3 Steves Winery - Livermore

3/5 stars

3 Steves was super friendly, but the wine wasn't as tasty as what we'd get in Sonoma or Healdsburg. I'm also not usually a fan of non-champagne houses making champagne... it's not easy! There was a brut, white wine blend (not bad), chardonnay, three cabs blend, chilean blend (this was pretty good), younger vine zin, "Three Brunettes" blend, merlot, cab franc, cab sauv, and a port. Even though the wines weren't our style, we still enjoyed the $10 tasting and sitting outside, breathing in the clean air and watching the hawks fly across the green hills...

A nice place to celebrate Valentine's Day :)

Wente Vineyards - Livermore

2/5 stars

Valentine's Day weekend, hubby and I decided to discover Livermore. Did you know Livermore has craft breweries? Did you know Livermore has wineries?

WHO KNEW?!

So we started our adventure with Wente. It. Was. Packed! I think the staff was overwhelmed. We were overwhelmed. So instead of doing a tasting, we escaped the crowds and ordered 2 glasses of wine (the sauvignon blanc and the riesling) and walked the property. It was HUGE. Very mission-style. Unfortunately, the white wine was served warm (ick) and was either bland (the sauv blanc) or syrupy sweet (the riesling).

We left uninspired...

Onward!

Clif Family Winery at Velo Vino - St. Helena

5/5 stars

This place was very special. And, it was FUN.

Super friendly staff.

EXCELLENT wine.

Laid-back atmosphere.

Bruschetta food truck.

We accidentally "crashed" the rose of grenache launch party. All our wine was paired with yummy snacks. It is, HANDS DOWN, the BEST rose I've ever had. If you think you don't like rose, you should try this "ballet slipper" rose. It's extremely lovely and the prettiest pink. Bright, with aromas of pear, mandarin, and watermelon Jolly Rancher, I am kicking myself for not buying another bottle. We're just going to have to go back.

Laura, the winemaker, spent time with us and we enjoyed speaking to her. She speaks like a teacher. She's wonderful.

We went home with half a case! Including the rose, the gewuztraminer (dry! which is the best way to have gewuzt so it's not too syrupy sweet), and the sauvignon blanc (a treat of peach)! We also tried the prochetta bruschetta and the arancini. The bruschetta (Long and Bailey Farms pig, garden herbs, red onion, aioli, and parmesan) was awesome, but the honeynut squash arancini stole the show. It tasted like macaroni and cheese! We would've ordered more if we didn't have dinner reservations at Ad Hoc ;)

Honestly, I would've signed up to be a club member if we lived closer to attend the parties!

Napa Rose - Anaheim

5/5 stars

It's hard for me to a review a place like Napa Rose. It's just so darn special to me. The first time I ate there was when my guy proposed. To be honest, I remember our server, Wendy, SINGING TO US, but I can't remember what anything tasted like that night because of sheer gleefulness!! However, I certainly remembered every time after that :) We've been 5 more times since and it just keeps getting better.

The staff is outstanding: Chef Gloria, Chef Andhi (who has gifted me a lamb chop), David, Saucy, Kym, and Ryland. They're sunny, talented, and enchanting. Def Mickey Mouse material. Bonus: everyone there knows their wine.

My most recent meal there was just 5 days ago. We treated our parents to an early Christmas present. And gosh, did Chef Gloria deliver the treats! She made sure that I got things I've never had before. The standouts included:

* The amuse bouche! It was an extremely tasty sweet potato puree with creme fraiche, chives, and maple-glazed bacon. It was one of the best bites of the meal.

* A delicate sea bass with black garlic and baby scallops

* An intensely comforting pot of chicken n' dumplings that you just want to hug

* Being surprised with shaved white and black trufflestrufflestrufflestrufflestrufflestruffles :) It was an early Christmas gift from the Chef! I blushed like mad.

* The best hot chocolate in the world (no joke)

* My all-bubbles wine pairing :)

We had *so* much fun. Probably too much fun. Thank you for always making us feel so special, Napa Rose.

