So today was supposed to be a Silverado Trail winetasting but that got cancelled. It was such a beautiful day, did not want it to go to waste so off to Napa we went for winery-hopping.
Coming from Saint Helena on Highway 29 , Sterling Winery's, ivory colored, monatery-like building is set up against the green backdrop of hills and ridges of Napa Valley.
As I admire the beautiful symmetry of the dark branches and the yellow flowers as we drove on the winery's half a mile long driveway, I can't help but be a happy shutterbug.
Stood in line and bought our tickets and proceeded to our left to stand in line for the air tram. I watched in horror as I saw the little air tram lift the visitors of Sterling Winery to the top of the hill - where the winery is located. It looked a little wobbly and the not-so-thick metallic hanging off the cable appears to me that it might snap at any second. When I sent to Switzerland up a Funicular...no, a gondola..no wait..a funicular :D, it wasn't so bad because it's steady with just a little turbulence now and then. I was starting to have second thoughts because of my fear of heights.
My fears were unfounded as we boarded up the air tram and it glided lazily up the hill side. I can see the stone edifice of Castillo Di Amoroso at the green hills across the vineyard. We glided atop of towering pine trees and oaktress. Sunlight reflected off the pond below where I saw two brown ducks taking a head dip by the lilly pads. By the time my fear was replaced by the enjoyment of the view, we were already on top.
We tried some of their refereshing Pinot Grigio, Oakey-Toasty-Caramely-Reisling and a little peppery but good Pinot Noir. The smell of oak and grapes fills my nose when I stuck my head into a window that look down into towering rows of oak barrels.
The bells tolled while we were there - adding to the serenity of the winery. The place, although fairly crowded, has a very tranquil atmosphere. After our self guided tours through fermentation rooms and more towering oak barrels, we came out to a terrace area with the full view of the vineyards below, the hills with Castillo De Amoroso to the west and to the east the hills and ridges of Napa County. Patio chairs and tables are sprinkled by a boxed garden of lavender and other flowers.
Walking back to the gift shop , past a few flights of stairs is their main tasting room. I went straight to their patio outside again and just comfortably sat on one of the chairs sipping my peppery Pinot Noir , letting the cool spring breeze refresh me and listening to the rustle of the evergreen pines that frames the distant views of more vineyards and hills.
Not only did we go to Sterling Vineywards.
We started off at the Rotary International at the grounds of Justin Siena High School. Actually, we did not go in we were just curious. It was a good starter walk to keep our bloods flowing through out the day.
We then stopped at Oakville Grocery to buy a late breakfast - well I did - of apricot jam and brie, tucked in a golden buttery toasty dutch roll. This small grocery is unbelievably packed will barely wiggle room in their little aisleway.
We then had a picnic lunch at V Sattui where they seem to be having a barbeque and pizza garden even ongoing. Under the big oak tree are brown picnic tables, lovingly chipped, stained and worn from all of the visitors who came to enjoy the wine and food V. Sattui has to offer.
We drove a few more miles to Sterling Winery and then afterwhich, we drove to Castillo Di Amoroso - a winery also owned by the Sattui family. The steep and winding Cypress lined driveway leads you to a miniature stone castle complete with fort-like towers and a moat. We did not go inside by rather lingered by their Olive Groves. Chickens and hens ran along the side of the castle and a puffy sheep with a sheep bell is tied to one of the Olive Trees happilly chewing on the castle grass. If I squint my eyes enough, it blurrs the other visitors and the colorful cars that are parked on the side and it takes me back to the simpler medieval time period.
We stopped by Gott's , formerly Taylors and I ordered a delicious sourdough burger smothered in barbeque sauce, onions and cheeses and a spicy sweet potato fries to go along with it. I have to be in Benicia by 7 so we ate our in the car on our way back home.
This indeed has been a fun dat trip to the Napa Valley.
...and I even have an equally fun night in Benicia.
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