It had been eight years since this trio was together! After going back and forth about where to meet, it was decided…Napa!
Lola and Kim flew in from their hometowns and I met them at the airport. We drove to our first stop… Domaine Carneros. After a tasting and charcuterie plate in the tasting room, we took the tour. It was wonderful reconnecting with my lifelong friends.
After the tour, we drove up to Calistoga, checked in to the cute little yellow house we rented, ate dinner at the Hydro Bar and Grill. A nice, casual place. Perfect to end the day by watching the movie, “Bottleshock”.
Next day, we beelined for the Oxbow Market, one of my favorite places. Everyone picked what they wanted for brunch, (my meal included oysters!), then walked through downtown Napa.
After walking downtown Napa, we did a tasting at the tasting room,
Gustavo Wine. Having just seen the movie, Bottleshock, the night before, it was neat to taste the wine made by the one of the winemakers portrayed in the movie.
Picked up a bunch of yummies at the Fatted Calf for dinner that night.
Next day, we had a tasting a Castelo di Amorosa. Walked the castle, then drove to St. Helena to explore that town. I always drive through it, but have never walked/shopped it. Here is a photo of me herding some goats that got out of their pen.
St. Helena was a delight. We had a fantastic lunch at Market restaurant. Everything about it was perfect. This was one of those dining experiences that becomes a memory. It started storming while we were shopping. Drove up to Calistoga to look around the shops there. We had planned to go out for dinner, but the whole town lost power. We ended up picking up deli items at the grocery and ate our dinner by candlelight at home.
Promises to get together within the next three years and wonderful memories to last a lifetime.
