This past Sunday a group of 15 of us were picked up in two limos at the Diamond Heights Parking Lot for a day wine tasting in Napa. Armed with bagels, fruit and a fully stocked bar, the two limos were whisked up to the Napa Valley. First stop, Cakebread Winery. S. had arranged for our group to take an extended tour of the winery, the conclusion of which was an extensive wine tasting.
Our tour started with a walk through the grapevines. Being someone who is only now learning about wines (S has taught me now the ability to determine between families or reds and whites) I actually learned a great deal and put some of the words that I have learned in context. As you can see it was a fabulous day weatherwise.
The Cabernet Sauvignon vines have this unkept look because during the summer when the grapes are growing the leaves of the arching overhanging vines shade the fruit and traps heat underneath allowing the grapes to produce sugars for a longer time during the day.
This isn't a cucumber or zucchini, but actually will be a loofah someday when it is dried. The garden is on the Cakebread grounds and when cooking classes are held, the foods are taken directly from this plot.
The tanks at Cakebread Winery
Next stop, Peju Winery. This winery does not sell its wine commercially, only over the Internet, here in Napa or one can find it in top restaurants.
Peju's signature tower
We had our tasting in Peju's main tasting room which was the top floor of the tower.
Tasting at Peju
Here's a partial list of the wines we tasted at Peju.
I had tasted the wines at both Cakebread and Peju (come on I had to taste a wine that costs $125.....I mean the pragmatist in me was going "What the hell is so special about a wine to have it cost $125?") However, the little wine I had was making me loopy and so S cut me off. Peju was fantastic and we were off again. This time to the Merryvale Winery.
Merryvale
At the point in the day, I was enjoying the fresh air outside and dozing off due to my Asian gene deficiency.
The day ended with a stop at Domaine Carneros known for it's famous Tattinger label. Again, I took a pass on the tour and tasting.
The Napa Group in front of the Tattinger House.
The day ended with us riding the limo across the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset. Happy Birthday S.
NOTE: I just spent two hours going through all the blog postings eliminating last names. I've replaced them with the first initial of the last name. On about five separate occasions this year, I have gotten some word of a person mentioned being googled and having my blog posting with their name show up. So, in the interest of people's privacy, I've taken surnames off of here. If you find one that I missed, please let me know. Thanks.
Our tour started with a walk through the grapevines. Being someone who is only now learning about wines (S has taught me now the ability to determine between families or reds and whites) I actually learned a great deal and put some of the words that I have learned in context. As you can see it was a fabulous day weatherwise.
Next stop, Peju Winery. This winery does not sell its wine commercially, only over the Internet, here in Napa or one can find it in top restaurants.
We had our tasting in Peju's main tasting room which was the top floor of the tower.
I had tasted the wines at both Cakebread and Peju (come on I had to taste a wine that costs $125.....I mean the pragmatist in me was going "What the hell is so special about a wine to have it cost $125?") However, the little wine I had was making me loopy and so S cut me off. Peju was fantastic and we were off again. This time to the Merryvale Winery.
At the point in the day, I was enjoying the fresh air outside and dozing off due to my Asian gene deficiency.
The day ended with a stop at Domaine Carneros known for it's famous Tattinger label. Again, I took a pass on the tour and tasting.
The day ended with us riding the limo across the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset. Happy Birthday S.
NOTE: I just spent two hours going through all the blog postings eliminating last names. I've replaced them with the first initial of the last name. On about five separate occasions this year, I have gotten some word of a person mentioned being googled and having my blog posting with their name show up. So, in the interest of people's privacy, I've taken surnames off of here. If you find one that I missed, please let me know. Thanks.
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