(2015)

The Grill At Forty 1 North - Newport, RI

3/5 stars

We came because of the view. Sitting outside, you're right there, seemingly _in_ the gorgeous, crystal blue water.

After ogling fantastic boats, we wanted to linger in Newport a little longer so we decided to give the bar here a try. Though we were underdressed, service did not turn us away. We detected no snobbery.

Prices were, no surprise, high, but the white, modern, Hamptons decor was relaxing. The white sangria was thoroughly well made. Hubby stuck with beer, mom stuck with wine.

A nice place to rest your feet.

(2015)

Hall Wines - St. Helena

5/5 stars

We LOVED Hall! The giant bunny, the quirky art, the cute quotes, and Celeste! Even though the winery was super busy, she was really nice, friendly, and engaging. She took her time with us. And the wines were delicious. We were THISCLOSE to becoming members! This is a place you take your friends and family.

(2015)

Markham Vineyards - St. Helena

3/5 stars

Nigel at Markham is awesome! They were super busy + understaffed, but Nigel made up for it all. When we did have his attention, he gave us all his attention. He even took photos of us and recommended Hall (which we ended up LOVING). Even though the tasting was really, really expensive ($30 for the Estate, $20 for the Rock 'n' Roll) and not waived with purchase, we enjoyed sampling all 10 wines on the menu. One con is that the winery has no where to sit!

(2015)

Robert Mondavi Winery - Oakville

2/5 stars

This was our first visit to the giant winery. It was the day before the 4th of July so they were probably busier than normal, but the staff was friendly and they were generous with their pours. It was $20 for 4 tastes. We tried two whites, a pinot, and a rose because it sounded refreshing.

The grounds were nice, with plenty of outdoor seating. However, one of the reasons for the low rating is because there was no indoor seating even though the winery is sprawling. It was a sweltering 92 degrees outside. Really hard to enjoy wine when you're MELTING. There was hardly any shade. Also going with a 2/5 stars because the wines, no surprise, were not memorable.

(2015)

West End Tap & Kitchen - Santa Cruz

4/5 stars

My second time here. The first was for a bridal shower. West End set aside one section of the restaurant for us, with chic bench seating. They were super easy to work with. They let us come in early to decorate and even helped fill mason jars with water for the flowers. It was a nice place for a slightly rustic, casual shower. And the passion fruit beer was a hit with the ladies.

I visited again today. It was the perfect place to start my family's weekend in Monterey for my mom's 60th! We got seated at a lovely table under the skylight near the kitchen. In a sunny spot. I'm a fan of how they do wooden tables and linen napkins. Mom and I discussed our plans to install a pizza oven just like West End's.

We ordered the beer sampler which was super fun to share. The garlic mushroom flatbread and grilled cheese sandwich were a hit. I also like how they do their calamari. Lightly fried, non-oily, and served with a yummy mignonette. Service was darling and she even surprised my mom with some chocolate gelato complete with birthday candle.

I wonder what we'll celebrate here next...

(2015)

Sones Cellars - Santa Cruz

5/5 stars

UPDATE :)

6 years later and Sones is still one of my favorite wineries. The people, if possible, are even friendlier. The petit syrah is ah-mazing. So is the syrah, which I tasted today. And, now that I'm all grown up now (ha!) and really, really enjoy red wine, this place is one of my go-tos.

***

This is one of my favorite wineries in Santa Cruz!

ATMOSPHERE: A very small shop owned by super friendly, down-to-earth people. They're attentive, engaging, knowledgeable, and warm. My favorite kind of winetasting service!

WINES: Sones specializes in syrah and zinfandels. I normally don't prefer red wines, but their zins are delicious. Very jammy and complex, yet easy to drink! You can tell that they love and care about their wines.

(2009-2015)

Tee Nee Thai Cuisine - San Jose

4/5 stars

This place reminds me of my husband and I.

Except I'm not Thai.

