Today we did our own wine tour - organised by Pete! After we did the loop of the two valleys yesterday he studied up on the wineries we saw in the Napa valley and he chose one's that would specifically interest us - and what a fantastic job he did! We had an amazing day!
So today's adventure took us on the popular wine trail loop in the Napa valley - going up the Silverado Trail, then cutting across to Rutherford, and then back down H29 to Napa.
The first winery we descended on was the "Black Stallion Winery" - a young, emerging winery which only opened in 2007, so it is Napa's newest winery, and it is located on the grounds of a historical equestrian centre. Very, very nice!
Mumm Napa was next with its beautiful view, followed by the amazing historical Rubicon Estate, owned by movie director, Francis Ford Coppola. Coppola purchased Inglenook Estate from sea captain Gustave Niebaum, who established it in 1880. Besides tasting the fine wines that are produced here, there is a really interesting museum inside the chateau displaying memorabilia from both Niebaum and his seafaring days, and Coppola and his interest in film making and its history. Loved everything about this winery!
Next we went to the Robert Mondavi Winery which he co-founded in 1966 "to create exceptional Napa Valley wines that would stand in the company of great wines of the world." The winery's beautiful architecture reflects the missions of early California. We did a guided tour of the winery here which was really educational and informative. Our tour guide Doug was fabulous and he made it a very memorable experience because of his knowledge and humour!
Art, wine and culinary delights were the focus of this winery - all part of the finer things in life, which is what these amazing valleys are all about.
We thoroughly enjoyed our Napa and Sonoma Valley experiences!
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The Back Stallion Winery
Yes, some flowers realise it is suppose to be spring
even though it feels like winter! |
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Their wine was very nice.
Spring? - notice the winter clothes and the open fire in the background! |
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Historic Inglenook Chateau on Rubicon Estate ,
owned by film maker Francis Coppola |
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Men of Vision - about Niebaum and Coppola and their innovative visions.
Click on pic to read |
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| The tasting room |
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| Inglenook presides over its vineyard |
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| Part of the museum |
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The grand staircase in Inglenook
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| Robert Mondavi Winery |
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| One of the beautiful courtyards |
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| Artist Bufano's sculptures are placed through out the winery |
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| Bufano's bear (California) stands at the wineries entrance |
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| The fermenting barrels |
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The ageing process
These are the 2010 grapes |
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Wine tasting - very interesting and educational. Our guide, Doug, a winemaker himself, made the experience
not only interesting very amusing. |
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"Red, red wine........." as the song goes!
Pete loved it! |
Amanda is jealous!
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