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Featuring California/Wine Country
Wine Country and California Specialist
In the fall of 2004, I visited wine country with
my husband and another couple who share the same passion for fine wines
and dining. It was my second trip to this enchanting region. During our
first 3 nights, we stayed at the “Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn &
Spa” and truly enjoyed the ambiance that this resort offers. This
location is very convenient to local wineries in the Sonoma and
Healdsburg Valleys.
Next we ventured off to tour wineries and
partake in the local fare. The last few evenings in wine country were
spent in Yountville. A quaint and cozy town tucked away on the outskirts
of Napa and St. Helena. This small town is home to the well renowned
“French Laundry Restaurant”.
During our stay we visited 5-6 wineries per day
and managed to collect over 100 bottles of fine wines. We chose to visit
wineries that were unfamiliar to us and specifically off the beaten
path. This concept is worth its weight in gold…. as it has introduced us
to an entire new selection of wines.
Listed below are just a few of our new favorite wineries;
Pride Mountain Winery:
Is located high atop the Napa Valley with sweeping views of the valley. They pride themselves on the "Cabs".
Chateau Potelle Winery:
Is located up a long and windy hill that goes on
forever…once you reach the top, a wonderful view awaits you of the
valley. The winery is quite unpretentious but has a simple beauty of its
own. We all enjoyed the “Chards” and since have re-ordered.
Arrowood Winery:
Robert Parker (a well known wine critic) just
happened to be indulging in a wine tasting at this winery the very same
day. Our personal favorite here were the “Chards”.
Mayo Winery:
Is a small family run winery that offered one of the best “Red Zins”. We are still enjoying this case.
Darioush Winery:
The winery’s appearance is ornate and opulent outside as well as inside. Our favorites were the “Cabs” and Red Table wines.
 During
the course of our stay we dined each night in gourmet, trendy and local
fare restaurants. Several of them were highly recommended to us by a
very dear friend who is the President and CEO of a local winery in Napa
(Luna Vineyards). One of her recomendations was our all time favorite
restaurant; the Martini House. Our waiter was extremely well versed and
truly had a passion for his profession. One of his specialties was
pairing specific foods; such as a Sherry with Hungarian mushroom bisque,
featured as a special that evening. Throughout the dinner he was
consistent with his suggestions and made our evening even more enjoyable
than anticipated.
During our five-day journey throughout the wine
region, we were entertained by the ongoing rivalry of the Boston Red Sox
and New York Yankees. We were invited to the President of Luna
Vineyards' home to a private party with the entire winemaking and sales
team to watch the last game of the Red Sox vs. Yankees. All and all, the
evening was a total success as The Red Sox won and it was a great
networking opportunity for all of us.
I also have a very dear friend that is the CMO
of a local interactive center located in St. Helena called “Copia”.
This was the dream of Robert Mondavi and is the American center for
culture, wine, food and the arts. It offers year round wine tastings,
culinary programs, festivals, exhibitions and performances. I have made
special arrangements with both “Luna” and “Copia” to welcome my clients as VIP’s. I am quite confident that my affiliation with these two local wine professionals will enable me to be on the cutting edge of Who’s Who and What’s Happening in the Valley for years to come!
As
our trip came to a close, we drove south to the magnificent
“Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay”. This resort is truly a jewel located on
the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The spa and golf course are a
perfect way to unwind after touring wine country for several days.
During our stay, we felt extremely comfortable and were treated with the
utmost professionalism by the friendly hotel staff. After two days of
pampering, golfing and wonderful conversations around the outdoor fire
pit, we were quite reluctant to leave. I cannot say enough about our
two-day experience at this resort.
Over the past 25 years, I have returned to
California to visit and rekindle old friendships that I developed during
a brief nine-month stay in the early 1980’s. I have been as far south
as San Diego, and up and down the coast as far north as the Redlands.
During this last trip, we spent three nights at the “Hyatt Grand
Champions Resort and Spa” located in Indian Wells in the (Palm Desert
Area). Here, we visited friends that had recently chosen early
retirement so that they could enjoy life as it was meant to be. They had
just purchased a new home on the 10th tee box at “The
Trilogy Golf Course”. We wined and dined all over this area and truly
enjoyed our pre-wine country stay with dear friends. My 25 years
experience visiting and touring California will be a wonderful added
benefit for my clients seeking an adventure to this wonderful
destination.
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