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!

The Restaurant At Meadowood - St. Helena

Going again soon... so moving this to the top of my blog because *squee*...

5/5 stars

Transcendent. I felt like I was floating, watching this girl, this couple, experience this - they are very lucky.

The dining room is quite intimate, with only 20 or so tables. Dark wood, cream-colored walls, crisp, white tablecloths with bright, yellow flowers in cloudy vases, and big windows allowing lots of light. We got seated next to one of the windows, overlooking the porch and the trees. An envelope with the restaurant's seal greeted us. It wished us a happy anniversary.

Olin was our host for the evening and he was friendly and easy to talk to. He asked us if we wanted to see the menu or if we wanted to be surprised. We said we wanted to be surprised. We were there for the journey. And one of the best parts of this journey? Getting to see what vessel Chef Kostow was going to use to display his food. The ceramics were part of the joy.

My husband did the wine pairing, but I opted for the bartender's, Sam, wild and wonderful concoctions. He even makes his own root beer. He delivers the drink with stories about what inspired them - thoughtful childhood memories. He was so sincere and incredibly talented.

I didn't get to speak to Chef Kostow that night when we toured the efficient kitchen, but I saw him again a couple weeks later when he came to Google to talk. I got another cookbook signed and got to tell him that his mashed potatoes with caviar was the best thing I'd ever eaten in my life.

The teasers:
Olive
Kale chip with chorizo
Clam

The menu:

Gwen avocado oyster rancho chimiles walnut
Fermented potato caviar nasturtium
Broccoli whelk agretti
Abalone coal roasted eggplant smoked pepper
Cod cooked in sunflower petals
Kohlrabi cooked in it's own juice flax seed mustard
Squab "tea"
Grilled squab hibiscus leaf berries
Veal short rib tendon roe dill
Alpine cheese roasted pumpkin honey truffle
Olive oil coconut borafe
Ha'ogen melon padron pepper vanilla
Praline

The highlights:

Fermented potato caviar nasturtium: Picture a smooth, white, perfect mound of the most delicious mashed potatoes ever made. Then imagine dipping your spoon into the center of it and, to your surprise, exposing a heart of tiny, quivering, shiny, black caviar. Served with warm, fresh, tiny, fluffy, buttery, salty rolls. Best. Thing. I. Have. Ever. Eaten.

Alpine cheese roasted pumpkin honey truffle: The presentation was fun (it was served in the pumpkin itself) and the cheese was creamy and only slightly pungent. It was perfect paired with the sweet honey and the homemade sourdough rye. I am not a rye fan, but I ate that entire loaf.

Grilled squab hibiscus leaf berries: Chef Kostow seems to utilize every bit of the plant or animal. Before we had the squab, we drank its tea. The squab with berries was amazing. It reminded me of the nursery rhyme, "Sing a Song of Sixpence":
Four and twenty blackbirds,
Baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened,
The birds began to sing;
Wasn't that a dainty dish,
To set before the king?

I am no king, but Meadowood made me feel blessed. I'm coming back, and I'm bringing family.

(Oct 1, 2014)

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)

Bravas - Healdsburg

5/5 stars

My mom is one of the most difficult people to take to restaurants. She's really critical of the food, alcohol, service, and value. That said, she loved Bravas! Me, I lovedlovedloved Bravas.

We didn't have reservations so sat at the bar. The bartender and "official iberian jamon carver" were so attentive, nice, and good at their jobs. They took care of us throughout the night which ended up being a LONG night because they misplaced our paella so instead of it taking 30 minutes to make, it took an hour. The paella was delicious so it was worth the wait. Perfectly seasoned.

We ordered a lot!

* Fermin jamon iberico (unadorned, perfect as it is)
* Spanish & local cheese plate w/ fig jam (I heart cheese plates)
* Goat cheese toast with golden onions and white truffle honey (yummy-mouth explosion)
* Roasted red beets with cinnamon, walnuts, and idiazabal (this was the favorite of the night, so flavorful)
* Kale salad with fennel, celery, red onion, and a preserved lemon vinegarette
* Duck meatballs with tomato sofrito and a green olive puree (a hit with my dad)
* Cider braised chorizo and shishito peppers
* Sunnyside up duck egg with chorizo

* Monterey calamari with salsa verde and lemon (calamari was perfectly cooked and represented Monterey's bounty so well! I'd def order this)
* Smothered pork riblets with pickled mustard see BBQ sauce (probably the least favorite of the night)
* Cava sangria
* Levante (Hayman's Old Tom, orange, saffron, cardamom)
* Fig Gulp (fig infused bourbon, alvear PX 1927, grapefruit, orange, and tonic)

Everything was *so* tasty. Def a Healdsburg favorite.

(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)

Bistro Jeanty - Yountville

5/5 stars

Usually, if we're in Yountville, we're at Ad Hoc. But tonight, we decided to finally give Bistro Jeanty a try. It must've been meant to be because we weren't turned away. There was no 1 hour wait.