My hubby, on the other hand, LOVES Belgium beer. I think his affections go:

1. Me
2. Our puppy
3. Belgium beer

One of our favorite wine enthusiasts from Ridge told us about Tee Nee Thai. It's a great place for a date!

I knew that this place was known for their beer list, but their wine list was even bigger! It was fun trying to find fruity whites to pair with the spicy Thai food. And man, was their food spicy! Their "medium" is what other Thai restaurants in the area would call "hot." We tried their pad thai and a red curry with pork. Both were fresh, tasty, and well-made. The food also didn't seem as sweet as Krung Thai's.

Service was lovely. The ladies are super, super nice and even let me try the white wine before ordering it.

Even though the prices were high for the portion size and the wine pours could have been a bit more generous, we'll most likely come back because there's nothing else like it. I wish more Asian restaurants had better wine, beer, and cocktails lists.

(2015)

Chateau Diana Winery - Healdsburg

5/5 stars

We visited 5 wineries this past weekend: Preston, Bella, Martorana, Kokomo, and Chateau Diana - and Chateau Diana is definitely one of my new favorites.

It's a really cute space, kinda girly + girl power. The parking spaces say things like "Say Hi To A Stranger." My family and I had a fun time sitting outside, where we could gaze at the vineyards across the street. We munched on free popcorn and played card games. Tasting fee is waived with purchase and the prosecco was an easy choice. We also got a bottle of the Marsanne because it was just so unique-tasting (complex fruit and nuttiness). The women who worked there are spunky and nice. They even let me taste things off of the wine-club-members-only list (even though you can only buy these bottles if you're part of the wine club). They also sell food, but we didn't try any today. We'll def come back!

(2015)

Kokomo Winery - Healdsburg

5/5 stars

One of my new favorite wineries! It was a real treat to discover Kokomo. Everyone was SO FUN and friendly. Not pretentious at all. A totally informal space.

They have a huge wine list (reasonable prices, too) and everything we tasted was really good! We ended up with a sauvignon blanc and two bottles of a delicious, easy-to-drink GSM. Tasting fee is waived with purchase.

And they sell dog toys (squeaky, rubber wine bottles) so your lucky pup can partake in some Kokomo as well.

(2015)

Martorana Family Winery - Healdsburg

2/5 stars

First off, the people who work here are really, really nice so the low star rating is not based on them at all. They remember your name, spend time explaining the wine, and even gave us free tasting vouchers for another winery.

I just don't prefer their varietals: Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The problem was that my dad (who usually loves Merlots and Cabernet Sauvignons) did not like their wines either. But it's really all personal taste.

Notes: They practice organic farming and have a living roof! They also have olive oil, picnic tables, and a bocce ball court.

(2015)

Bella Vineyards & Wine Caves - Healdsburg

4/5 stars

Parents, husband, and I found the ideal spot: 4 wooden adirondack chairs and a view: vineyards, pale, blue sky, hills, and trees. Wine country seemed to sparkle today, the last day of February. The light was perfect. There's just something about sun and rain and blue skies and moody clouds that I can't quite explain.

Tasting is in their intimate, dimly-lit cave and the wines are mainly zin. I would say... almost to just-as-good as Ridge's zins (which is saying a lot). I really liked the Florence zin. At the end, they paired the late harvest zin with a salted, dark chocolate, peanut butter cup. Mom loved it so much, she snuck in two :)

Bella has a nice outdoor space, with picnic tables and cornhole. People seem to spend an afternoon here. Dogs and picnics are welcomed. Everyone here is really nice.

Notes: Tasting is $10 and waived with the purchase of 2 bottles.

(2015)

Imagery Estate Winery - Glen Ellen

5/5 stars

UPDATE :)

They've won me over. I had the best experience here for my bachelorette party. My mom and friends and I were just taking silly photos out front when someone who worked at the winery walked by and invited us to a room for a private tasting. He poured us what felt like a dozen wines and treated us like princesses :) The owner even swung by!

