Our week in the California wine country continued on a high note. We had reservations on Tuesday morning for a tasting at the Silver Oak Vineyard Alexander Valley location in nearby Healdsburg. Designed to “Frame the Vineyard,” the winery's main building featured panoramic views of the lovely surrounding estate grounds. We were warmly welcomed to their open-air and barn-inspired tasting area, adjacent to the iconic Silver Oak water tower and the Library which holds vintages dating back to their very first bottle - a1972 North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon. Silver Oak Vineyards was established that year by Raymond Twomey Duncan and Justin Meyer and remains owned and operated by the Duncan family to this day. They produce exceptional, food-friendly Cabernet Sauvignons aged exclusively in American oak that are drinkable upon release and also age-worthy for years to come. We tasted three different cabernets, including the 2017 Alexander Valley, the 2016 Napa Valley and the 2011 Alexander Valley. While we each had our favorite, there was no denying that every vintage was noteworthy and would make an exceptional compliment to any meal.
We later had lunch at the Bravas Bar de Tapas in town. The restaurant serves traditional Spanish dishes along with tapas-style dining and has been recognized among the Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants. In the afternoon, we went to our next reserved tasting at the Chalk Hill Estate Winery. Arriving at the hospitality center, we were invited to sit on the terrace and admire the stunning and expansive view of a portion of this 280-acre estate. We were sitting there for the longest time before our server appeared, after which we tasted four different wines. These included a 2019 Sauvignon Gris, a 2019 Estate Chardonnay, a 2017 Syrah and a 2017 Estate Red, all of which were good but not of the same calibre as the Jordan or Silver Oak wines we previously enjoyed. Unfortunately, the rudeness of our server put a damper on an otherwise pleasant experience. Kudos to the manager on duty who offered her sincere apologies and reimbursed the $40 per person charge we’d incurred for the tasting. That evening we stayed in, enjoying some burgers on the grill and corn on the cob.
One of the gentlemen in our group is a big fan of “The Birds,” the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock thriller starring Tippi Hedren and Rod Taylor, which was filmed in Bodega Bay. So, for a change of pace, we were happy to indulge him by making the half-hour drive southwest towards the coast on Wednesday. This small town is located along State Route 1, on the eastern side of Bodega Harbor, an inlet of Bodega Bay on the Pacific. We stopped along several nearby ocean overlooks to appreciate the stunning views before heading into the town that’s protected by a bay from those often turbulent very-same waters. While we didn't see any scary birds, we found Bodega Bay to be a charming and picturesque fishing village.
At lunchtime, we stopped at the Tides Wharf and Restaurant. The Tides has been a favorite of locals and travelers from around the globe for nearly sixty years. The beautiful setting and memorable view is almost unmatched anywhere on the Sonoma Coast. And, we learned it was made famous as the backdrop for several scenes in the now cult-classic movie. Our group was pleased with the bright and airy dining room, extensive menu and rather attentive table service.They also have a shop nearby selling just about everything, including logo clothing, jewelry, gift items and movie memorabilia. On our way back to the house, we dropped by the Korbel Winery in Guerneville to share some champagne on their cozy outdoor terrace. Later that evening, we had dinner at the Underwood Bar and Bistro in Graton. This casual bistro has nice ambiance, a full bar, and Mediterranean-inspired dishes and tapas. It was a welcome ending to our busy day.
It was time to depart our VRBO home the following morning and, after packing up, we drove over to the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel for a one night’s stay. The hotel is located just off Highway 29, less than three miles from downtown Napa, at the gateway to the legendary wine country. It features 275 guest rooms spread across two floors. Our standard room featured adequate storage space and plenty of electrical plugs and USB ports. The bathroom was well lit and our room featured a generously-sized mini fridge, as well as coffee and tea supplies. The entertainment offering The in-room TV also allowed us to access Netflix and other streaming services directly. It didn’t take long to settle in and we soon headed off to nearby Yountville for lunch at the R&D Kitchen. The waiter’s warm welcome and the nice atmosphere on the outdoor terrace both made for a pleasant experience. I also recall my sandwich was pretty tasty and the fries were crispy and delicious.
Once fortified, our group proceeded directly to the Chimney Rock Winery for our early afternoon, reserved tasting appointment. We were in for a real treat! This Stag Leap District estate specializes in producing truly outstanding Cabernet Sauvignons that compare favorably with the world’s best. We were served five different wines and while they were all outstanding, our particular favorites were the 2017 Ganymede Vineyard Cabernet and the 2016 Clone 4. In fact, we were so impressed with all their wines, each couple wasted no time in joining the Palisades Society Wine Club, offering members exclusive access to their most treasured bottlings. I can assure you none of us have since had any regrets.
The final tasting reservation of this California trip occurred at the Hall Winery in St. Helena. Craig Hall, chairman and founder of Dallas-based Hall Financial Group, created this premier vineyard and winery company in the Napa Valley. He was assisted in this endeavor by his wife, the Honorable Kathryn Hall, who is the former United States Ambassador to Austria, We were encouraged to stroll the property’s attractive gardens before taking our places at a beautifully laid-out table where we were served five very fine Cabernet wines. Taylor Hamilton, the Wine Educator assigned to our group, led us through that afternoon’s experience. He shared stories about the Hall vision and the history of the property. Taylor also touched on some of the pieces in their extensive art collection, and explained the winery's philosophy of precision grape growing and wine making. We were soon convinced that Hall produces some of the most distinctive and unique wines in the Napa Valley and richly deserves their stellar reputation.
Returning to the Marriott to freshen up for dinner, we later rendezvoused in the hotel courtyard. The warmly lit fire pits and attractive landscaping proved to be a relaxing spot to mingle together and unwind before our evening meal at Napa’s Bistro Don Giovanni. We were seated outside amid lights strung between the trees and the propane-powered patio heaters. The atmosphere was warm and inviting with the pleasing personality of a Mediterranean hideaway. The freshly-baked bread and local olive oil are worthy of a special mention and our main courses were all well received. I‘d highly recommend this bistro if you find yourself vacationing in the Napa Valley area.
Our adventure continued with a few more days in San Francisco. I’ll tell you all about it in a future post.
Until next time..safe travels.
Well, what a way to give your liver a workout! Sounds like a great time was had by all. The artwork piece featured also reminded me of the thriller series we just watched on Netflix, called Stay Close, which I would recommend - along with some of your wines 🍷