to more horticultural compulsions.

Tony provides scale for the barrel.

The assembled crew, hard at work.

"This is your Captain speaking.
I am a veteran of many wine flights.
I will ensure that you reach your destination safely and without turbulence."

The view out the back window of the tasting room.
It would be a great place to live
if you don't mind all the people tromping through your space.

Safely back on the ground after the flight.

We had no plans to head to Castello Di Amorosa, but the Castle of Love was only a Champagne cork's flight away, so we stopped in to see the structure and the view.  I typify the place as an Tuscan hilltop castle, without the usual 700 or so years of wear and tear.  Amazing what can happen when money is not a limitation. 

A great place to keep your grapes safe from attacking Sonomites.

The sign says, "Don't feed the humans," but the sheep can't read.

"My phone says we're lost.  What does yours say?"

Catching a few rays on the steps.

A spectacular view, with or without the extra height provided by the turret.

Do the hills also call to you?
There has to be a fabulous view up there.

On to the next recommended stop.  Duckhorn wines were served at President Obama's Inaugural Luncheon in 2009.  Judging from the prices, these fine wines should not be served for medicinal purposes mandated by the Affordable Care Act.

Much different than the previous stop, but every vintner's house is his castle, right?

The colorful leaves won't last much longer.

Talented lasses clear the glasses.

The outstanding view from the tasting porch.

I hear Carly Simon.  "Anticipation....anticipation..."

Get that guy out of the sun.  He's a burner.

Anticipation no more.

We drove past the rolling hills to the next winery.

Dave provided a size reference.
Tony was tired of working for scale.

"Why yes, Sir, I guarantee this wine is superior.
See how much more it costs?"

We drove out of the wine country
with the setting sun
highlighting the undulations of the grassy hills.

Another nice day in Sonoma

We are happy to announce that our son, David, is now fully employed in San Francisco.  We are unhappy to note that he will not be able to return home for Thanksgiving.  Instead, we were pleased to go visit him a few days prior to the weekend before Turkey Day.  Unfortunately, we could not disturb him during his working week.  Fortunately, midweek accommodations farther north were off-season, and rates were reasonable.   Sadly, we could not take him with us.  Happily, we found a crew of intrepid Rochestarians willing to accompany us.  And though there may have been some disappointment at not being able to stay longer, the appointed weather was perfect.

Sonoma is picturesque.

Part of the crew prior at the first stop on the tour.
They're going in!

Mr. Personality served us at the lovely bar.
Oddly, his demeanor did not affect sales negatively.

Dave F. is a man who understands his mission.
The glass is not empty...it's just ready for another.

Dave S. and Tony acting like old Italian guys.

These guys should be in Hollywood.
What convincing actors they are!

The bus driver.
They're smile lines, not wrinkles.

The kids on the bus.
One winery and Becky is already blurry.

Dave F. and Becky had been to this place once years before.
He called to get the gate code so we could get in for a tasting. 

Pent-up demand causes the group to deploy rapidly from the van.

Mary, Becky, Lorrie and Gail pose with a friend.

The assembled troops just prior to entry.

Someone has an eye for beauty.

The smell of fermenting wine is a well known aphrodisiac.

"Tony, stand by the barrel...I need you for scale."

A nice display of French Oak.

Clever use of barrel parts.

Amid all the beautiful wood was this tacky vinyl plaque.
It's the sentiment, I guess.

I'd never seen natural cork before.
Pretty neat the way it grows into bottle-neck size pieces.

The crew having barrels of fun.

The Rafanelle winery grounds are spectacular.

The path to the pond and the olive groves.

Olives looking ripe.

The view out over the valley.

On the way to exploring the far-side hill.

Hard to stand against the rising wind.

After harvest, but some grapes remained on the vine.

Looking down on the winery from the hilltop.

The view across the valley.
Do you see them working in the vineyard?

How about now?

More people working in the vineyard.

More grapes, not sour.

"Arrivederci!"

Nice of them to enshrine my initial.

Time for lunch, we went to Simi Winery, where we expected to find a cafe.  No such luck during the off-season, so we went into Healdsburg in search of vittles.

Being from the frozen tundra, it seems incongruous
to see a fully adorned Christmas Tree
flanked by a lemon tree and a palm.

Illuminated leaves on the pavement

Loosely translated, this means, "Food costs double here."

Thankfully, the restauranteurs were good sports.

Our actors reprised their earlier roles.

A woman came out of a nearby shop, insisting to take this picture.
No, despite appearances, thin headless women are not ideal.

Mr. Ledson built this as a personal residence,
but when people kept showing up asking to taste the wine,
he poured his resources into making it a winery.

Impressive both inside and out.
No expense spared.

Barely visible Dave relaxes beyond the west-facing portico.

We lost the sun beyond the hills.

The wind came up as the sun went down.  We headed back to the cottages we had rented, stopping to get some steaks for the gas grill and potato salad for direct consumption.  

Most other culinary choices would have proven problematic.  Fire trucks greeted us at intersections since the wind had taken out the power.  We ate by candlelight, told stories in the dark, and retired to the warmth provided by thick comforters.

The following morning's reminder of the wind.