I returned recently and learned that they have so many wines (to taste) that I'm bound to find 1 or 3 that I like. And I love their wine labels - each a unique piece of art. The pourers are so friendly and attentive. It's a super fun place to hang out!

Definitely a go-to winery and go-to wine!

***

We arrived by closing time, but they were super nice and let us hang out. Our pourer's name was Richie (I think) and he was great - friendly, attentive.

I love the art on their labels and ended up buying a Sangiovese for a Christmas present (recommended if you like chianti).

***

ATMOSPHERE: Imagery was bustling! The large bar was pretty, but the crowd and the vibe felt more touristy Napa to me than small, family-oriented Sonoma.

WINES: The beau and I shared a $10 tasting because this was our 5th stop today. I'm glad we did because unfortunately, I didn't like any of them. I want to try Imagery again someday because this was the winery that was recommended to me by two friends - not only do we have similar tastes, but they know a thing or two about good wines!

POURER: Did her job and she was nice, but aloof. We didn't really converse.

GOODIES: The unique art.

(2009-2015)

Loxton Cellars - Glen Ellen

3/5 stars

A California winery run by an Australian winemaker. Everyone here is super friendly! They make you feel welcomed. The tasting is only $5 and is waived with any bottle purchase. Super reasonable. It's not a place you linger... the tasting room is in the cold, sterile cellar. It's not a pretty winery and there's no place to sit outside and enjoy the sun.

IN A MOUTHFUL: if you're looking for a quick stop and don't care about scenary, Loxton is great.

(2015)

Arrowood Vineyard & Winery - Glen Ellen

3/5 stars

I thought this place looked familiar! This was one of the wineries we stopped at during my bachelorette party. I think...

Anyway, hubby and I stopped came here Saturday. I usually spend hours planning our itinerary, but today, hubby and I decided to be somewhat spontaneous. We were on our way to Imagery and decided to stop here too.

Pros:
* the wrap-around porch; the beautiful views
* the viogner was one of the best I've ever had - very peachy!
* husband raved about their cabernet sauvignons

So the wine isn't bad, but...

Cons:
* the tasting fee was REALLY pricey for the area ($15 for the standard, $25 for the reserve)
* they only waive the tasting fee if you buy TWO bottles; avg. bottle price $70 (!!!)
* service was only OK. they didn't go out of their way or anything... and they weren't particularly friendly, warm, or conversational. the whole environment felt a little sterile/vanilla.

IN A MOUTHFUL: Probably won't be coming back now that I've remembered that I've been.

(2015)

Cin-Cin Wine Bar & Restaurant - Los Gatos

4/5 stars

Hooked.

I mean... they don't *need* a Saturday Happy Hour, but they HAVE a Saturday Happy Hour. Not gonna ask why. Just gonna say, "Yes! Woo hoo!"

Yes:
+ sherry chicken liver crostini (I can eat TOO MANY of these... not good for me, but oh-so-good)
+ truffled french fries
+ pork sliders (be careful, they sell out because it's tasty)
+ charcuterie (it's a beautiful thing)
+ DESSERT

Skips:
+ calamari was over-fried to my liking
+ cocktails are way too sweet
+ clam chowder... they need to spend some time in New England to get it right
+ deviled eggs are my favorite things, but I didn't like the ones here... the sriracha makes it too tart

(2014)

Tessora’s Barra di Vino - Campbell

5/5 stars

My new favorite wine bar in the area. Hubby and I went here on a whim and had a terrific experience. Mainly due to our server. The customer service is awesome. They make you feel welcomed.

You get to make your own flight which is really fun. I started with a bubbly. I tried 2 different ones that night and loved them both. I also got to taste a few reds. The staff is knowledgeable. The pours are very generous and I hope that doesn't change because the place is fairly new. The only food we ordered was the red pepper dipping sauce and it was yummy.

They had music that night and I usually don't like live music in such a small place because it can get so loud, but I really enjoyed the band. I mean, c'mon. They played a Backstreet Boys song! :)

(2014)