Allow me to welcome you to our blog! You'll be hearing from myself, Erin, along with Alanna and Thomas. Since I was just away in wine country, I shall be the first to write.There is too much to tell in one post, so I am going to start with one day, last Saturday, January 31st, and since we visited 3 wineries, and had lunch at two amazing restaurants, I will do it in pieces.
Northern California has been experiencing a drier than normal winter. It was sunny, warm, and hovering around 20-21C during the day. Fabulous for a mid-winter hiatus from icy Nova Scotia,..not so great for the grape growers..(sorry guys). After landing in San Francisco on Friday afternoon, we headed out to Sonoma and that is where we stayed for the night. Bright and early Saturday morning we set off for Napa. What a gorgeous drive through the Alexander Valley, with the slight frost on the ground as the sun came up. We arrived in St. Helena, and drove a few KM south to our first stop-Silver Oak Winery http://www.silveroak.com/, located between the Silverado trail, and Highway 29 (St.Helena highway) on Oakville Crossroad. This winery is spectacular! They certainly made the best of a flood they suffered, followed by a devastating fire on New Years Eve 2005. The main buildings have been entirely rebuilt on the same location, some materials coming from a reclaimed flour mill in Kansas. They kept their water tower, which is featured on their label, though 1/3 of it had to be rebuilt. I think they keep the lawn mower in the bottom of it!
The wine library is behind glass off the main tasting room, housing all of their vintages, including larger format bottles. We were served the 2004 Alexander Valley Cab upon arrival, and walked around on our tour with glasses in hand. Not a bad way to start the day! Our guide, John took along a bottle of the 2003 Napa Cab, which he poured us while we checked out their state-of-the-art fermentation tanks, in their temperature controlled room. We also tasted the 1998 and 2003 Napa Cabernets. These wines are of very good quality. All of the Napa Cab's are blended slightly-varying each year by amounts, but contain Merlot, Petite Verot and Cab Franc. (always maintaining a minimum of 75% Cab Sauv). We are fortunate enough to carry these wines at Bishops Cellar. Definitely a special occasion wine (as the price tag is up there)-or if you happen to be in Napa Valley, it makes a great breakfast wine!
Next we had a lunch date at Bouchon in Yountville. We were meeting our friend Peter who had driven out from Sausalito. A Swede who grew up in Nova Scotia, now-turned-Californian, he had recommended Bouchon, since we were unable to obtain reservations at Thomas Keller's other little restaurant, The French Laundry! Imagine. Beautiful silver place settings, with the day's menu folded over the napkin almost like a wrapper.(I have pictures of all of these things, which I shall post as soon as I find the necessary attachment to allow me to put the pictures on my computer!) Wonderful French food on this menu! http://www.bouchonbistro.com/ Steve had the steak frites, with a pat of herbed butter melting over the top, Peter had essentially a fancy grilled cheese sandwich with a fried egg on top, and I had the gnocchi in a beurre noisette with grilled winter vegetables. It was amazing.
I'm signing off for now...next up is my 1pm (still on Saturday) meeting with Tom Fotinos..a 4th generation winemaker who was raised in Napa. See you soon,
Erin
Northern California has been experiencing a drier than normal winter. It was sunny, warm, and hovering around 20-21C during the day. Fabulous for a mid-winter hiatus from icy Nova Scotia,..not so great for the grape growers..(sorry guys). After landing in San Francisco on Friday afternoon, we headed out to Sonoma and that is where we stayed for the night. Bright and early Saturday morning we set off for Napa. What a gorgeous drive through the Alexander Valley, with the slight frost on the ground as the sun came up. We arrived in St. Helena, and drove a few KM south to our first stop-Silver Oak Winery http://www.silveroak.com/, located between the Silverado trail, and Highway 29 (St.Helena highway) on Oakville Crossroad. This winery is spectacular! They certainly made the best of a flood they suffered, followed by a devastating fire on New Years Eve 2005. The main buildings have been entirely rebuilt on the same location, some materials coming from a reclaimed flour mill in Kansas. They kept their water tower, which is featured on their label, though 1/3 of it had to be rebuilt. I think they keep the lawn mower in the bottom of it!
The wine library is behind glass off the main tasting room, housing all of their vintages, including larger format bottles. We were served the 2004 Alexander Valley Cab upon arrival, and walked around on our tour with glasses in hand. Not a bad way to start the day! Our guide, John took along a bottle of the 2003 Napa Cab, which he poured us while we checked out their state-of-the-art fermentation tanks, in their temperature controlled room. We also tasted the 1998 and 2003 Napa Cabernets. These wines are of very good quality. All of the Napa Cab's are blended slightly-varying each year by amounts, but contain Merlot, Petite Verot and Cab Franc. (always maintaining a minimum of 75% Cab Sauv). We are fortunate enough to carry these wines at Bishops Cellar. Definitely a special occasion wine (as the price tag is up there)-or if you happen to be in Napa Valley, it makes a great breakfast wine!
Next we had a lunch date at Bouchon in Yountville. We were meeting our friend Peter who had driven out from Sausalito. A Swede who grew up in Nova Scotia, now-turned-Californian, he had recommended Bouchon, since we were unable to obtain reservations at Thomas Keller's other little restaurant, The French Laundry! Imagine. Beautiful silver place settings, with the day's menu folded over the napkin almost like a wrapper.(I have pictures of all of these things, which I shall post as soon as I find the necessary attachment to allow me to put the pictures on my computer!) Wonderful French food on this menu! http://www.bouchonbistro.com/ Steve had the steak frites, with a pat of herbed butter melting over the top, Peter had essentially a fancy grilled cheese sandwich with a fried egg on top, and I had the gnocchi in a beurre noisette with grilled winter vegetables. It was amazing.
I'm signing off for now...next up is my 1pm (still on Saturday) meeting with Tom Fotinos..a 4th generation winemaker who was raised in Napa. See you soon,
Erin
Sounds like a great trip. My wife and I have toured Napa 4 x and loved each visit. Bouchon as a fabulouse restaurant. Try Mustard's and Redd if you ever go through Yountville again.
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