We. Were. Seated. Right. Away.

There was *so* much I wanted to order. I wanted to try the soupe a l'oignon and the rillettes de canard, but foie was back on the menu, baby! So we got the special: warm foie gras with pork belly over a lentil ragout. It was decadent and delicious. We sopped up all the foie, bacon-y goodness with french bread.

For dinner, I chose the steak frites with béarnaise sauce and the hubby had the cassoulet (baked beans, duck confit, toulouse sausage and apple smoked bacon). The steak was perfectly cooked and I'm usually not a béarnaise fan, but I couldn't stop dipping my frites in the sauce-that-was-very-bad-for-me-but-was-oh-so-yummy-in-a-rich-buttery-way. And hubby pretty much called his cassoulet perfect.

I tried to be a good girl and didn't order dessert, but hubby splurged. He ordered the warm apple tarte tatin. I ate all the vanilla bean ice cream.

Cocktails were traditional and really, really strong. After a day of wine-tasting, I stuck with water.

Now it's going to be even HARDER to try new restaurants in Yountville because, well, if I'm not going to be at Ad Hoc, I'm probably going to be at Bistro Jeanty.

(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)

Red Car Wine Co. - Sebastopol

2/5 stars

They were really nice here and I really liked the Thomas Edison light bulbs, but tasting was extremely expensive at $15 - waived only with a $50 purchase. The pinots were good, but not $50 good. Ridge is a better winery and even they aren't that expensive.

(2013)

Preston Farm and Winery - Healdsburg

5/5 stars

We visited 8 wineries this weekend and Preston was my absolute favorite! We went home with half a case, including a JUG O WINE (4 bottles of wine for $34?! A steal!)! The petit syrah was soooo good! It tasted like dark cherries. And my hubby was a big fan of the barbera.

While waiting for my jug to be filled, I asked the nice lady pouring how long it would last and she tried explaining the whole oxidation process to me. Then, a nice man walked by and joined our conversation. It turned out that he was the winemaker, Lou! He was soooo nice and down-to-earth. He spent some time chatting with me. Very cool.

If they weren't so far from where I live, I'd def join the wine club. They bake fresh bread, pour good wine, and the place is just so laid-back - I am in love!

Notes: $10 tasting waived with 2 bottle purchase. Jug o wine filled on Sundays only.

(2013)

Wilson Winery - Healdsburg

2/5 stars

Nothing wrong with this winery! It just wasn't our cup of tea. The service was great! They took their time to recommend other wineries and draw it out on a map for us. The 2-star rating is more for the wine and the fact that they don't waive tasting fee with purchase. I hate it when wineries don't do that. I did like their white (Summertime), so I bought that, but their zins weren't "fruit" enough for us. Probably won't return.

(2013)

Agave Mexican Restaurant - Healdsburg

3/5 stars

Since we were going to do an Über fancy brunch (and because Scopa didn't answer their phone after 2 tries), we decided to try Agave for a chill, belated-birthday dinner for my hubby.

The Mexican food wasn't awesome, but it was pretty good. I liked the chips, guac, and salsa. The service was also really nice! They accidentally took our guac before we were finished with it so they gave us some more.

My hubby got to try something he's never had before: the Molcajet. It had shrimp, steak, and chicken in a red sauce and was served in a mortar. It was huge! He liked it a lot. I had the burrito with carne asada and it was only okay. The steak was a bit dry and the burrito as a whole was fairly bland. My MIL ordered the veggie enchiladas and seemed to enjoy the diff veggies it was filled with (zucchini, cauliflower etc).

They seem to carry a lot of tequilas. They had my favorite - Frida Khalo silver.

Overall, if you're looking for some good ol' Mexican to sop up all that wine-tasting, Agave is a good choice.

(2013)

Truett Hurst Winery - Healdsburg

5/5 stars

We visited 8 wineries on our Healdsburg weekend and Truett was definitely in the Top 3! It was such a fun place, we could've hung out there all day!

They had live music playing, Sal was pouring (he's awesome), all the wines were delightful, they had a bunch of picnic tables, and I LOVED being able to hang out by the river.

I, for some odd reason, refrained from buying half a case here. I am not sure if that'll happen next time.

(2013)

Selby Winery Tasting Room - Healdsburg

5/5 stars

Selby's has this zin called Bobcat and it's my MIL's favorite. She has good taste because it's delicious! (P.S. we're fans of berry, juicy, fruit-forward zins, so if that's not your type of zin ... stop reading.)

I really enjoyed my time here. The walls are adorned with letters from the White House. Mrs. Obama is even a fan!

We were the only ones in the tasting room at the time and the girls pouring were really nice. We got to taste everything they had. Even the sparkling was nice! I bought 2 bottles of their white (because summer is coming!) and my MIL also left with almost half a case (mostly Bobcat).

I'll def come back!

(2013)