We left the hotel and headed for Napa Valley. We were running a little behind schedule so decided to take a short cut "Trinity Road - Oakville Grade - Dry Creek Rd". It turns out this road is 7.94 miles of narrow, winding roads with little to no guard rails....a few hair pin turns and a one-lane bridge.
We should have driven down and taken the interstate down and across. It might have been longer in miles but would have been faster in the long run. I was driving and had to pull over shaking a couple of times. I definately needed a drink when that drive was over.
No guard rails!
Steep grades (up and down).
Our 4 cylinder little car was maxed out on power on a few of these
and I didn't think we'd make it to the top!
Our 4 cylinder little car was maxed out on power on a few of these
and I didn't think we'd make it to the top!
Just when you thought you were half way!
Nope 5 more miles to go!
Hair Pin turns!
We arrived in Yountville and went to visit Kim's mom who had rented a house for a few months there this year. Once Ken & Kim arrived, we all loaded in to the car and headed to the Free tasting at Duckhorn Winery at 10:30am where Doug and I are wine club members.
Then we were on to Round Pond for a 12:30pm tour of the olive mill and a tasting of olive oils and red wine vinegars paired with food and wine. We learned about olive cultivation, harvest, and the artisan methods of olive oil production at the estate mill. During the tasting we learned how to properly taste olive oil. The food pairings were gourmet bread, cheese and fresh organic produce and chicken from their estate garden. I never knew that olive oils could be so different!
The sugar cubes in the red wine vinegar are how you taste it.
"Just don't suck on the sugar cube too long...because it will disintegrate!"
After RoundPond we drove up the street to Honig for a 2pm complimentary tasting.
Kim's mom is a wine club member here.
It is was a great perk to have friends and family of our friends with free tastings as well!
Yay! Another free tasting!
Honig Winery: http://www.honigwine.com/
We enjoyed our tasting out on the patio.
The wine was awesome and it was a great experience!
We still have one more appointment today at Paraduxx Winery @ 3pm.
It is the sister winery to Duckhorn Winery. So yes another FREE tasting today!
We enjoy the outdoor seating under the shade of the trees, sipping our wine.
Paraduxx closes at 4pm so we felt rushed to get out of there.
Kim's mom made a suggestion to go to Lucy's Bar & Restaurant at the Bardenessono Hotel & Spa.
It was a lovely place to relax after a bustling day of wine tasting.
Then we were on to Ciccio's for dinner.
We ordered an assortment of appetizers to share and enjoyed two bottles of wine.
http://www.ciccionapavalley.com/
Then Ken (our wonderful DD - which we needed by the end of the day)
drove us to Fairfield,CA to check in to the hotel.
Homewood Suites - Fairfield,CA
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